MB&F X Teuffel Birdfish Guitar

Introducing the Teuffel Birdfish Guitar

Discover the Birdfish, a revolutionary guitar designed by Teuffel, which caused a sensation when it was first presented at the MusikMesse in Frankfurt in 1995. Mil Garofalo of Luxembourg was the first to acquire it, marking the beginning of its incredible journey. Since then, the Birdfish has become an icon, appearing in numerous books and prestigious collections. The British magazine “Guitarist” even ranked it among the most important guitars of the 20th century. It has won three design awards and is exhibited in several museums. Great musicians such as David Torn, Hans Zimmer, Billy Gibbons, Dusty Hill, Page Hamilton, Kirk Hammett and Amir Derakh have adopted it.

Innovative design

My initial idea was to create a modular guitar, with fundamental components such as woods and pickups assembled interchangeably. This design allows for a variety of tonal possibilities and a unique, lively, punchy sound. As Billy Gibbons says: “It really shines on Mescalero with that raw, dirty sound. I defy any other instrument to produce such a crazy sound.” (Guitar World 6/03)

Evolution and Limitations

Since 1995, the Birdfish has evolved in four stages, while preserving its unique identity. The series is limited to just 500 units.

Technical details

The body of the Birdfish is composed of two bars attached to the central “bird” and “fish” elements. The handle is screwed onto the “bird” element, while the “fish” element contains the electronics. A rail between these elements allows the pickups to be changed in a matter of seconds.

Manufacture and materials

All parts, including some screws, are manufactured in my workshop in small batches, guaranteeing perfect harmony. Only the Tune-o-matic bridge comes from Gotoh and Schaller. The main elements, the bird and the fish, are made of aluminum, ensuring optimum vibration transmission. Since 1996, the aluminum sculptures have been machined from solid blocks, then polished and chrome-plated for a brilliant, long-lasting finish.

Microphones and Tone

Interchangeable tone bars define the guitar’s basic sound. They are made of American alder and Michigan maple. The easy-to-move pickups offer a wide sound palette with specially manufactured AlNiCo magnets. Five different pickups are available: two vintage single coils and three humbuckers with P90, PAF and warm PAF tones.

Birdfish MIDI

The Birdfish MIDI features a piezo bridge and MIDI control box. Every classic Birdfish can be transformed into a MIDI version, guaranteeing complete signal separation for pure, interference-free sound.

Elegant display

Never hide your Birdfish in a case again! The display stand, made of anodized aluminum and stainless steel, is stable and elegant, with felt pads to protect your floor.

Craftsmanship and quality

Every component of Birdfish is carefully crafted in my workshop, ensuring unrivalled quality and precision.