Firebird - any thoughts?

Swany

I played one for years and I got one of the best blues tones I've ever gotten out of any guitar, (through a 4x10 bassman). I had only one problem with the guitar, it was very neck heavy to the point that I finally had to let it go.

Danielsguitars

Reverse firebird look so bloody cool, has to be Pelham blue for me

PVO_Dave

I bought a Firebird because they look amazing. Sold it soon after due to the weird playing position and the awful pickups!

markblack

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-Firebird-2016-Lyre-Tail-Vibrola-Ltd-Proprietary-Faded-Pelham-Blue-/182501819883?hash=item2a7df4c5eb:g:JrQAAOSwuxFY1XJr

Whitecat

This is serious thread deja vu, I'm sure I've posted this here before but Bryce Dessner is the reason I want a non-reverse Firebird. His is a '65 he bought on eBay and customised the **** out of. Love his tone, especially the cleans. 

grungebob

I gigged one for a few years back in my early 20's. In fact it's the guitar in my avatar. I'm only 5'9" but I got along with it just great and really enjoyed the mini Hums with flatwound strings and a rat pedal. 
Nostalgia being what it is it could be that if I tried one now I'd hate it but who k ones maybe I should get another. 

The only negative i I've I can remember is that it was a bitch to play on a small cramped stage. 

rlw

markblack said:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-Firebird-2016-Lyre-Tail-Vibrola-Ltd-Proprietary-Faded-Pelham-Blue-/182501819883?hash=item2a7df4c5eb:g:JrQAAOSwuxFY1XJr

I think I want sunburst but have clocked this one in an innocent way.....

57Deluxe

One of my Students has one and after bringing it round first 3/4 times it doesn't show up anymore.

CONS:

* Needs a massive case - bulky to lug about - I joke it looks like he is coming round to do some wallpapering!

* Weedy tones unless driven

* Not that resonant unplugged

* Neck is at odds with the body for me and I find I go to fret 3 instead of two for those autopilot open chords as needs a definite posture readjustment to play.

PROS:

Phil Manzanera's Red/Gold model in the gatefold of For Your Pleasure has made me want one like forever...

http://i.imgur.com/waTWKXE.jpg

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/91/38/73/913873f3bbf41417b4bb8bd51e956e3e.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/246jhp4.jpg

Corvus

Swany said:

 it was very neck heavy to the point that I finally had to let it go.

They ain't *that* neck-heavy

mikeyrob73

My Pelham Blue Epi is now up for trade if anyone is interested ;-)

the case could house a homeless person 

Bridgehouse

mikeyrob73 said:

My Pelham Blue Epi is now up for trade if anyone is interested ;-)

the case could house a homeless person 

Or two Dean Baby Z's and a small Tele

webrthomson

I've got a studio that I've (literally) metaled up, yup thats real treadplate



I like it but the weight distribution is definitely funky!

Rave

Mine isn't neck heavy as it's one of the few built with mini grovers

mikeyrob73

Bridgehouse said:

mikeyrob73 said:

My Pelham Blue Epi is now up for trade if anyone is interested ;-)

the case could house a homeless person 

Or two Dean Baby Z's and a small Tele



and still have room for a couple of dwarves, a small aviary and a loaf of bread 

ICBM

The case design is really daft. They could have made it about three inches narrower and about an inch shorter if the guitar sat at an angle inside, with the headstock near the latches.

Grunfeld

Whitecat said:

This is serious thread deja vu, I'm sure I've posted this here before but Bryce Dessner is the reason I want a non-reverse Firebird. His is a '65 he bought on eBay and customised the **** out of. Love his tone, especially the cleans.

The sound is lovely and so is the look of that non-reverse Firebird. Brian Aubert from Silversun Pickups was the first person I saw using one and I fell in love with the shape there and then.

sawyer

Got a 1999 sunburst Firebird V.Case  huge! Hangs weird on a strap. Not sure bout mini humbuckers. Had to buy a extra wide bass strap just for it. Nearly wrecked me house taking the case out to play! Fucking love it!! Get one! They look fab and make you feel every inch the Rock Star \m/_ 

Neil

In gold or red they look all kinds of superb!

riffbrother

Here's my Epi Bonamassa Firebird 1. I've had it for about a month and am really impressed with the build quality (it's made in China) and variety of sounds available from the single pick up. The volume and tone controls are very interactive going from almost a humbucker sound with the tone rolled off to Tele style with tone full up and volume turned down.

On first picking it up It's not the most comfortable guitar to play and has more neck than a zoo full of giraffes but you quickly get used to everything being to the left. A quality strap is essential to stop neck dive.

The banjo tuners are huge but true to the original design and hold tuning well. A nice gig bag is supplied but I'm on the look out for a hard case as I wouldn't trust it for storage due to the weight and size of the headstock.  

 

Voxman

Although they are iconic looking and have their fans, I have never ever had any gas for a Firebird.  I don't really like their look, and having played a few (2 p/up & 3 p/up 'reverse Firebird' variants)I find them big, heavy & frankly 'soul-less' with an uninspiring characterless tone that's nowhere near as good as a decent LP or SG.  

The only variant that looks half decent is the 3 p/up reverse Firebird with trem, like the Phil Manzanera one shown earlier, although I prefer it in white with Gold hardware because there's a lot of wood and in white it looks less 'bulky'.  

Of course, Firebird fans will completely disagree with this - but if we all liked the same things it would be a boring old world.  

Its also one of those guitars that I think you have to be quite tall to get away with both aesthetically and to wear comfortably around your neck - unfortunately I'm only a 5ft 7 shorthouse, so these just look & feel awkward & wrong on me!