Zonkers Posted January 20, 2011 Posted January 20, 2011 I have to admit, going in, I was afraid the ceramic pickups would be too brittle sounding, too harsh, too high gain. I was worried for NO FREAKING REASON! Just ran it through some riffs, cleans, dirty, really, really dirty and it went from A-Z and back again without skipping a beat. One thing I didn't know, is that the tuners are in the reverse order of a Strat or Tele or other 6 in line tuners I'm trying to tune the low e, and fiddling with the high e tuner. Anyway, tuned it up, the intonation, the fretwork, the craftsmanship is everything I hoped for an more. It's a different beast, that's for sure, it hangs differently and the neck feels MUCH longer than an LP neck, almost a bass scale. Plugged in the Blues Jr, nice and clean and it sparkled, it chimed without any of the harshness I was afraid of (I already had pup replacements figured out). Popped on the compressor, hit the MXR Classic OD and BLAMMO, gritty nasty 70's tone ripping out. Pop that off, turn on the Pork Loin (another od pedal) a whole different animal of OD comes out, a little clearer but deeper growl if that makes any sense whatsoever. Oh, the noise gate has been off this entire time, the guitar is dead quiet just hanging there Upping the ante, I turn off the OD, turn on the swollen pickle, turn on the BBE Sonic stomp, and it's fuzz city, nasty, Black Keys "The Big Come Up" fuzz, and still has warmth to it. Turn that off and turn on the BYOC Leeds Fuzz, perfect. Turn the trem pedal on, and it's 1971, trippy fuzz tones, jump on the wah pedal, and Ken Kesey knocked on my door. The strings are a bit light for my tastes, feel rubbery, but that is absolutely the only thing I have to say bad about it. I have a feeling this is a long time keeper. And it is just too damn cool, the shape, the mini hums. *****IN! The grain pattern and burst are perfect, IMO. This is a little heavier than I thought it would be Onto the pics
cabba2203 Posted January 20, 2011 Posted January 20, 2011 Very cool! I've always wanted a Firebird. Congrats!
chase1410 Posted January 30, 2011 Posted January 30, 2011 sweet man! I was supposed to get a Vintage Sunburst but they decided to send me an Ebony model instead...I chalked it up to fate and it plays and sounds like a dream....Really diggin the hig output mini humbuggies....
Zonkers Posted February 17, 2011 Author Posted February 17, 2011 I ended up swapping out the pups for a SM-1 in the neck and an SM-3 in the bridge, WOW, what a difference. I tend to like a more vintage tone and this nails it. Love this guitar. Absolutely love it.
Rick Posted February 26, 2011 Posted February 26, 2011 Very nice guitar I'd like to own a 1964 Firebird III (CS), or a Firebird V with an aftermarket maestro lyre vibrola :)
Zonkers Posted March 1, 2011 Author Posted March 1, 2011 Very nice guitar I'd like to own a 1964 Firebird III (CS), or a Firebird V with an aftermarket maestro lyre vibrola :) I'm on a semi-hunt for one of those vibrola's... I really wanted a FB with one, but it was way over my budget.
stickman Posted March 3, 2011 Posted March 3, 2011 Beautiful guitar! One day I shall own one of my own.
Versatile Posted March 5, 2011 Posted March 5, 2011 Thanks for sharing your great pics... Mine looks identical apart from the old style tuners I have a SD SM-2 bridge in a cheap copy I've kept mine standard After much experimentation I'm now happy with the mini H/B tones From Strat-grit at the neck To hi-gain at the bridge V
treedroppings Posted December 14, 2011 Posted December 14, 2011 nice! I have got one on order, and I'll post mine when I get it! congratulations
carv3r Posted December 18, 2011 Posted December 18, 2011 that back side of that body and the neck. look amazing. really nice cut of wood used for this guitar. looks like it rocks!
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