New Gibson Firebird Elite

[Chris Pile]

So a client asked me if I'd seen any of the new Gibson Firebird Elite's out and about yet. I had no clue, and checking Gibson's website for "Firebird" yielded nothing. So I added "Elite", and was rewarded with this link...

http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2018/USA/Firebird-Elite.aspx

With a subtle cherry sunburst, all mahogany construction, and gold hardware - it looks plenty nice... almost traditional. It's priced more, which is to be expected I guess.

The client really has a hard on for one, so I'll be on the lookout to hook him up. Anyone spotted one yet, any reviews?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

It says it's a limited run, so you might have some trouble finding him one. I think that thing would be sick with a vibrola.

 

[Wattage]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Didn't know about it but it looks nice

Seems more like a trim upgrade than anything else but cool enough

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

It says it's a limited run, so you might have some trouble finding him one.

I buy and sell a lot of rare (or unusual) stuff for clients. All it takes is ready cash, a little time to snoop around, and the willingness to work a deal. This particular guy has spent about $20,000 with me in the last two years. I think I can come through for him, given a chance.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Want!

Bill

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

I’ve never been able to figure out why this is, but for some reason, I would rather die than play a Firebird. Maybe it’s one of those guitars that’s just not me.

Nice guitar, though.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

I’ve never been able to figure out why this is, but for some reason, I would rather die than play a Firebird. Maybe it’s one of those guitars that’s just not me.

Nice guitar, though.

I've never been crazy about their looks. There are a bunch of guitars I think are ugly, but they play and sound great.... Heck, I even own a couple.

This guy is an old jazzer who grew up playing Johnny Winter and Skynyrd stuff, so maybe that's where he got the bug. Let's face it - Clapton played one for awhile...Gatemouth Brown played one, Keith Richards, Joe Perry, and so on - so they can't be all bad.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Firebird is the most comfortable Gibson I ever played, and I love the sound, but just leaning forward throws it out of tune.

The Elite just looks like the same old bird with some new lipstick. If they fixed the neck rigidity, maybe it's a keeper.

 

[chadd]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Nice guitar, I'd play the hell out of one.

I've fallen a bit for firebirds lately and have two Kauer Banshees.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

I’ve never been able to figure out why this is, but for some reason, I would rather die than play a Firebird. Maybe it’s one of those guitars that’s just not me.

Nice guitar, though.

I think they look great but the way the body sits if you play sitting down causes the neck to be really far away from you. Makes the lower frets a stretch. On a strap it's not much better. Even SGs don't have that problem to the same extent. That's the deal breaker for me.

Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Well, I found one for sale on Reverb. The price was definitely right, and the client immediately popped for it. Once it arrives, I'll do a complete setup with his preferred strings. I'll be sure to post pix and a report if ya'll want...

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Here is the client picking up his shiny new axe! He was so excited, loved the looks, and was pumped about how nice the neck felt. Reminded him of his first guitar - a '72 SG. He said he'll break it in on some jazz gigs, and give his ES-275 a rest.

 

[tommersjay]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

So this guy basically paid you to find a guitar for him on reverb? Thats an awesome deal on your end haha.

 

[Wattage]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Guitar looks great and he looks thrilled!

 

[Ben1962]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Guys giving us the finger

 

[Jeff_H]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Beautiful guitar and a happy client, the best of both worlds. Nice pics, thank you for sharing.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

So this guy basically paid you to find a guitar for him on reverb? Thats an awesome deal on your end haha.

Yeah. I've also bought him a couple Les Pauls, a Heritage Classic Eagle, a Jazz Bass, a Rickenbacker 12 string, an ES-275, a couple Gibson flattops, and even a Hiwatt amp. The cat is busy playing live gigs, doing studio dates, and teaching students. He doesn't own a TV. When he's not gigging, he's home practicing and reading through a stack of fake books 4 feet tall. He literally lives and breathes guitar music. And he was my first client back when he still had hair!

 

[Wattage]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

I help people find gear all the time, sometimes more profitably than others. It's good for the guitar karma

 

[zionstrat]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

I’ve never been able to figure out why this is, but for some reason, I would rather die than play a Firebird. Maybe it’s one of those guitars that’s just not me.

Nice guitar, though.

Agreed from a performance POV- I can't play a FB to save my life- sits wrong way in my hands, can't find a place to anchor my hands- really the only popular style that I can't get 'my hands around'

But the sound just kills me- some of it's neck thru sustain, but 95% of the sound to my ears is the magnet in the middle and small footprint- I love min-hums, but Firebird pups open up a 'more rude than filtertrons' place in the spectrum- Bite like a strat with much more body.

Firebirds provide my favorite balance to a Tele bridge and my favorite low output pup in the mid position of 3 minis- I've wound so many variants (4 wires, multitaps) and they all are wonderful-

If I was stranded on an island and could only have one style pup, I'd take those FB variants with me

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: New Gibson Firebird Elite

Very nice. Wish it had a Maestro Vibrola, though.

I wonder if Gibson's currently used trans cherry fades out over time. It'd look really nice a bit faded out.