The best deal on a Gibson USA Firebird was the 2017 Firebird T. It had the stunning Pelham blue finish, the proper headstock design with the Steinberger tuner and was relatively cheaply priced.
I hate to say it, but you can tell a difference between the Epiphone versions and that beauty you have. I do not like red but I can admit that the Gibson FB looks really good. I keep thinking about how similar they look to the Epiphone Thunderbirds. The pickup covers are what really make the match.
I have a 2015 Non Reverse Firebird in Pelham Blue that has the same ceramic pickups. I go back and forth on them, but they do have a certain charm and work well with the right amps. They also balanced well in band where the other guitarist plays a Strat. Playing those ceramics ones first, and then playing "traditional" Firebird pickups later I think helped my opinion to be less harsh on them.
Ah! Thanks for the info. I thought for certain the pickups were introduced with the 2017 HP, but I guess I was wrong! Cheers! Great color by the way, that Pelham Blue!
@@CompanyGripGuitar It's an awesome color. I went down the rabbit hole on these pickups awhile back and I'm not sure when they were created. There are a lot of threads where people are complaining about them and the typical "iT'S N0t REaL FiREbiRd pICkuPs, blah blah blah" and maybe something like this was created an used in some 90s Firebird reissues?
This was an enjoyable and informative watch. I've got the same guitar. Does yours have any paint issues on the right angle where the wings meet the body? The one on the bass side of mine had a tiny paint adhesion problem. Seems like the paint goes on thick on these because it's like there was a pocket behind the paint where it just didn't settle.
Hi! I havent really noticed any issues in mine per say. It’s a pretty clean paint job all in all. Cleaner than some of my other Gibs for sure.👍🏽 Thanks for checking it out.
Great job illustrating the lamination on the neck. On the Thunderbirds they can be 7, 9, or 11 layers or pieces to the neck. The main advantage it gives is the prevention of warping.
@@CompanyGripGuitar I do, be careful the nut width varies. The new Epiphone are worth getting because they have a better bridge than the three point. Their nut width is 38mm and they are neck through. I want an Iverness green one. If I don't get the Rex Brown Gibson. it has a 38mm nut width as well. The signature is set neck which may make it brighter. Thunderbirds tend to be darker than Jazz basses. The two main complaints is neck dive and weight. Weight is cool for me and I'm 6'2" so length of it is cool too. The neck dive thing isn't bad with the right strap and tuners. Sometimes I think the dudes bothered by neck dive move around too much with their arms down. I almost always have my hand on the nut area of the neck even if I'm not playing. The only time I recorded with my old one the engenier kept complaining it wasn't loud enough. That was a 90's Epiphone with a bolt on neck I think. Better pickups in these. I would recomend the Gibson SG bass but be warry the E string tends to be floppy and lifeless.
@@CompanyGripGuitar Epiphone is going to release a Mike Dirnt G3 signature soon. That may become my new bass. It has three single coils which you can run all three in the buck and a half setting.
@@CompanyGripGuitar Each model that Gibson and Epiphone make has it's advantages. First off the Epiphone Thunderbird '64 beats all the other Epiphone models. One drawback is an Indian Laurel fretboard. However, they are a 9 piece neck through made of Mahogany and Walnut. All of them have a 1.5 inch nut. All three models have the ProBucker 760 Bass humbuckers in them. The 64 comes in three colors and some limited colors on ZZounds, so the selection is top notch. The bridge on the signature Rex Brown model is a Babicz FCH 3-Point with Epiphone String Spacing, and on the 64 it is an Epiphone Vintage Bass Tune-O-Matic. As for the Gibsons, there are two both are $2800, actually $2799 but I round up. Both are set neck. Genes does not have a raised inner part so it is much more like a firebird type front. However, it has a 1.6 inch nut and an ebony board. Rex's is interesting 38.1mm nut, rosewood fretboard, detuner on the E, Hipshot tuners with nice ratios, and active pickups. The Rexbuckers. Hipshot bridge. Active/Passive pull knob on the volume. For the money the Epiphone 64 is the choice in my opinion. it has 6 colors to choose from and is truer to form. However, the rosewood fretboard and active electronics make the Rex signature Gibson an interesting model. I think the Gene Simmons one was a big miss. But they may be releasing a Gene Simmons V bass which would be cool, maybe.
@@CompanyGripGuitar Ibanez makes a 5 string multi scale with Fishman Fluence pickups that might be right up your ally if you are looking to spend more than $1000. The main reason I thought of it is because they have some crazy tuners with high ratios. They are supposed to be special.
