Gibson Firebird VII

#1 VoltageGuitarist

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Posted 04 January 2012 - 04:21 AM

Hello, I‘m planning to buy a GIBSON Firebird VII Cherry Lyre Vibrola, but I‘m not quite sure. Many reviews say that it does‘t play like a real Gibson, others say that it‘s unique and that it is the best Gibson. Is it a good choise to buy it? And what are the ups and downs?

Greetz.

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#2 Versatile

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Posted 04 January 2012 - 04:30 AM

Oh yes indeed...be sure before you buy !!

Choices of Reverse and Non-Reverse body

Mini H/B or P90...

Seymour P/U alternatives if desired... (they are excellent)

Some great players to peruse

Personal opinion...get one for the hell of it...but don't think in terms of the 'perfect' guitar

Works well as part of a collection.... [thumbup]

Fiddling at the Pearly Gates
or somewhere
Lower and Warmer....

I like kayaking....it really floats my boat

I dig most stuff.......Anon(gardener)

#3 VoltageGuitarist

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Posted 04 January 2012 - 04:43 AM

Thanks for the reply,
I played the (rare)mist blue Firebird VII a few times before and it feels a littlebit like an SG. And if there is one guitar perfect to me, it‘s an SG

It looks nice with the gold and the bigsby and like you said, it‘s cool to have in my collection.
Greetz

#4 Versatile

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Posted 04 January 2012 - 04:48 AM

The red and gold 3 p/u is a beautiful thing

Mine is the V, 2 p/u in vintage sunburst

IMO the laminated through-neck deserves to be seen....

V

:-({|=

Fiddling at the Pearly Gates
or somewhere
Lower and Warmer....

I like kayaking....it really floats my boat

I dig most stuff.......Anon(gardener)

#5 VoltageGuitarist

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Posted 04 January 2012 - 04:51 AM

yeah it‘s nice, but I have just one problem : I don‘t know the price of the 3 P/U and I just discovered that this Firebird is out of production.

Greetz

#6 Versatile

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Posted 04 January 2012 - 11:25 AM

Firebirds in general are in a relatively niche market, made in small production runs....

So not in continuous stock like typical LP's, SG's, 335's etc

There have been some Non-Reverse issues lately with P90's

And some very expensive Reverse/Vibrola re-issues but not the Red 3 P/U one.....

Worth an internet search to see what may be held in stock locally....

V

:-({|=

Fiddling at the Pearly Gates
or somewhere
Lower and Warmer....

I like kayaking....it really floats my boat

I dig most stuff.......Anon(gardener)

#7 VoltageGuitarist

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Posted 04 January 2012 - 11:49 AM

All the stores I know, Sold their last Firebird VII a few months or even years ago... I will have to buy a second hand guitar then !

Greetz

#8 Shtew

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LocationWarren MI

Posted 02 April 2012 - 08:39 PM

Hi,
I've got that same guitar...an '05 Firebird VII in Cherry...bought it used in '06.
It's become my favorite gtr in my 30 something collection, and I've got 3 other 'Birds in it...a '90 V, a '91 V set up for slide, and an '07 V Flame maple.
I felt that the stock Gibson 3 pup wiring limited it, so I did some re-wiring, which really made it more versatile...I removed the middle pup from the selector switch, wired it to one of the Tone pots as a Volume right to the out jack, and made the other Tone pot the master Tone control...now any pup combo can be had.
I lusted after a VII for years, and I finally got one.
I will NEVER sell this guitar, unless I'm unable to play any longer.
It's a Strat meets SG on steroids...sustain for days, warm, twangy, and it can just scream too!
It's a keeper!
Keep looking around the web...they're out there...you'll find one!