Yew Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Hello everybody, I have an Epiphone Firebird studio in cherry red (see left) made in 2007 in UC (dunno where that is) I really like it, until i stand up and try to play a solo with it, the neck is so heavy it makes it hard to play anywhere except the first 4 frets or the last frets on the neck (and since i like to play my solos in the middle of my fretboard theis is bad) Does anyone know how to balance this (using a think leather strap helps but its still not great) I have heard that moving the strap button from the top of the guitar to somwhere on the back makes the balance better but i dont know where on another note, is it really worth getting a new pickup for this guitar, as the stock ones sound fine for chords ( ACDC style music) but just seem a bit lacking for notes and solos (and thats the area im trying to improve) Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 UC = the Unsung factory in China. Never played a Firebird so i can't help you with the balance thing. Seymour Duncan has replacements pickups for the Firebird, the minihumbucker. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 UC stands for Unsung, China. Those firebirds are nice guitars. There's not too much you can do with the balance issue, it's the nature of the beast. I wouldn't advocate moving the strap buttons. An important factor is the type of strap you are using. If it's a nylon or fabric strap then forget about it - useless. Use a broad leather strap (not too smooth on the inside), and you'll notice a difference. My G-400 (SG) is neck heavy, but my Levy leather strap corrects this - at least to some extent. Pick-ups....well...technically a Firebird should have mini-hums, however that mod would be a real pain as your guitar is routed for normal sized humbuckers. You'd have to do something inventive with the pick-up rings to close up the space. It's probably easiest to stick with regular sized hums. If you want a good tone without spending a lot of money, I'd take a look at Stew-Mac's Golden Age humbuckers. http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Pickups:_Guitar,_electric/2/Golden_Age_Pickups.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yew Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks, the Unbalanceing is basicaly heavy Headstock syndrome ive heared that putting a strap button about 1 and a 1/2 inches from the neck join works withfirebird XII , but this has different construction, ( no contors on the body) so im not sure if it will totally solve my balance problems And the firebird doesnt actually use the minihumbucker its famed for, it uses standard Epiphone studio humbuckers, wondering if anything would give me better lead tone (but still keep aceptable rhythm tome for acdc riffs) Just as a side note, i live in the uk. so brands are more useful than links as i just have to find a uk supplier (so it saves you a job) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostindesert Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 A Seymour Duncan JB or DiMarzio ToneZone in the bridge position would be a option. For vintage sounds go for SD '59 or DiMarzio PAF. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Summerisle Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Thanks' date=' And the firebird doesnt actually use the minihumbucker its famed for, it uses standard Epiphone studio humbuckers, wondering if anything would give me better lead tone (but still keep aceptable rhythm tome for acdc riffs) Just as a side note, i live in the uk. so brands are more useful than links as i just have to find a uk supplier (so it saves you a job)[/quote'] To get the real Firebird tone (which some people describe as piano-like) you really need the mini-hums and the through-neck, neither of which the Epi Firebird Studio has. It's why some of us here would like Epiphone to make a "real" Firebird at some point. That said, I do still like these Studios as guitars in their own right. You mention AC/DC a fair bit. An obvious choice would be to lash a set of Gibson 57s in there, but that will cost you a fair few "quid" I'm afraid. Might be worth looking at the some of the Seymour-Duncan offerings at GAK, as you are looking for an English dealer. The Antiquities would work great, I'm sure (but, again, expensive). http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/p.php?n=237 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskank Sally Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 I have a Firebird Studio in Worn Cherry...made at the Unsung Korea factory (U). The neck on this guitar is not too heavy, and I don't have any balancing issues with it... I usually do an Allen Collins with it and have the rear strap over the face of the guitar on the top. Works out OK. The guitar itself is a mighty piece of wood with great tone. Upon taking the pg off and removing the pickups, there was no black paint inside and all I saw was beautiful wood grain. Very unusual for an Epi. I did replace the stock pickups with a Dimarzio Tone Zone in the bridge and a Paf Pro in the neck. It is one smokin' deal now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yew Posted February 14, 2009 Author Share Posted February 14, 2009 ill try your trick with the strap, it seems to have a bit better build quality than a standard epi, nd i did notice your point about the cavaties Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danielaraujo Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 I had the same problem with my 83 Explorer.... i sort of got used to it Thanks Daniel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin134 Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 if you want that mini hb sound, not sure this would be perfect, but maybe some of the GFS pickups like Dream 180's and such Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gashole Posted February 14, 2009 Share Posted February 14, 2009 Perhaps a less expensive way to deal with the perceived lack of Umph for solos would be a treble booster pedal? If you have a tube amp that is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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