Jack Fossett: What do you think of the custom shop firebird V 1964 reissue compared to its gibson usa equivalent? Is the price of the custom shop worth it?
Dear Mr Fossett, President Gibson Firebird Appreciation Organization. I don't have a spotify subscription. Is there any other platform where your music is available? I'm guessing you earn money or some benefit from people listening to your music on spotify and I'm sorry I can't contribute to it. Maybe you have a patreon thing? I'll look:) Michael Boyer Vice President, Gibson Firebird Appreciation Organization
When I saw Cream in Denver on October 6th, 1968, I remember being surprised that Clapton was playing a Firebird rather than his custom painted SG, "The Fool!"
Thats awesome! I've seen Clapton but never Cream. I first heard it on Cream Live (Vol II I think) where they play White Room and I had no idea what he was playing. I actually pictured a Telecaster in my mind.
@@JackFossett When he was briefly in Cream, I think he was mainly into Gibsons. In fact, with the help of Jim Marshall's amps that you could push into overdrive, and the volume knobs, as a joke, went up to "11", Clapton pioneered that "Bluesbreakers" tone. He didn't love Fender Strats until later. Of course, one of my other favorite bluesmen, Johnny Winter, could often be seen with a Firebird!
@@JackFossett If you relisten to Live Cream vol 2..Steppin Out and Sunshine in particular, it will be obvious to you that he's using the SG. You're thinking of the 3 live tracks on Goodbye Cream.. Firebird sounding awesome. All the best..
i actually prefer firebirds to any other gibson. all the meat and potatoes of a gibson humbucker but with all the bite i seem to miss with a lot of gibsons i've picked up. totally agree, firebirds are WAAYYYY underrated and underappreciated
I'm so confused. I've seen Gibson Firebird's, GF that are set neck with flat front and back, I've seen the two different headstocks and I don't think they follow whether or not they have banjo tuners, I've seen Epiphone fb's that are set neck with flat front and back but haven't seen any Epiphone fb's with the better headstock design with wood showing. I've seen two Gibson FB's on two different Anderton's videos that show something on the back of the headstock near the lower tuners that they didn't address. But when I research Gibson and Epiphone websites and any Firebird Wikipedia page they don't have a comprehensive breakdown of models, features, variants, etc. The Gibson and Epiphone Firebird models are not only under rated, not well known, etc, they're also cheated in terms of the love they should get from people adding to Wikipedia. The FB's have been especially cheated by their parents, with a lack of information on Gibson and Epiphone websites. Neglect is considered abuse!
@@mikeraz594 I'm hardly a Strat guy myself, though the pickups can be improved for bass if you stick those metal base plates on the bottom of the pickups. This doesn't alter the tone much, but they don't feel so much like a tin shed after that mod.
I've always played Fender guitars, I just don't connect with the necks on LPs and SGs. However, Firebird is the best of both worlds. The neck is my dream neck - the sounds are incredible and the darn thing looks cool as any guitar has a right to look.
Again Skynard gets overlooked. That 3 guitar attack with the strat,a firebird and a les Paul was magical. The architects of "southern rock" in my opinion.
Same goes for their Thunderbirds. I’ve only had two of the Gibson’s, a ‘64 and a ‘76. Insane tone and rumble sound, the type that gives you goosebumps. Look up Tom Petersson’s T-bird. It’s a similar sound.
Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd was a fantastic guitarist who used a Firebird, which is why I bought one. I absolutely love it. While the mini-humbuckers might have lower gain than some other hotter pickups, they absolutely scream playing classic rock. The tone controls are very good at dialing in all kinds of tones from clean and clear to rock and roll. I've played it side by side with my LP's, and it definitely holds its own, and doesn't weigh half as much. Comfortable neck too.
I bought a Firebird V just because it looked cool, played it for a couple of weeks and ended up hating it. It was in its case unplayed for 19 years until I saw the case and couldn't remember what it was so took it out and played it again. Went for an audition with a band a few weeks later with the Firebird and since then never played anything else. I now have 5 Firebirds...super guitar and they definitely grow on you. In my case it took a very long time :-)
I been a Les Paul player most of my life. Recently the Firebird took over the number one slot. The Steinberg tuners are amazing accurate and easy to use. I hated the stock pickups and replaced them with some handwound 63 era pups. They are great in the fact that I can have a fuller version of a strat mixed with more clarity than my Les Paul. The access on the neck is really nice!
Hey man, , you own three? - well even the greatest guitar players can only manage one at a time, , I’m thinking maybe you’re trying too hard, , , perhaps you should just keep to your favourite one, practice hard on that, and “loan me “ the other two , - you can thank me later!
