The new Epiphone “custom shop” ones coming out are going to be $1,700 msrp. Looks like Gibson is basically following the Fender business model and replacing their semi-affordable standard lines with Epiphones (Epiphone basically like MIM fender). I just snagged one a few days ago because I know these are going to soar in price and become rare. Get one while you can.
Wonder why they issue the massive cases for the firebird with the steinburg tuners? The only reason they made the cases deeper was to accommodate for the much bigger banjo tuners I think?
In my honest opinion? Yes, they will. And I have to say this despite loving that guitars. Really. The Firebird V is the guitar of my dreams and I love everything about them. But I have to face reality. Of course, there will still be Firebirds, they are just no longer affordable for normal budgets. The, what I'll call the basic Firebird from Gibson, for example, has also seen a price increase, and at the same time no longer has locking tuners and has lost its iconic headstock (which now looks like the Epiphone headstock. However, this guitar is increasingly giving way to reissue or custom shop models. Prieces? In Germany around €5.000 - €10.000. At the same time, Epiphone has released some great Firebirds. The basic Firebird, the one in Vintage Sunburst, was released for around €600 to €700 in Germany. Now it costs €730 and is only available on Gibson's own website. The Firebird in Ruby Red came on the scene as its successor, now costing €888 to €930. In less than a year it became around €200 more expensive! While the basic Firebird is already starting to reach Fender-like prices, unfortunately all the other Epiphone models have long since done so. The Firebird I, as well as all other Firebird V models, cost between €1,300 and €1,900 in Germany, which means that Epiphone is also in the process of being eliminated as an alternative for smaller budgets. Some of them are as expensive as US-Fender. And we are speaking from a guitar... !!MADE IN CHINA!! Yes, a good one but no, this isn't a realistic pricing just for other pick-ups. What I'm trying to say is that the Firebird is in danger of becoming extinct for smaller budgets because it lacks brand alternatives and the only real alternative is now expensive enough that a new one is needed. But there isn't one. This ultimately leads to the following scenarios: First, all cheaper models will disappear from the used market, they will be bought in large numbers. After this happens, the Firebird will only be a guitar for higher budgets... or come from "Chibson" replicas, which will cause the market for the Firebird to collapse even further. And I really understand if you want to have one built this way. The demand would be there without a problem, but if the market doesn't deliver, another market will open up. And people with smaller budgets don't really have a choice. And no, this situation is not so precarious because no one would like the Firebird. On the contrary, this guitar would be loved, I know many people who would love to play one. I see the problem solely with Gibson itself. Sorry, I cannot and will not sugarcoat it. The Firebird V, like other guitars, should be put on consignment in stores so that they can be properly tested, more normal Firebird V that are NOT Custom Shop should be put on sale, both at Gibson and Epiphone, and the prices should be adjusted to be realistic. Of course, a Gibson is not a cheap guitar and it shouldn't be, but no one can tell me that a price for which I can go to a guitar maker to have one made myself is a justified scenario for an industrial guitar. For my part, I drew conclusions. I sold everything I could, with foresight, got myself a used Gibson Firebird V and also some current Epiphones. I insured them and will keep them as well as I can so that they can accompany me for as long as possible. Precisely because I have to assume that I will not be able to replace them. In the worst case scenario, if the Firebird is no longer available to me, I will then switch to Mockingbirds and Snakebytes, which I also like to play. They can never replace the Firebird, but I'm not rich and I need a guitar that I can use a lot and wear out as a result without feeling guilty.
There are still called "firebird mini humbuckers" the are indeed built different than standard mini humbuckers, the issue is Gibson is not making modern firebird pickups like the originals, the originals were low wind with alnico magnets, the new ones are made with ceramic magnets and wound to about 15k. They still sound good in my opinion, but sound a lot different that a vintage Firebird
I have always loved the look of these.
Mr Fabulous pickups are excellent..... i have these ones in your FB as well as the Big Bird humbucker style.
I love my 2006 Firebird V! Thanks for playing the King of the Hill theme... one of my favorite tunes to test out a guitar!
It's a super fun riff to play 😁
The new Epiphone “custom shop” ones coming out are going to be $1,700 msrp. Looks like Gibson is basically following the Fender business model and replacing their semi-affordable standard lines with Epiphones (Epiphone basically like MIM fender). I just snagged one a few days ago because I know these are going to soar in price and become rare. Get one while you can.
