by alanbarley » Thu Mar 29, 2012 2:18 pm
Hi everyone, thanks for the interest (and the open minds). This is the Birdfish by Ulrich Tueffel, a luthier from Germany. This is one of three models he makes, and each one represents total out-of-the-box thinking. The name Birdfish comes from the two vertical high alloy aluminum members at each end of the "body" named bird and fish because of their shape. They are carved from solid billets of aluminum chosen for its tonal properties then coated with nickel, copper, nickel, and finally chrome. According to Ullrich's experimenting this enhances the tone. The two cylindrical tone bars are solid alder and can be interchanged with the other two in the case which are made of swamp ash to achieve different tonal characteristics. The pickups made by Ulrich and can be easily moved laterally, vertically, or diagonally with the turn of a thumbwheel. It comes with 2 hum buckers of various characters, one P-90 style, and two single coils, all interchangeable. Because the strings' energy is transferred from the headstock to one aluminum member, then across the alder tone bars, then down the other aluminum member to the bridge, this guitar feels alive, almost like a spring. All of this is transferred tonally and its one of the most greasy, ballsy, responsive, sustaining guitars I've ever played. I felt it from the first few notes I played on it acoustically upon first picking it up and I was sold from there. It sounds great both clean and with OD. With the 5-way pup selector I can get in-between strat tones, traditional LP tones, and the middle pickup P-90 style gives a kind of fat tele bridge vibe. Last night's gig left me feeling that this was one guitar that truly could cover almost any type of playing situation. And the guitar is extremely light at 6.39 lbs.
Ulrich makes every component (including the screws and washers) except the tuneamatic bridge himself. The pickups are wonderfully voiced and part of the fun is swapping them around to see how things sound. It's a true modular design. When I play I rest my hand on the bridge so the lack of body below the pups doesn't bother me.
You can check out Tueffel's site at tueffel.com for a lot more info on this and his other models.
This is a glowing review but this thing defies convention and really sounds and plays at the top of my list of guitars I've owned. Like I said, when I played it I had to have it and I started cleaning out my guitar closet. And if any of you come to Austin you are welcome to try it out.
Alan
I don't typically like to put up me on forums but I wanted to show how it wears while standing.
CPRHD, HBOD, SYB, BPB, DBD, BBOD, BBOD, PH, DRD, LGW, RRB, CH11, MH V1/V2/Ht, MG, MG, MR, SYOD V1/V2, AMWM, EGDM, SBEQ, MGMV. MP LGW, MRD. BF HB, DRD, DRDRH, MGMV, Beest1&2