When I see a firebird I either think of Brian Jones or Elliott Smith's second guitarist, during that live video where he had the green shirt with the massive sleeves lol
By far the best tutorial video on UA-cam detailing the Firebird perfectly! I absolutely love my Firebird it is a blues machine! Thanks a lot Jack well done
@@JackFossett but I must admit it did take some getting used to! After one month of playing my Firebird everyday I picked up my Strat and my Telly and they felt like toy guitars! I guess the firebird should come with Parental Guidance because it's definitely a big boy toy! 😆I put a set of Johnny Winters Mojo pickups in my Firebird they are incredible!
I bought an Epiphone "inspired by Gibson" Olive Drab Firebird a couple years ago. I really love mine. It sounds like it's own thing. Those Firebird pickups are unique and I love the body shape and the way feels when playing it.
I played an American Strat for years and recently bought a Firebird. It is hands down the best guitar I have ever played. Neck is thinner and faster than the Strat, all frets are easily accessible and the sound is just excellent. P.S I’ve also played a Gibson Les Paul and Epiphone ES and I still rate my Firebird as the best :D
FIREBIRD PICKUPS ARE NOT MINI HUMBUCKERS. A mini humbucker has a dark, less powerful sound because they're like a squished humbucker - one bobbin has 6 steel rods, one for each string, and the top bobbin has 6 steel screws. The magnet is *underneath* the coil. A firebird pickup is the same size as a mini humbucker, but they are _totally_ different. A Firebird has a Alnico 2 bar magnet at the center of *both* bobbins, so the sound is clearer and more powerful, and no pole pieces or magnets under the bobbins. I LOVE the way they sound.
Best guitar I've ever owned. My playing and technique skyrocketed after using one live for the first time. I'd gone through a strat, SG, tele, vintage LP and even a sheraton - and this blew them all away.
Bro, you remind me of one of my best friends from high-school! Great channel and awesome video. I’ve had my Firebird since like 2016 and as much as I absolutely love it, I have yet to find a spot in my music for it because it’s so damn hot and crispy. I’m never getting rid of it but I gotta find a way to really understand it.
Gibson Firebirds are perhaps the most underrated and one of the best guitars ever created. They were originally designed to compete with Fenders, most likely, the Jazzmaster, and the originals have a very bell-like pickup tone, but with more bottom end than a Fender. When you strap on one of these, you KNOW you are attached to a real guitar. I had an early III, which I was forced to sell and have always regretted losing.
Bought my '76 firebird in '78 from Guitar Center in San Francisco. Cannot tell you how many times I told people "no its not for sale at any price". Some day it will be my sons. But for now it's mine.
I think my very unpopular opinion is that the Firebird is a guitar that many people play more so because it looks very cool and less because they enjoy its tone. Firebirds have always had trouble distinguishing themselves tonally in the world of guitars. Like you said, they're kind of like Tele's on steroids. But not many necessarily want or need tele tones like that. Most people are fine with either using single coils or humbucker tones. P90s have always kind of filled that space that mini humbuckers are supposed to in terms of being a middle ground between humbuckers and single coils. While I'm sure most people do actually enjoy the tones of firebirds, I still a lot of people appreciate the looks of a firebird much more than it's tone. I still love the firebird, but more so for its looks. It's kind of like what you said with Eric Clapton's use of a firebird live. Clapton tried to use Firebirds for the purpose of playing a high gain performance and it just didn't work out.
I wouldn't disagree that the looks are a big part of it. I do think the tone is cool and unique though. Maybe doesn't fill a need so much as is a nice option to have. But it also depends on how they're played, which is part of why I shot this. I do see alot of people, lets say "misusing" Firebirds, if there is such an admittedly judgmental way to look at it.
“Where does the Firebird sit in the sonic spectrum?” - at the top , , , , Where does the Firebird sit in the looks department?~ at the top , , , , Where in your list of “cool” do you place the Firebird? - at the top , , , , I could go on and on and on and on , , , I SOOOO WANT THAT GUITAR.
Awesome video! Great playing btw! It's been my dream guitar for years. I'd love to get one someday. One thing I didn't like was that Gibson stopped using the banjo tuners on the standard line of Firebirds around 2009 I believe? You have to buy a custom shop Firebird to get it with the banjo tuners. I love the tone because I'm a Johnny Winter fan. Just an amazing sounding guitar especially when cranked through an old Marshall or Fender, but I totally agree with you, it's not meant to be a high gain guitar. I can't stand super hi gain anyway, I think so many players today use WAY too much gain. You lose all the clarity with too much gain. It also covers up bad playing. It's basically a crutch. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now lol. Time for me to find a used Firebird 3 or 5 with banjo tuners.
