Firebird - any thoughts?

rlw

I'm quite drawn to the idea of one of these - a proper one with the three piece body/neck combination, fancy tuners etc.  I know naff all about them except some are down in the £1 - £1.5k area.  Any good or utter shite? Things to be aware of?

Thanks

Moe_Zambeek

Case the size of a good sized starter home.
Odd ergonomics if you're not used to them.
Headstocks that prefer the bachelor life and don't like to stay attached.
Modern pickups that many don't like. 

Johnny Winter.
Eric in his prime.

Possibly the coolest *looking* guitar of all time.

ICBM

How tall are you?

Play one standing up before you buy it.

sweepy

Weighty old Beasts and some people hate the Steinberger tuners but I find them very elegant.  You will find yourself swearing every 5 mins as you swipe band members, cat, dog or the ceiling with the headstock without realising it

richardhomer

Pros - possibly the coolest 'shape' guitar ever made

Cons - the nut feels like it's in another room whether seated or standing. They feel so far to the left that even Jeremy Corbyn would struggle to play one....

Sassafras

They're great if you're 7 foot tall and drag your knuckles on the ground.

WezV

rlw said:

a proper one with the three piece body/neck combination

the neck section is at least 5 pieces (Firebird I & III??) - more often 9 with the veneer layers on the other models

markblack

the new  Epi Joe Bonamassa (let the hate begin ) @ £600 looks like a nice way to try a firebird. I really like it in gold.

mikeyrob73

I have one and it's just massive, but by god does it looks amazing in Pelham Blue 

Jim54

Like playing a bass.

ICBM

Jim54 said:

Like playing a bass.

Oddly enough I find the Thunderbird much less unwieldy… presumably either because the bridge is so much further back that the playing area isn't so far to the left - or because I'm expecting it to be long so it isn't as much of a shock .

It can still be a challenge to reach an F note on the bottom string if I don't make sure it's hanging at just the right angle though.

stimpsonslostson

markblack said:

the new  Epi Joe Bonamassa (let the hate begin ) @ £600 looks like a nice way to try a firebird. I really like it in gold.

I've been drooling over those since they were announced... I just can't justify buying one. 

scalino65

Very strange getting used to the weight and the fretboard feeling its so far to the left. very cool though..

Corvus

I feel at home with them, on my 3rd. I'm 6 foot 2 which prob helps. Great upper fret access. Didn't like the pickups in my last one (2006) but like them in the current one, 2016 - though I'd assumed they were the same. Vintage type ones are a bit thin for me compared. I like the Steinbergers, the Gibson ones in the slightly older ones (I forget the year of change) are notchy nasty things.

ICBM

The banjo tuners also weigh a ton and increase the balance problem - and the risk to the headstock. Unless you must have the vintage look, the Steinberger ones are a far better choice really.

Bucket

They look fantastic and sound killer (the pickups are an under-appreciated gem of a design) but I've never played one that's felt natural.

If you play one, you look cool. That's just how it is.

https://magazineslush.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/andy-tw.jpg

HAL9000

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/27/72/6b/27726b860225ae6642fab78a4f99fe39.jpg

A Firebird 1 is definitely one of the coolest looking guitars out there. However, as @ICBM points out, it can look wrong or even faintly ridiculous on some people. They can also be neck-heavy - at least until the headstock comes off in the first hint of a stiff breeze.

TTBZ

Liking that goldtop bonamassa one! Shame I'm a short arse who would look ridiculous with one of these.

rlw

Heavy is not an issue but descriptions of the nut being a long way off are being heeded.  I will go and try the new JB one, just to see what it feels like, but thetwo pickup job is what really appeals, or even three.   Just need to sell off the excess guitars first.....

rlw

stimpsonslostson said:

markblack said:

the new  Epi Joe Bonamassa (let the hate begin ) @ £600 looks like a nice way to try a firebird. I really like it in gold.

I've been drooling over those since they were announced... I just can't justify buying one. 

Errr....since when did being able to justify it be a condition of purchase.....................

kjdowd

Really liked the one I had.  The case is ludicrous but there are alternatives and I didn't find the guitar particularly difficult to play and it was v ergonomic played stood up. Lovely sound both from the stock ceramics and the creamery pickups I replaced them with. 

however, moved it on as I concluded that I looked like I was in the grip of a particularly acute mid life crisis when playing it.