I have the 2010 model that i bought new in 2013. It has the Steinberger tuners, which I like better than the mini-grovers. It also has the hot ceramic humbukers. i have a set of MoJoTone Johnny Winter alnIco pups that I plan to install. I also have the Epi Firebird, and do prefer those pups over the ceramic ones.
The official difference between FB minis and mini humbuckers. FB Pickups are considered “mini humbuckers” but be aware that they aren’t just mini PAFs…A Mini humbucker is made like a miniature PAF pickup, with one bar magnet positioned under each coil with adjustable pole pieces made out of a ferrous alloy and the other coil containing a ferrous metal bar that is not adjustable. A Firebird guitar pickup on the other hand, has a bar magnet in each coil. Each coil is wound around the bar magnet, one coil is south up and the other is north up. They then have a thin ferrous metal plate covering both bobbins on the bottom side and two maple spacers between bobbins and bottom plate. However, if you lose it because someone says mini humbucker and not FB mini then you are more neurotic than I.
My complaint about the Gene Simons and Rex Brown Signature Thunderbirds by Gibson is they are both set necks. Rex's still has the raised part like most thunderbirds but neither model is neck through.
I have a non-reverse in that colour and a reverse like yours in tobacco burst. About the cases: Can you explain why Gibson chose not to put the four metal glides on the under side when you open the case? Thoughts of opening the case on a sticky bar room table after a gig.
Just confused how Epiphone can sell it for a reasonable price while Gibson seems to not be able to make a profit on them. I've always enjoyed the look and sound of them but I don't think that they would ever be something I could get just because of the massive size.
A valid question. Who knows what Gibsons real motivations are. I totally understand about American made costing more, but with the amount of assisted assembly these days via machines, robotics, programmed lathes, etc, I’d be surprised they couldn’t still turn a profit. 🤷♂️
Most Epiphones are made overseas. Certain tools and machines are required to build different types of guitars. Gibson only makes set necks and neck throughs for the most part. There are many reasons Gibson has problems making what others can easily. The one thing I will say for Gibson besides USA craftsman ship. Is the more you pay the better the carves seem to be.
The best deal on a Gibson USA Firebird was the 2017 Firebird T. It had the stunning Pelham blue finish, the proper headstock design with the Steinberger tuner and was relatively cheaply priced.
Yeah! That was a good one. Loved the Pelham Blue color too.
I hate to say it, but you can tell a difference between the Epiphone versions and that beauty you have. I do not like red but I can admit that the Gibson FB looks really good. I keep thinking about how similar they look to the Epiphone Thunderbirds. The pickup covers are what really make the match.
I have a 2015 Non Reverse Firebird in Pelham Blue that has the same ceramic pickups. I go back and forth on them, but they do have a certain charm and work well with the right amps. They also balanced well in band where the other guitarist plays a Strat. Playing those ceramics ones first, and then playing "traditional" Firebird pickups later I think helped my opinion to be less harsh on them.
Ah! Thanks for the info. I thought for certain the pickups were introduced with the 2017 HP, but I guess I was wrong! Cheers! Great color by the way, that Pelham Blue!
@@CompanyGripGuitar It's an awesome color. I went down the rabbit hole on these pickups awhile back and I'm not sure when they were created. There are a lot of threads where people are complaining about them and the typical "iT'S N0t REaL FiREbiRd pICkuPs, blah blah blah" and maybe something like this was created an used in some 90s Firebird reissues?
@@petevadelnieks I’ll reach out to Gibson and see what they have to say about it. Cheers!
This was an enjoyable and informative watch. I've got the same guitar. Does yours have any paint issues on the right angle where the wings meet the body? The one on the bass side of mine had a tiny paint adhesion problem. Seems like the paint goes on thick on these because it's like there was a pocket behind the paint where it just didn't settle.
Hi! I havent really noticed any issues in mine per say. It’s a pretty clean paint job all in all. Cleaner than some of my other Gibs for sure.👍🏽 Thanks for checking it out.
Great job illustrating the lamination on the neck. On the Thunderbirds they can be 7, 9, or 11 layers or pieces to the neck. The main advantage it gives is the prevention of warping.
One day when I upgrade my bass I want a T Bird. You like them?
@@CompanyGripGuitar I do, be careful the nut width varies. The new Epiphone are worth getting because they have a better bridge than the three point. Their nut width is 38mm and they are neck through. I want an Iverness green one. If I don't get the Rex Brown Gibson. it has a 38mm nut width as well. The signature is set neck which may make it brighter. Thunderbirds tend to be darker than Jazz basses. The two main complaints is neck dive and weight. Weight is cool for me and I'm 6'2" so length of it is cool too. The neck dive thing isn't bad with the right strap and tuners. Sometimes I think the dudes bothered by neck dive move around too much with their arms down. I almost always have my hand on the nut area of the neck even if I'm not playing.