I totally agree. The steinbergers are pretty awful. I’ve casually looked into replacing them with banjo tuners but it seems pretty difficult if even possible
I was told by a friend years back that I should play a Firebird because there isn’t a modern guitar slinger who’s using one. I started using one and loaded it with 90’s & have one being built for me that’s going to be crazy special. Actually a few crazy special Firebird guitars. The problem with them is that they don’t get enough love. They have an amazing sonic delivery that other guitars don’t have & they look so damn cool!
Clapton used the Fbird on the Goodbye Cream album, which featured three brilliant live jams..I'm So Glad, Politician and Sitting On Top of the World...
@@JackFossett I guess he used the SG in the studio recording. His technique in those days squeezed the tone juice out of any guitar he played. I play LPs currently.. I think I would have trouble adjusting to the stretch to the lower frets. All the best and thanks for the reply.
great video. i just got my 1st Firebird 6 mos ago. used 2015 mint. I didnt expect it but it has become my main guitar. great on classic rock songs . plug into a JCM2000 with good tubes in it and Smile!
I'm so with you on the bridge pickup being the "front" pickup and the neck being the "back". It's so much more intuitive. Absolutely nothing about the bridge pickup suggests "back" to me either and its somehow even more wrong calling the neck pickup the "front'".
I had the privilege of trying one of these in my local guitar shop today. I thought it was simply fantastic. An incredibly playable neck, a deep, rich tone and 'endless' sustain, plus many other great features. An unusual shape experience, but I soon got used to it.
It kills me that no one mentions Gatemouth Brown. No disrespect to all the other great guitar players who played Firebirds but Gatemouth was incredible.
The firebird is a cool guitar! I want one but have never pulled the trigger on one just yet. I agree with a lot of the classic players who have used them like Johnny Winter and Albert Collins Etc but also check out Scott Holiday of Rival Sons. He uses a couple of different ones and is a a big fan of them. I cannot help but to be further impressed with all the positive comments the firebird has gotten. I've always thought it was a cool looking guitar I like how it had its own specific pickups. Also the neck through Construction and cool looking headstock with those banjo style tuners are also big pluses for me. The only question is classic white or the traditional sunburst??
I have a 2016 Firebird V on which I installed a vibrola, a 2017 SG Special with a Bigsby B7, and a Epiphone ES-339 Pro, I find them to be the perfect mix of guitars for any sound. I mostly play blues and classic rock.
Great video. Love my firebird. I have fiber saddles under the HE,B, and G strings that takes out the tele twang and leaves a more strat like high end. Now I have a great HB low end (not as hot as full size humbuckers) and a piercing but not overly shrill high end.
Ahhhh yeah, now THAT'S the classic sound of the good old US of A right there as far as I'm concerned! This is one electric guitar that truly speaks to me on a deeper level (Fender Blacktop Baritone Telecaster, Rickenbacker 330, and the Gretsch Falcon all get honorable mentions in that category as well). Would love to see Derek Trucks rock out on a Firebird for a change, especially with a slide...
I was really wanting a firebird and your video helped me pull the trigger. Quickly has become my go to after years of being a strat guy. Don’t get me wrong, still love my strats, but like others have said, there is something magical and mystical about a firebird
Years later now, but Epiphone knocked it out of the park with their new version of the original Firebird, which is close to original spec - especially pickups!! I already have Lollar Firebird pickups in a Shijie TLV classic P-90 (great P-90 pickups, but I have another one already). I have Firebird pickups in humbucking sized mounts for a Gibson LP Special (I have another one with humbuckers, SDpickups version - Dave is a crazy genius!). Since I obviously love Firebird pickups, after reading all the rave reviews I decided to buy one new $649USD shipped. Sweetwater keeps running-out as fast as they get them, so I went to ZZounds again, they have a warehouse in Nevada which ships to me in Portland within a couple days, already got an Epi Flying V and Explorer from them, $599USD each shipped?! This year they have the inspired by Gibson versions with hsc and burstbucker pickups, but they cost twice as much. I see people flipping these on Reverb for almost $1K now, they are that good, mine weigh 6lbs 6oz (one oz more on X), are very resonant, mostly two piece korina body and one piece korina neck, solid hardware and electronics, 1958 spec including medium frets (I like them this time) that have enough meat for bending. But I digress...? Thanks Jack, you'll likely never see this, but you helped me decide I had to get a Firebird, and these new Epiphone versions are spec-on, getting rave reviews, people keep saying they are better than the Gibson versions they used to have.......................cheers bro!
