SteveFord

Twang Gang, They're really different. This one article I was reading described them as being the most un-Gibson model made. The 17th fret is pretty much at your belly button and then you've got the body of the guitar way over on the right so it can seem like they're all neck. It takes some getting used to but, like everthing else, after a bit it seems normal. If you switch back and forth between a Firebird and an SG or whatever it's easy to get lost on the neck. Where's the 12th fret at on this thing? The pick ups are a lot different than the other Gibsons, too. Like a brighter P90 would be the best description. I don't know anything about the original or 70s reissues but these pick ups are the best of the later Firebirds. Shame they chintzed out on the headstock bevel to do a little recreational penny pinching. That was such an ICONIC feature. Other than that I have no complaints.

I knew you'd like that case. Now, THAT'S iconic!

Somehow they fiendishly managed to make the case even heavier. The new latches can't weight THAT much. I was thinking I need a roadie just to carry it upstairs past the unsuspecting wife. I read a couple of online reviews about this one which got me interested; one guy said really nice, one guy said bites without a ton of fiddling around with so here's my two cents. The only other Firebird Vs that I'm familiar with are from 2011 on up. The fit and finish is beautiful although the fretboard really appreciated some lemon oil. All of the other new ones came pretty well lubed up (this is a 2020 model). These pics were taken as soon as the case was opened, plastic still on the pickguard, original strings, etc. They changed the frets but they're really low. The neck has more girth to it and it's rounded a bit so it doesn't have quite as much of that flat Firebird feel. Picture a cross between a 60s Les Paul neck and the shallow Firebird profile and that's pretty much it. I think it's a comfortable, fast neck with a slick back to it. That's always a big plus. They cheapened the headstock and now it's just flat with no bevel and they lost the Steinberger's and put on Grovers. Maybe a groupie will throw her thong at me and I can use it to hide the headstock? Hope it's not a giant fat one who heaves some oversized bloomers at me but beggars can't be choosers. Just like on an Explorer, the tuning pegs are crammed up right against one another and the ratio is pretty low. The good news is it stays in tune really well. No neck dive, it just stays put and is very comfortable. The seller had two and I decided to go with the heavier one which is a little over 8 1/4 pounds. I also liked the wood grain better as it had more going on. Lots of sustain which I attribute to the weight but that could just be my imagination. They updated the pick ups and they have more output and considerably more midrange and bass than the previous ones. For once, the bridge pick up is especially good. The 2011 I have came with Seymour Duncans and they just bite by comparison. I'm not sure what they were going for but I think they missed the mark. Which ones they are, I dunno. One guy was complaining about how he couldn't get the action low and the neck needs a redesign due to the studs, the nut was too high, the saddles needed work, etc. but no problems with this one. I use 11s so I ran a welder's tip file through the slots in the nut and will have to give the truss rod a few tweaks over the next few days. It sounds like they used the same updated pots and whatnot on the Firebird as now the middle position is actually useful. I think you can also adjust the tailpiece with an Allen wrench if you're not able to get a grip on the knurled nuts. I always hit the nut threads with WD40 and screw them all the way in so they turn easily. If you're looking for a Firebird and can get past the Fedner-ish looking head stock I'd say these are worth getting. BB King had his Lucille, this one reminds me of the color of a cough drop so I'll call it Luden. IAF? Well, I wouldn't go that far.

Instead of something super wonderful (like I was promised) they shipped me this weird thing.

I'm waiting for the IAF Custom prototype, not the WTF Reverse V although if I came across one with a sweet Richlite fret board I suppose I could mount a Bigsby on upside down... Glad to hear somebody's wife is pulling for me. I'm hoping mine is occupied elsewhere when the truck shows up. She can find all the guitars when I kick the bucket. Won't that be a surprise!

I wish!

Spent today recuperating from the flu shot two days back. The young lady at CVS says that the US bases it's flu vaccine on what the Australians get and hope they've guessed right. Either I"m just plain old or the current bout of the flu is really nasty. Probably a combination of both.

That explains the price tag. I was thinking that's an awful lot for a guitar with a modified golf club bag that says Gibson on it. Steamed Stegosauras Hot Hide Glue when only the best will do. This really will be IAF!

It's a prototype of their 2021 flagship, the IAF Custom. The initials stand for Iconic As you probably guess the last one.

Sgt Pepper, I saw a Firebird VII on Reverb and told him I'd do 1/2 down and could do the rest last weekend, meet him somewhere by picking it up so no shipping. He responded by raising the price $300 and then raised it another $300! I don't know much but I know that I will NEVER buy that particular guitar from him.

Even the exhaust note of the FedEx truck is iconic. I fail to see how it could be otherwise. As long as it's not an empty box I'll be happy!

FedEx tracking is both a blessing and a curse. Is it true that tomorrow never comes?

Yesterday I removed a decade's worth of grunge on my 335 with good results. Painter's tape over the pick ups, light scrub with 0000 steel wool, medium scrape with a credit card edge, vacuum up debris, lemon oil coating and the buff off after a few minutes with an old gym sock (formerly owned by Carl Zappa and still damp).

I'm surprised nobody mentioned The Real Frank Zappa Book. That's not a bad read.

You know you're getting old when... RIP, Mr. Van Halen.

Cleaned the fretboard on the 335 with Witch's Pubes (0000 Grade Steel Wool), scraped it with a credit card as well, hit it with lemon oil - much, much better than new. Also have a box on its way. With any luck it won't show up empty!

Worked another 12 hour day and then the wife and I got flu shots. Exciting stuff! I've been drooling over a 335 on Facebook Marketplace so decided to dig mine out of storage and play it for a bit. Not nearly as handsome or fancy but it'll do.

My first car was a 67 289 automatic. That's the only car I owned that I miss, that thing could REALLY do burnouts! It was a lot of fun.

Nope. Cord from guitar into amplifier. That's about as high tech as I get.

Muy bueno!

1.69" and the only way I know that is because I went here: https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/USAM1U838/Flying-V/Antique-Natural The neck on the V and Explorer feel identical to me. Fairly slim (but not where's the neck slim) and really low action is possible. Low frets, no stickiness to the back and the rosewood is slick feeling. Really easy to play, that's for sure. My limited experience with the newer Gibson USA models is they're all like that. So what am I doing? Struggling with a 2007 Explorer every day which has the heel of the neck way too fat to get above the 17th fret without taking your thumb way off the neck. I figure if I can get the hang on this one I'll have it made. Nearly 5 months later and I'm making progress. The new SG Standard is pretty nice, too. Shop around a little bit and they're not all that expensive.

If you have big hands the 50s should work well for you.

I could picture Uncle Fester with a Flying V...

I think you're right about the owner glueing it on there.