The only time I recorded with my old one the engenier kept complaining it wasn't loud enough. That was a 90's Epiphone with a bolt on neck I think. Better pickups in these. I would recomend the Gibson SG bass but be warry the E string tends to be floppy and lifeless.
@@CompanyGripGuitar Epiphone is going to release a Mike Dirnt G3 signature soon. That may become my new bass. It has three single coils which you can run all three in the buck and a half setting.
@@CompanyGripGuitar Each model that Gibson and Epiphone make has it's advantages. First off the Epiphone Thunderbird '64 beats all the other Epiphone models. One drawback is an Indian Laurel fretboard. However, they are a 9 piece neck through made of Mahogany and Walnut. All of them have a 1.5 inch nut. All three models have the ProBucker 760 Bass humbuckers in them. The 64 comes in three colors and some limited colors on ZZounds, so the selection is top notch. The bridge on the signature Rex Brown model is a Babicz FCH 3-Point with Epiphone String Spacing, and on the 64 it is an Epiphone Vintage Bass Tune-O-Matic.
As for the Gibsons, there are two both are $2800, actually $2799 but I round up. Both are set neck. Genes does not have a raised inner part so it is much more like a firebird type front. However, it has a 1.6 inch nut and an ebony board. Rex's is interesting 38.1mm nut, rosewood fretboard, detuner on the E, Hipshot tuners with nice ratios, and active pickups. The Rexbuckers. Hipshot bridge. Active/Passive pull knob on the volume.
For the money the Epiphone 64 is the choice in my opinion. it has 6 colors to choose from and is truer to form. However, the rosewood fretboard and active electronics make the Rex signature Gibson an interesting model. I think the Gene Simmons one was a big miss. But they may be releasing a Gene Simmons V bass which would be cool, maybe.
@@CompanyGripGuitar Ibanez makes a 5 string multi scale with Fishman Fluence pickups that might be right up your ally if you are looking to spend more than $1000. The main reason I thought of it is because they have some crazy tuners with high ratios. They are supposed to be special.
I have the 2010 model that i bought new in 2013. It has the Steinberger tuners, which I like better than the mini-grovers. It also has the hot ceramic humbukers. i have a set of MoJoTone Johnny Winter alnIco pups that I plan to install. I also have the Epi Firebird, and do prefer those pups over the ceramic ones.
Those original FB pickups are definitely a cool thing for sure. Thanks for checking it out! Cheers
The official difference between FB minis and mini humbuckers. FB Pickups are considered “mini humbuckers” but be aware that they aren’t just mini PAFs…A Mini humbucker is made like a miniature PAF pickup, with one bar magnet positioned under each coil with adjustable pole pieces made out of a ferrous alloy and the other coil containing a ferrous metal bar that is not adjustable.
A Firebird guitar pickup on the other hand, has a bar magnet in each coil. Each coil is wound around the bar magnet, one coil is south up and the other is north up. They then have a thin ferrous metal plate covering both bobbins on the bottom side and two maple spacers between bobbins and bottom plate.
However, if you lose it because someone says mini humbucker and not FB mini then you are more neurotic than I.
I agree, which is why I had to address it. Haha. Were TBird Bass pickups made that way too?
@@CompanyGripGuitar I'm not sure, they are more subdued than Jazz pickups. They are real good for that sweet emotion type sound.
My complaint about the Gene Simons and Rex Brown Signature Thunderbirds by Gibson is they are both set necks. Rex's still has the raised part like most thunderbirds but neither model is neck through.
That’s no bueno! It such a unique and cool feature for a Gibson. I’m also surprised that the FB Custom is a set neck. 🤯
I have a non-reverse in that colour and a reverse like yours in tobacco burst. About the cases: Can you explain why Gibson chose not to put the four metal glides on the under side when you open the case? Thoughts of opening the case on a sticky bar room table after a gig.
I wonder that a LOT about their rectangle cases. Same with the new Victory, the new Coronet USA, etc… 🤷♂️
Just confused how Epiphone can sell it for a reasonable price while Gibson seems to not be able to make a profit on them. I've always enjoyed the look and sound of them but I don't think that they would ever be something I could get just because of the massive size.
A valid question. Who knows what Gibsons real motivations are. I totally understand about American made costing more, but with the amount of assisted assembly these days via machines, robotics, programmed lathes, etc, I’d be surprised they couldn’t still turn a profit. 🤷♂️
Most Epiphones are made overseas. Certain tools and machines are required to build different types of guitars. Gibson only makes set necks and neck throughs for the most part. There are many reasons Gibson has problems making what others can easily. The one thing I will say for Gibson besides USA craftsman ship. Is the more you pay the better the carves seem to be.