4 years ago! My goodness. Just got my Epiphone last week. Having owned a '76 Bicentennial Gibson, this hutar simply blew me away! Epiphone has improved many aspecs, fixing neck dive with perfect, 18:1 kidney's. Very comfortable to play sitting down. You are correct. It is a metal monster. Rock monster, Free Bird, dude, lol. It is slim and 60's tv modelesque. Not really fancy, just absolutely beautiful, comfortable, and the pickups ar absolut fantastic guitar, a blem , which I cant find anywhere, for &549..00. All the Firebird Ill ever need. Proving that you are the best and coolest channel for 4 years now. 12:48
I tried out a Firebird the other day at Andertons. I was wowed by the clean tones both from the neck pickup on its' own, and from both pickups together. I was playing this through a Supro Delta King 12 Combo Amp - which is a great amp, one I thoroughly recommend. Needless to say, I am seriously considering getting one in the foreseeable future. *However, I do feel this is a guitar with pros and cons, as follows:* *PROS:* 1) THE TONE. The clean tones are full, rich, and sonorous. I am a fingerstyle guitarist who plays jazz and jazz-influenced music. I only ever use clean tones clean tones, and I cannot fault the clarity and richness of the sound from the lowest notes to the highest. 2) THE NECK. The neck was super-comfortable and seems to suit my playing style to a 'T.' 3) POWERFUL LOWER NOTES. The reverse headstock means that the 6th string is longer than normal (here I'm including both the speaking and non-speaking parts of the string) which helps to give a powerful tone for lower notes, because the string is under greater tension than on a conventional guitar. 4) LIGHT WEIGHT. The body weight is surprisingly light - nowhere NEAR as heavy as a Les Paul, or a Yamaha Revstar. *CONS:* 1) BODY SHAPE. The body has a very odd shape is large, and is somewht awkward to play when sitting down. This is not a deal-breaker for me, but it is a factor to be considered. 2) NECK-DIVE. The guitar suffers from 'neck dive.' *For me, this is of no relevance whatsoever, because I have a shoelace around the headstock just after the nut, tied onto my guitar strap.* But I realize that for many people this might be less than desirable. 3) IMAGE. The image of the Firebird is as an instrument used exclusively for heavy rock, with overdriven/distortion set to the max. And this is NOT what I play. In theory, I should be playing a 335 - however, I have tendonitis in my right shoulder, and the lower bout of a 335 is around 16 inches, which is simply too big for me. I realise that as a substitue for a 335 the Firebird might seem an insane choice - but for anyone who like me plays jazz, and fingerstyle guitar using clean tones, this guitar sings like few others.
I love, for example, Dave Mason and his Gibson Firebird on the album "Certified Live" (1976). You may hear at least the audio files in UA-cam, just search for it: ua-cam.com/video/KmF11a65Pno/v-deo.html See this pic: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Mason#/media/Datei:Dave_Mason_4_-_1974.jpg Dave Mason once was part of "Traffic", has written "Feelin' Allright" for Traffic (indeed, look: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Mason#Singles), but always had his own voice - singing and playing this wonderful guitar. And, well, I really dig Dave Masons version of Bob Dylan's and Jimi Hendrix' "All Allong The Watchtower" on this album, with a very, very good grooving band in his back. The Firebird flies higher and higher, it seems to open Mason the way "upstairs" to Jimi, just to ask him, what a Firebird could have meant or can mean to the master himself. Mr. Firebird for me is Johnny Winter. I was lucky enough to meet and greet Johnny backstage before a concert in Nuremberg, Germany. He was in the best mood and shape that was possible then ... He was not able to play a Gibson Firebird on stage, he was to weak. He used the easy-to-play "Fazer" headless guitar he preferred in those late years. To meet Johnny Winter, to make him smile, I had brought my Japan made "Orville by Gibson" Firebird (Gibson produced in Japan for 20 years, for the japanese market). He took it, felt it, both hands wandering over body, neck, headstockm hardware. Yes, he gave a big smile: "These yellow men know how to do it!" He signed the guitar, no problem for him. Since then, I am a happy man - having a "Johnny Winter Firebird" on my side. And, no, I will not sell this one. I have to take it with me on my way "upstairs" to meet Johnny again.
I'm buying a 17 Gibson Firebird T Pelham blue I just bought a 17 Fender USA Eric Johnson signature stratocaster I miss my Telecaster and I love the look of the firebird and the way it plays I'm 5ft8 and yeah its a big guitar but it's a nice guitar to play awesome tone
I've actually not had a problem with this one being neck heavy, due to the Steinberger tuners I believe. Much lighter than the original banjo style tuners.
I’ve had mine for a few months and I’m still a little on the fence with it. There is a certain stiffness with it when it comes to bending the strings. I’m much more likely to just pick up my LP standard. I am going to try some 9s on it and maybe swap the bridge pickup before I let it go though. The necks on these are very wide and flat but one interesting thing about these is it gives you extra access to the lower strings above the 12th fret.
