leicester35 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Guess I'm in a philosophical mood this afternoon, having spent all last night and this morning working on a paper for a truly horrific statistics class I'm taking at the moment. Which is all by the by... How many people here share my love affair with the Gibson Firebird? Of all the guitar models out there, this thing has always intrigued me. But I discovered that even in its heyday it was never that popular. I found this really interesting page on the web about Firebirds: http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/Firebird.php Which shows some fascinating statistics (oh no, statistics again) - anyway - look at how many Firebirds sold compared to SGs in the '60s... Year; F/bird; SG 1963; 434; 5797 1964; 2434; 7419 1965; 2283; 8871 1966; 2735; 5517 1967; 779; 4005 1968; 271; 3680 1969; 83; 6934 I suppose that Firebirds have always been expensive, which explains the difference...and the SG was Gibson's guitar of the 1960s...still...rare 'birds indeed. I have had the pleasure of playing a few Gibson Firebirds of various vintages, but the never the privilege of owning one. They do have a unique sound - some people say they have a "piano" tone, and I can see where that idea comes from. Also as slide guitars, I (personally) can think of nothing better. I have had Epiphone Firebirds, but they've never been that great. Don't get me wrong, they can be nice guitars - but they are really just nice Firebird-shaped guitars, rather than good Firebirds. It's the set necks (rather than through necks) and (lately) the full humbuckers that kill it. The same was true of the recent Gibson Firebird Studio... One day I'm going to go nuts...save up, maybe sell a couple of guitars and just go and buy one of these babies before they become even more expensive.... Basically £1200 worth of guitar...expensive but not crazy money. An accessible 'dream' guitar. One day.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I bought a used 2002 firebird V in great condition last year for 1299$. They are really nice deluxe guitars for a great price. Why so cheap used? I don't know but they sure are nice. Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stig Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I really wish Epi would come out with a true firebird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchCassidy Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I had an epiphone firebird with mini humbuckers. It was beautiful and I love epi, but it sounded like crap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicester35 Posted November 21, 2008 Author Share Posted November 21, 2008 I had an epiphone firebird with mini humbuckers. It was beautiful and I love epi' date=' but it sounded like crap![/quote'] I can relate to that. This Firebird fetish of mine is a long-standing one. I bought an Epiphone Firebird V from my favourite guitar shop in Leicester in the early 90s. It was black, had mini-hums, a flashy "crafted in Korea for Epiphone, Nashville, USA" plate on the back of the (bolt-on neck), and it was absolutely bloody beautiful. It was £220, a fair few quid for a 19 year old college student back in them days. The salesman was a nice guy..."Are you sure you really want this, kid? Oh well, OK then...(sigh) I'll do you a deal on a bass case for it..." The other guitarist in my then band played it that night at practice. He was still laughing in the pub 4 hours later. In fact, he still sometimes laughs about it 16 years later. A couple of days after buying the 'bird I started using my Yamaha Pacifica again. The Firebird stood propped up in the corner of my bedroom. I used to stare at it a lot. Then I flogged it to some other wally. It was beautiful, but it was complete sh*te. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 One of my favourite guitar-models. I don't own one cause they seem more suited to taller guys. One day I will build my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric m Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Hi, I own a 2007 Epi Firebird....I love the guitar...it plays great ,looks cool, it has great sustain and a nice warm tone, ....but there is something missing...not sure what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Nazarenie Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 wow. what was so wrong with it? i has just got a gfs mini bird bridge. which is nice. (ceramic though.) is that all it needed? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I love the one's with thin necks. However, I certainly understand why others don't like them. First, they may be the only guitar that makes an LP feel light. Second, the 'fat-necked' versions have the fattest neck I've ever tried to wrap my hand around. Third, reading about a '9-ply' neck doesn't exactly light one's fire. Fourth, they're hard to play sitting down, they're hard to set down on a stand, & it's damn hard to find a case for them. That said, I would love to own a Firebird V with a thin neck. Love those minis! However, I don't want either the Gibson Firebird Studio nor the Epi Firebird since I'd want the minis and the neck-through construction. I almost bought a Gibby Firebird Studio until Spudboy pointed out that they are not 'neck-through'. Anybody know what happened to Spud? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I think my Bird is easy to play sitting down, with a built in arm rest. There are a long guitar but not heavy one, and Spud shows up every now and then on the other site. Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I almost bought a Gibby Firebird Studio until Spudboy pointed out that they are not 'neck-through'. Anybody know what happened to Spud? My guess is he's busy playing his recently resurrected vintage Traynor... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eric m Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Hi Prolife....nothing at all is wrong with it...i play it all the time....it just feels funny....no not funny just different. I can't find any fault with it ...it is just....different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stig Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I almost bought a Gibby Firebird Studio until Spudboy pointed out that they are not 'neck-through'. Anybody know what happened to Spud? I hate the Studio model. The flat-top, non-winged body REALLY bothers me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulsaslim Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 I've played exactly 2 Firebirds in the last 5 years. The first, a Custom Shop Firebird V at GC in Hollywood, CA., was without a doubt the heaviest guitar with the fattest neck I've ever played in my life. The 2nd, a new V I played at Chicago Music Exchange, was heavier than any of my LPs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alanhindle Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Stan, That Firebird of yours looks a beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alanhindle Posted November 21, 2008 Share Posted November 21, 2008 Stan, That Firebird of yours looks a beauty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
28v6r Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 I bought a used 2002 firebird V in great condition last year for 1299$. They are really nice deluxe guitars for a great price. Why so cheap used? I don't know but they sure are nice. Stan. WWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHH! Theres's that stunning Paul Allender Guitar again. Got...To...Fight...GAS...must.......not......get GAS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ButchCassidy Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Firebirds truly are one of the sexiest guitar models ever though IMO. I felt bad selling mine cuz I thought it would look really good as a wall ornament, but unfortunately that wasn't good enough. I was thinking about checking out the new firebirds with the humbucks and considering that or an SG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Thanks for the kind words gentlemen, i think the Birds are great guitars and not super expensive. I replaced the neck PU with a GFS mini bird for a fuller sound, but thats just me. I also like the Allender, but thats a differant story. Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stereohigh Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 Hi, I am in leicester as well, I wonder which guitar shop you ment, as it humbucker ? I like the firebird, lovely guitar, I have now added it to me wishlist after reading this thread, although I might buy the Gibson model Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted November 22, 2008 Share Posted November 22, 2008 The shop is called Guitar Fetish. com. It is a humbucker and it's about twice as heavy as the PU i took out. Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leicester35 Posted November 23, 2008 Author Share Posted November 23, 2008 Hi' date=' I am in leicester as well, I wonder which guitar shop you ment, as it humbucker ? I like the firebird, lovely guitar, I have now added it to me wishlist after reading this thread, although I might buy the Gibson model[/quote'] Hey stereohigh, Actually, it came from the 'Rock House' on Narborough Road. Cracking little shop. He used to sell all sorts, but then he became mainly a Fender dealer. Really friendly, knowledgeable staff - and cheaper than Sheehans. Been a while since I was down that way as I'm in London these days - but I hope the shop is still there. You should check it out: http://www.leicestermusicscene.co.uk/services.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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