New Firebird & Rivera

[JeffB]

OK, spent some time running the Firebird through my Rivera.

WHOAA :saeek:

This thing plays like a dream. The resonance is incredible as I said before. Guitar totally vibrates through my stomach when I play. Sustain is good too. It's not a Les Paul, then again I did not expect that either. It's taking a bit ot get used to the shape, but it's similar in feel to an Explorer, which I like. It's very light too. I thought it would be heavier.

The 498T is a HOT pup, but I LOVE the general tone. Creamy and thick. Doesn't have the clarity of the BB pro's, but I prefer the less harsh tone. If it had more clarity/note separation I wouldn't change it out. Still may not. Undecided. The 490R is OK. I like some aspects, don't like others. Sounds good under high gain, not so good clean...then it's def "dark".

At any rate, she's a keeper. Which means I'm willing to part with my Les Paul for a bit less, LOL..had to throw that SPAM in (send me a PM, for details, hee hee)

Some pics are below. Also some pics of my new Rivera Chubster 40. This thing RAWKS, and has great low end for a combo. Notice how deep the cab is in the one pic.

Never was much of a fan for the color red, but looks like the Rivera and Firebird are gonna be around for awhile. And sorry, my pic taking skills are abysmal.

 

[RGN]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

WOW!!! That axe is nice bro.... Congrats. I wanted to buy a Rivera Clubster 40 a couple months ago at the Dallas Guitar Show but the dude wouldn't take a check... that is a nice little amp.

 

[danglybanger]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Beautiful! I've never seen a firebird studio... How does it compare to a normal Firebird?

Good to have someone else who can appreciate the 498/490R set, at least a little bit I personally don't mind the 498T at all. I love the 490 clean...

...wouldn't mind me a few of those

slade

 

[Jimbojsr]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Firebird = tasty! I like that colour, actually. Myself, though, I'd prefer one with mini humbuckers into a Marshall Stack.

 

[milkbone]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Nice!!! I've been contemplating picking the same axe up(color and hardware). Where did you get her? If its not too much to ask, how much? Good luck with her!!!

 

[slash857]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

i love firebirds i am definitely going to ge tone one day...

as for that rivera... that thing looks f'in sick. i wish i had me one of those.

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

The Chubster is a great amp, and I'd like a Firebird myself. Congrats!

 

[JeffB]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Beautiful! I've never seen a firebird studio... How does it compare to a normal Firebird?

Good to have someone else who can appreciate the 498/490R set, at least a little bit I personally don't mind the 498T at all. I love the 490 clean...

...wouldn't mind me a few of those

slade

It's quite different actually. The standard Firebird's are neck through...and the neck through section is actually raised kinda like this _-_ if you sighted down the neck. The studio is a typical Gibson set neck. The IV/VII FB's also have the trap inlays, binding on the neck, and Mini-humbuckers. Some are 3 pups models, some two. This guitar is more like an Explorer tone-wise or a fatter sounding SG.

As for the pups, the 498 is really growin on me after some amp and gain tweaking. It's got a really nice fat, classic Gibson sound, and is not quite so muddy as it sounded at first. I like the mids...it's not JB or BB Pro middy. The 490 is quite good under gain too (sunshine of your love through the Rivera clean channel with ninja boost sounds very "authentic"), but the cleans on both lack a bit. Not bad mind you, and with a maple cap, I think they'd be fine for cleans, but a little too dark as is. However, this guitar is not going to be used alot for clean except with the volume rolled off so....

I think what I'm coming to realize is I prefer Alnico V magnets in general for a bridge pup, and I prefer the balanced coil config vs. the typical uneven winding on BB's and other PAF clones. It's a thicker, creamy sound with the even winds.

 

[JeffB]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Nice!!! I've been contemplating picking the same axe up(color and hardware). Where did you get her? If its not too much to ask, how much? Good luck with her!!!

Well, I never could get a decent delivery time locally so I went with Musicians Fiend...er...friend They had it in stock, and I knew if it was a lemon, I could send it back. $1099 IIRC. So far I think it's worth it. As much as I love my LP, I dont think it's worth 1100 more than this F-bird.

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

I love the look of that guitar.....and the amp. That is one fat combo. Nice score bro!

 

[Wattage]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Nice! I thought the Studio 'Bird sounded pretty close to an SG when I played it. I like them a lot, good luck with it.

 

[Hoss]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

that definitely looks like a winning combination man!?!?!?!? i've never played a firebird, but i know the sound...and i like it!

 

[arex]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Congratulation - nice choice. Im also a happy new owner of a black/chrome firebird studio from 2004, bought at Ebay (700£).Trying it out at the local store I immiteatly fell in love with the neck wich was so nice and easy to play with. I did a little custumizing, fitting in minis and a bigsby, as i love the sound of the minis and needed a vibrator. I find it much more playable than my "old" firebird (1991), especially because of the neck and frets, but also because of a much better balance.
At the moment i got the Antiquity firebird pickup in the neck and the gibson mini from the old firebird in the brigde. The antiquity firebird pickup for the brigde hopefully show up later this month.

Ill upload some pictures of the bastard soon.

Turn up, load in and lay back to the sound of svartbag at www.svartbag.dk or listen to the bleeder group at www.thebleedergroup.com

Cheers and bye bye from AREX

 

[JeffB]

Re: New Firebird & Rivera

Thanks everyone for the comments

Tone-wise, to my ears it's right inbetween an Explorer and SG, not quite as "thin" as an SG, not quite as fat as an Explorer. Close though. At any rate, classic AC/DC, Cream, etc sounds are easy to achieve. Doesn't have the mids or tonal complexity of a Les Paul, but it's still a nice fat Gibson tone. With the gain cranked on the Rivera It'll do Metallica too :laugh2: Threw out a bit of Master of Puppets and Damage Inc., with no issues whatsoever

Def a keeper and will be off to the local luthier for a complete setup/fret dressing, etc., shortly.