Good explanation of these somewhat quirky guitars. One thing you didn't mention that I hear a lot from other players - the ergonomics can be weird. Personally, my Firebird is very comfortable for me to play, but others have issues with "everything sitting forward towards the headstock". I find the sound to be really versatile. Amazing twang and bite but still gets fat with the tone rolled a bit. I've been playing mine with crunch and boosted crunch (early Sabbath-ish) and it sounds stellar. The brightness helps fight the compression of a saturated power amp.
it's so nice to see a video like this on the firebird. I find it also to be the overlook guitar. You see a lot of reviews for the let's even say that he had 2019 lineup and it's like they mention the firebird nothing about the specs or anything sometimes a disparaging remark on the color of something and then just passed it by. The firebird has always been my favorite guitar from any brand. I think they sound like a Firebird I don't even compare it to anything else it's unique. And it was Johnny Winter that got me spyzie you know what when it comes to this guitar. I remember the album cover for still alive and well and he's got that katara right there next to him. I've seen him so many times playing that guitar and it was because I wanted. I own a Firebird v finally I love it it's beautiful it's unique got its own sounds. And you're right about that stuff bridge pickup it could be a little bit shop or whatever the time you want to use. Although I think some 2013 maybe they change the pick up to very high output pickups the pickups on my guitar are very high output and they are the dreaded word when it comes to pickups ceramic! The boogeyman ceramics. they sound great anyway I'm so glad to see this video I love Gibson Firebird I love Gibson. And it's nice to see people doing Gibson guitars that are a Les Paul. I also own an FJ love that also sick my next purchase will be the a hollow body or semi hollow-body maybe a 3:35 and then I think I'm done with the Gibson I really want. Thanks for your video I'd like to end this this please excuse any typos misspelled words that's not lie lack of punctuation I'm not illiterate I'm not even at that cipher I'm just legally blind mr. Magoo was like super eyes compared to me and I use speech to text and it also has a mind of its
I dropped a pair of Lollar Firebird pickups on a Chinese made Epiphone Crestline.. it completely changed an ok guitar into a real keeper. It’s a drop in mod. There is something special about the sound they reproduce.
Hehe, first time I NEED to disagree with you (just my humble opinion): The front pickup can only be the NECK-PU! I also don't understand, why the pickup-selector positions (for example in a strat) are this way... for me the 1 is always the neck; 2 is neck-middle and so on... Maybe we europeans think in a reverse way, but though I can see your point, I myself can't understad front = bridge! 😋 Though this video is a year "old", I want to praise this one, too! My statement above should not be taken too serious! Greetings my big big youtube- 'n musicisnship-inspiration! Yours, Phil :-)
I played the newest Epiphone version and it sounded great but the balance of the guitar is weird -it’s as though all the weight is in the neck and sitting with it the guitar wants to head south going neck first ! Guy in the store agreed and said the Gibson is exactly the same . Years ago I played a vintage Firebird through a Fender Super Twin and it’s been a holy grail sound for me but was out of my price range ... then and now !!
When I first got mine (bought out of "curiosity" after decades of playing strats, tele's, and SG's), I thought... "Mmmm...what's going on here?!" I couldn't work out where it "sat" at all. But slowly it dawned on me... Its THE sound of "Classic Rock"...but with a very "acoustically" clear edge. Each note it very defined. Now I love it. I'm not sure you would want to play a whole gig with one, but for CERTAIN songs....nothing else will do.
H Jack, Thanx for the vid- we r on the same page- Dark Cherry 2007 Firebird with SD Antiquitys- it was a Maserati, now an F! Ferrari- sadly not using it in the rockabilly/ rock n roll show here in Brisbane- the Rickenbacker 360 does the job- the Moonbeams sound delicious- you r right- I found the Bird a cross between a Tele and a Gibson Standard. Maybe will give it a run at a gig- certainly has hot rod style!! Have owned an Explorer, Standard, Special- none come close to this Firebird. Vale Johnny Winter
I have an Epiphone Firebird (a cherry version) with two full-size humbuckers. Not really sure of the pedigree, because there is no identification on it.
I find it amazing that the SG is more popular than this guitar. The firebird is stunningly gorgeous especially when it's got the banjo tuners and straight string pull. The headstock design is so cool. Then you look at the SG, it's like a little toy guitar. The only thing I can think of is the guitar is shifted to the left...for a righty. When you play one, both of your hands are shifted to the left. But slightly. And you get used to it fast. All I know is in buying one! Gonna bite the bullet and use it love of the firebird to by my first Gibson guitar!
My cousin here in finland was a world class professional player and he wanted to have original firebird but it was impossible because of the resale value of the vintage firebird was uncertain. So he had pre-cbs strat as his main guitar.
No one does what I see is obvious. Pair up a PAF with a Firebird at the neck. You set up the PAF with a killer fat sound and that set up works on the Firebird PU it will not go muddy or woofy yet is still clear and full.
