Gibson Firebird

[Stringmachine]

I LOVE the look of a Firebird, but has never had the chance to play one. I got the money, but none of the shops in my area got this guitar. I would like to hear your opinion on this guitar before ordering one.

Is the neck shape the same "slim tapper" 60's neck as the Les Paul classic?
What type of sound does the mini humbuckers give?
Pros & cons?

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Gibson Firebird

I have a 76' Firebird. The neck is very slim at the nut but gets real chunky
around the 9th fret. For some reason Gibson puts the strap button on the
top part of the body? This makes the guitar very unbalanced,But it's easily
fixed by putting the button behind the neck. The mini hums are one of my
fav. PuPs. They have the vocal like sound of a single coil and still the
growl of a humbucker. IMO the Firebird was Gibsons Idea of making a
Stratocaster? The one thing that takes getting use to is the Banjo
tuning gears. If your used to a Strat? The low E is on the top :smack:
Your high E goes out you Instingtivly go to the top to tune.
Overall the Birds are great Guitars. I'm glad to own one.

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: Gibson Firebird

Any more coments? Am I the only one who likes this guitar?

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Gibson Firebird

Any more coments? Am I the only one who likes this guitar?

I don't really have any comments. I'm in the same boat as you. I've always been attracted to them and been intrigued by them, but for some strange reason I've never had the chance to play one.

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Gibson Firebird

Always wanted to play one, especially with the minihumbuckers! Tis guitar won't do heavy metal, but will do just about anything else I think... one of these is 2nd on my wish list (behind a Tele with a split bridge humbucker )

 

[pgambon]

Re: Gibson Firebird

I've had three FB's, all 63's. I have alot of respect for the reissues, nicely done. The FB was Gibsons answer to Fender. They look like a reversed Jazzmaster. The Mini's are a brighter sounding pup that uses blade magnets. The banjo tuners were definitly a weak point design wise, too heavy on a long headstock meant lots of broken necks. Use straplocks and consider replacement tuners, there are lots of great banjo tuners far superior to the ones Gibson uses. Don't get a FB to get a LP or Strat sound, get it for what it is; a quirky bitchen blues rock machine gun (think Johnny Winter!). Truly one of the most unique and different sounding guitars from Gibby.

 

[Jeffrec]

Re: Gibson Firebird

I have a 76' Firebird. The neck is very slim at the nut but gets real chunky
around the 9th fret. For some reason Gibson puts the strap button on the
top part of the body? This makes the guitar very unbalanced,But it's easily
fixed by putting the button behind the neck. The mini hums are one of my
fav. PuPs. They have the vocal like sound of a single coil and still the
growl of a humbucker. IMO the Firebird was Gibsons Idea of making a
Stratocaster? The one thing that takes getting use to is the Banjo
tuning gears. If your used to a Strat? The low E is on the top :smack:
Your high E goes out you Instingtivly go to the top to tune.
Overall the Birds are great Guitars. I'm glad to own one.

Summed up very nicely, Ken.

I've learned to like Firebirds, but they do have a tendency to lose the headstock when they fall, due to being unbalanced.


Jeff

 

[SpeedDemon]

Re: Gibson Firebird

i love the look of these guitars, but i too have never had a chance to play one, on the tuning note, i believe steinberger has tuners that are pegless made for the firebird? wrong company? i forget now.

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Gibson Firebird

I have tried one or two in stores over the years. I really wanted to like them because I love mini-HBs and the look, but I found them much too awkward and ungainly in my hands -- incredibly neck heavy and unbalanced feeling. Perhaps the new FB Studio would feel better, but it has regular HBs (great platform for Phat Cat I bet). In sum, this is definitely a guitar you should try on for size before you buy.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Gibson Firebird

I have tried one or two in stores over the years. I really wanted to like them because I love mini-HBs and the look, but I found them much too awkward and ungainly in my hands -- incredibly neck heavy and unbalanced feeling. Perhaps the new FB Studio would feel better, but it has regular HBs (great platform for Phat Cat I bet). In sum, this is definitely a guitar you should try on for size before you buy.

+1.

I don't mind mini HBs at all, but the balance of the guitar is way off. I always thought the Firebird was so cool looking, but I just couldn't get into it because the feel. It wins the award for the most uncomfortable guitar I've ever played.

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: Gibson Firebird

About the balance thing - why not get a leather strap? My epi 335 is like that too, but a strap with decent grip soon fixed that problem.

 

[TattooedCarrot]

Re: Gibson Firebird

Speaking of tuner replacements, I know someone who has tried these out and raves good things about them. They look like a perfect candidate for a Firebird (a bit pricey though).

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tuners/Guitar,_solid_peghead/Steinberger_Gearless_Tuners.html

 

[SpeedDemon]

Re: Gibson Firebird

thats them, theres those tuners i was talking about, :smack: i knew i seent hose on the back of the stewmac catalog.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Gibson Firebird

I don't mind mini HBs at all, but the balance of the guitar is way off. I always thought the Firebird was so cool looking, but I just couldn't get into it because the feel. It wins the award for the most uncomfortable guitar I've ever played.

Like I mentioned B4. All you gotta do relocate the strap button behind the
body at the base of the neck, Problem solved !! Once you do this it's a
very well balanced Guitar believe it or not.A long 3" strap helps aswell.
Notice the extension at the bottom of my strap.

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: Gibson Firebird

Thanks to everyone!
I understand I need to play one before I buy. But it is WAY cool!!
Never noticed the "banjo" tuners, but the new ones posted looked wicked!
And the relocation of the strap button can't be too hard, eh?!
Anyway, thanks again.