Wonder why they issue the massive cases for the firebird with the steinburg tuners? The only reason they made the cases deeper was to accommodate for the much bigger banjo tuners I think?
kluson banjo tuners are every bit as good as anything...had one since 1963,tuners work great
Exactly
In my honest opinion?
Yes, they will.
And I have to say this despite loving that guitars.
Really.
The Firebird V is the guitar of my dreams and I love everything about them. But I have to face reality.
Of course, there will still be Firebirds, they are just no longer affordable for normal budgets.
The, what I'll call the basic Firebird from Gibson, for example, has also seen a price increase, and at the same time no longer has locking tuners and has lost its iconic headstock (which now looks like the Epiphone headstock.
However, this guitar is increasingly giving way to reissue or custom shop models.
Prieces?
In Germany around €5.000 - €10.000.
At the same time, Epiphone has released some great Firebirds. The basic Firebird, the one in Vintage Sunburst, was released for around €600 to €700 in Germany. Now it costs €730 and is only available on Gibson's own website.
The Firebird in Ruby Red came on the scene as its successor, now costing €888 to €930. In less than a year it became around €200 more expensive!
While the basic Firebird is already starting to reach Fender-like prices, unfortunately all the other Epiphone models have long since done so.
The Firebird I, as well as all other Firebird V models, cost between €1,300 and €1,900 in Germany, which means that Epiphone is also in the process of being eliminated as an alternative for smaller budgets. Some of them are as expensive as US-Fender. And we are speaking from a guitar... !!MADE IN CHINA!! Yes, a good one but no, this isn't a realistic pricing just for other pick-ups.
What I'm trying to say is that the Firebird is in danger of becoming extinct for smaller budgets because it lacks brand alternatives and the only real alternative is now expensive enough that a new one is needed. But there isn't one.
This ultimately leads to the following scenarios:
First, all cheaper models will disappear from the used market, they will be bought in large numbers.
After this happens, the Firebird will only be a guitar for higher budgets... or come from "Chibson" replicas, which will cause the market for the Firebird to collapse even further. And I really understand if you want to have one built this way. The demand would be there without a problem, but if the market doesn't deliver, another market will open up. And people with smaller budgets don't really have a choice.
And no, this situation is not so precarious because no one would like the Firebird. On the contrary, this guitar would be loved, I know many people who would love to play one.
I see the problem solely with Gibson itself. Sorry, I cannot and will not sugarcoat it.
The Firebird V, like other guitars, should be put on consignment in stores so that they can be properly tested, more normal Firebird V that are NOT Custom Shop should be put on sale, both at Gibson and Epiphone, and the prices should be adjusted to be realistic. Of course, a Gibson is not a cheap guitar and it shouldn't be, but no one can tell me that a price for which I can go to a guitar maker to have one made myself is a justified scenario for an industrial guitar.
For my part, I drew conclusions.
I sold everything I could, with foresight, got myself a used Gibson Firebird V and also some current Epiphones.
I insured them and will keep them as well as I can so that they can accompany me for as long as possible. Precisely because I have to assume that I will not be able to replace them.
In the worst case scenario, if the Firebird is no longer available to me, I will then switch to Mockingbirds and Snakebytes, which I also like to play.
They can never replace the Firebird, but I'm not rich and I need a guitar that I can use a lot and wear out as a result without feeling guilty.
Gibson still makes them if you have the cash.
Great review my friend I just got one 👌👍
I have a Firebird V. The pick ups ARE NOT Mini Humbuckers. The Firebird pick ups are rail magnets, no pole pieces.
There are still called "firebird mini humbuckers" the are indeed built different than standard mini humbuckers, the issue is Gibson is not making modern firebird pickups like the originals, the originals were low wind with alnico magnets, the new ones are made with ceramic magnets and wound to about 15k. They still sound good in my opinion, but sound a lot different that a vintage Firebird
Thinking of all the Fire birds destroyed by Gibson a few years ago during their “play Authentic” army tank
RIP. Those guitars go for a lot of money these days! I'd like to review one
When Johnny winter died so did the firebird!
Honestly, who can afford this shit anymore? For the price of one ES-335, I got three used Eastman electrics and they all play like custom shops.