Daniel Lanois used a firebird live until he put a firebird pickup into his 53 Les Paul, now he only tours with the Les Paul (& the pedal steel) and his firebird stays in the studio.
Thanks for your explanation - I totally agree that it is like a tele on steroids more than a strat. I have a heritage cherry firebird and absolutely love it. It is the perfect fit for me and I think it rides the line between Fender and Gibson tone and feel and is amazing for blues.
Misrepresented mostly. The pickups in the reissues are nothing like the original pickups. They sound like shit. The Reissues sound absolutely nothing like the originals.
I have the fb v and the studio and don't venture outside of those 2. I have other guitars like a strat ,LP and acoustic guitar but they just collect dust.
It definitely has something 'Tele' like about, but I would also add almost an acoustic like vibe too, a totally unique tone within my collection. It's the guitar I reach for first when I need a sound that I can't get from my Fenders or my other Gibsons. I've had mine for over ten years now. Classic white '09, the last year of the banjo tuners on the standard production models. I know they're ridiculous and some people have trouble with them but I love them. Mine are actually really stable now but it took a couple of years of constant attention early on. I love what you said about playing differently on different instruments. One of the things I enjoy about owning various different guitars is how they make me play differently, almost as if I'm not really in control of it. In addition to the different sonic qualities, I would add that they feel completely different and this affects the way you play too. A Firebird sits in your lap and hangs off your shoulders in a different position than a Les Paul or a Strat or an ES335, and it puts your hands in a different position. Nothing looks cooler either, I'll never get rid of mine.
You could have mentioned what a pain in the ass it is to sit on a stand, how much of a coffin case you need to house it, and how you have to get used to a very different playing position you need.
Nicer to play is sort of difficult as feeling wise they’re so different. The Les Paul feels more familiar, but that’s just because they’re more common and I play them more frequently. I’ve done a shootout between a Firebird and a Les Paul if you’re interested in hearing them back to back!
I just traded in a Les Paul for a Firebird and I was blown away by how comfortable it is. Your right arm sits in the nook on the top and guides the hand to where it has to be. I thought I would have to get used to the neck being further over to the left but it felt more natural than a Les Paul, for me at least, and I'm 5' 9". And I really love LPs. My band mates who play guitar said the same thing. mine isn't even neck heavy and it's lighter than most LPs at 8 lbs. Definitely underrated
Thanks for watching! Please remember to like and subscribe, and join me for some music ~ open.spotify.com/artist/6RLQFre2Qp5T454mFR5Ol4
Jack Fossett: What do you think of the custom shop firebird V 1964 reissue compared to its gibson usa equivalent? Is the price of the custom shop worth it?
Dear Mr Fossett, President Gibson Firebird Appreciation Organization. I don't have a spotify subscription. Is there any other platform where your music is available? I'm guessing you earn money or some benefit from people listening to your music on spotify and I'm sorry I can't contribute to it. Maybe you have a patreon thing? I'll look:)
Michael Boyer
Vice President, Gibson Firebird Appreciation Organization
Mister Bee hey, thank you! Appreciate the interest - you can also hear my tunes on Bandcamp: jackfossett.bandcamp.com
The Firebird is like that guitar that you see that one cool guy playing while everyone else has SGs and Les Pauls.
Allen Collins
Couldnt agree more!
Johnny Winter!!
Johnny Winter was one of those cool guys!
haha I like that.
ive never really liked the look of the firebird, but they do sound amazing!
When I saw Cream in Denver on October 6th, 1968, I remember being surprised that Clapton was playing a Firebird rather than his custom painted SG, "The Fool!"
Thats awesome! I've seen Clapton but never Cream. I first heard it on Cream Live (Vol II I think) where they play White Room and I had no idea what he was playing. I actually pictured a Telecaster in my mind.
@@JackFossett When he was briefly in Cream, I think he was mainly into Gibsons. In fact, with the help of Jim Marshall's amps that you could push into overdrive, and the volume knobs, as a joke, went up to "11", Clapton pioneered that "Bluesbreakers" tone. He didn't love Fender Strats until later. Of course, one of my other favorite bluesmen, Johnny Winter, could often be seen with a Firebird!
Marc Morgan yes he primarily played a Les Paul early on and later favored the Fool SG, a cherry 335 and the Bird which he used on a few songs
@@JackFossett
If you relisten to Live Cream vol 2..Steppin Out and Sunshine in particular, it will be obvious to you that he's using the SG. You're thinking of the 3 live tracks on Goodbye Cream.. Firebird sounding awesome.
All the best..
Paul Stanley of Kiss turned rock fans onto the Firebird I due to him playing one on the cover of Kiss Alive.
i actually prefer firebirds to any other gibson. all the meat and potatoes of a gibson humbucker but with all the bite i seem to miss with a lot of gibsons i've picked up. totally agree, firebirds are WAAYYYY underrated and underappreciated
Johnny Winter played one...
I'm so confused. I've seen Gibson Firebird's, GF that are set neck with flat front and back, I've seen the two different headstocks and I don't think they follow whether or not they have banjo tuners, I've seen Epiphone fb's that are set neck with flat front and back but haven't seen any Epiphone fb's with the better headstock design with wood showing. I've seen two Gibson FB's on two different Anderton's videos that show something on the back of the headstock near the lower tuners that they didn't address. But when I research Gibson and Epiphone websites and any Firebird Wikipedia page they don't have a comprehensive breakdown of models, features, variants, etc. The Gibson and Epiphone Firebird models are not only under rated, not well known, etc, they're also cheated in terms of the love they should get from people adding to Wikipedia. The FB's have been especially cheated by their parents, with a lack of information on Gibson and Epiphone websites. Neglect is considered abuse!
“It’s not like a Stratocaster... It’s like a bluesy Telecaster on steroids.”
Yes.
Thats fake news!
Strats sound thin and bad and they are cheap. Firebird is a work of art and sounds great
@@mikeraz594 I'm hardly a Strat guy myself, though the pickups can be improved for bass if you stick those metal base plates on the bottom of the pickups. This doesn't alter the tone much, but they don't feel so much like a tin shed after that mod.
A " tetchy tele" lol
You are so right
I've always played Fender guitars, I just don't connect with the necks on LPs and SGs. However, Firebird is the best of both worlds. The neck is my dream neck - the sounds are incredible and the darn thing looks cool as any guitar has a right to look.
The only thing I think when I see or hear a firebird is Allen Collins
The ONLY ONE THAT COUNTS!!!!!!
Amen
Again Skynard gets overlooked. That 3 guitar attack with the strat,a firebird and a les Paul was magical. The architects of "southern rock" in my opinion.
Eric Clapton
Johnny Winter
The Firebird is a magical being, much like a unicorn. No other guitar, let alone a Gibson ever sounded like it.
Same goes for their Thunderbirds. I’ve only had two of the Gibson’s, a ‘64 and a ‘76. Insane tone and rumble sound, the type that gives you goosebumps. Look up Tom Petersson’s T-bird. It’s a similar sound.
@@darthjarjarbinks8953 It's the only Gibson bass I've ever really liked.
I fell in love with firebirds after hearing johnny winter.
He's the best!
Arthur C Ditto for me too Arthur. To me Johnny will always be THE Firebird maestro! 👍
Jack Fossett nice song you played in begining of the video i like it
@@anridapu I wholeheartedly agree!
Master of the firebird
Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd was a fantastic guitarist who used a Firebird, which is why I bought one. I absolutely love it. While the mini-humbuckers might have lower gain than some other hotter pickups, they absolutely scream playing classic rock. The tone controls are very good at dialing in all kinds of tones from clean and clear to rock and roll. I've played it side by side with my LP's, and it definitely holds its own, and doesn't weigh half as much. Comfortable neck too.
A P-90 was retrofitted in the bridge position of Allen's
@@larryn2682 I didn't know that!
Firebird pickups are not mini humbuckers like in the LP Deluxe, they’re Firebird pickups,which are quite different from mini hums
I bought a Firebird V just because it looked cool, played it for a couple of weeks and ended up hating it. It was in its case unplayed for 19 years until I saw the case and couldn't remember what it was so took it out and played it again. Went for an audition with a band a few weeks later with the Firebird and since then never played anything else. I now have 5 Firebirds...super guitar and they definitely grow on you. In my case it took a very long time :-)
KVN all’s well that ends well 😃
The best story ever 😂
Easily one of the best playing guitars above the 12th fret. You can get at all of it with a LOT less effort than most electric guitars.
Brian Jones and Allen Collins also loved their firebirds!!
Yes! Glad you brought up Brian Jones. 👍
Wes Snipes everybody forgets Allen . He was amazing .
even god himself, clapton, loved his firebird 1
Gary Moore too. Next to his strat and LP of course.
Johnny Winter,
Never ever forget The Man, Alan Collins, the Freebird, Firebird man.
I been a Les Paul player most of my life. Recently the Firebird took over the number one slot. The Steinberg tuners are amazing accurate and easy to use. I hated the stock pickups and replaced them with some handwound 63 era pups. They are great in the fact that I can have a fuller version of a strat mixed with more clarity than my Les Paul. The access on the neck is really nice!
And I've put Lollars…… mmmmm
I prefer the Steinbergers also.
Free Bird Allen Collins and his Firebird!
I've seen Tom Petty and Mike Campbell playing Firebirds live.
Love the firebird I own 3 of them they stand alone
Hey man, , you own three? - well even the greatest guitar players can only manage one at a time, ,
I’m thinking maybe you’re trying too hard, , , perhaps you should just keep to your favourite one, practice hard on that, and “loan me “ the other two , - you can thank me later!
When I see a firebird I either think of Brian Jones or Elliott Smith's second guitarist, during that live video where he had the green shirt with the massive sleeves lol
Thank you Johnny Winter! Johnny did for Firebirds what Jimi Hendrix did for Stratocasters ❤
Call me young but it was Nick Wheeler from the All American Rejects that made me a fan of Firebirds, such a beautiful guitar.
Steve Clark from Def Leppard is the notable Firebird player I always think of first
By far the best tutorial video on UA-cam detailing the Firebird perfectly! I absolutely love my Firebird it is a blues machine! Thanks a lot Jack well done
Wow, thanks!
@@JackFossett but I must admit it did take some getting used to! After one month of playing my Firebird everyday I picked up my Strat and my Telly and they felt like toy guitars! I guess the firebird should come with Parental Guidance because it's definitely a big boy toy! 😆I put a set of Johnny Winters Mojo pickups in my Firebird they are incredible!
I bought an Epiphone "inspired by Gibson" Olive Drab Firebird a couple years ago. I really love mine. It sounds like it's own thing. Those Firebird pickups are unique and I love the body shape and the way feels when playing it.
I played an American Strat for years and recently bought a Firebird. It is hands down the best guitar I have ever played.
Neck is thinner and faster than the Strat, all frets are easily accessible and the sound is just excellent.
P.S I’ve also played a Gibson Les Paul and Epiphone ES and I still rate my Firebird as the best :D
I have a 2013 Firebird. She’s got a voice like an angel and I love her with all my heart! 🥰❤️😘
FIREBIRD PICKUPS ARE NOT MINI HUMBUCKERS.
A mini humbucker has a dark, less powerful sound because they're like a squished humbucker - one bobbin has 6 steel rods, one for each string, and the top bobbin has 6 steel screws. The magnet is *underneath* the coil.
A firebird pickup is the same size as a mini humbucker, but they are _totally_ different. A Firebird has a Alnico 2 bar magnet at the center of *both* bobbins, so the sound is clearer and more powerful, and no pole pieces or magnets under the bobbins. I LOVE the way they sound.
Excellent job Jack. Allen Collins really did the Firebird justice, along with Johnny & Eric.
...Alastair Collins?
Best guitar I've ever owned. My playing and technique skyrocketed after using one live for the first time. I'd gone through a strat, SG, tele, vintage LP and even a sheraton - and this blew them all away.
I think mine may be on the rise, too. Can't really explain it.
Bro, you remind me of one of my best friends from high-school! Great channel and awesome video. I’ve had my Firebird since like 2016 and as much as I absolutely love it, I have yet to find a spot in my music for it because it’s so damn hot and crispy. I’m never getting rid of it but I gotta find a way to really understand it.
Underrated? It's, imo, the best sounding and looking guitar ever. If the player sounds like Johnny Winter in his prime it doesn't hurt either. 😉
Best axe ever built. Gibson taking on the fender strat. No matter what guit I get, I always go back to the bird.
I love my Gibson Firebird. Love my Strat too. Couldn't find the humbucker tone I was wanting until I got the Firebird.
Gibson Firebirds are perhaps the most underrated and one of the best guitars ever created. They were originally designed to compete with Fenders, most likely, the Jazzmaster, and the originals have a very bell-like pickup tone, but with more bottom end than a Fender. When you strap on one of these, you KNOW you are attached to a real guitar. I had an early III, which I was forced to sell and have always regretted losing.
I can relate, we all have guitars that are "the one that got away" - it does feel like a very real guitar, great way of saying it
Bought my '76 firebird in '78 from Guitar Center in San Francisco. Cannot tell you how many times I told people "no its not for sale at any price". Some day it will be my sons. But for now it's mine.
my dad said he played a 76 and it was one of the best guitars he had ever played.
I think my very unpopular opinion is that the Firebird is a guitar that many people play more so because it looks very cool and less because they enjoy its tone. Firebirds have always had trouble distinguishing themselves tonally in the world of guitars. Like you said, they're kind of like Tele's on steroids. But not many necessarily want or need tele tones like that. Most people are fine with either using single coils or humbucker tones. P90s have always kind of filled that space that mini humbuckers are supposed to in terms of being a middle ground between humbuckers and single coils. While I'm sure most people do actually enjoy the tones of firebirds, I still a lot of people appreciate the looks of a firebird much more than it's tone. I still love the firebird, but more so for its looks. It's kind of like what you said with Eric Clapton's use of a firebird live. Clapton tried to use Firebirds for the purpose of playing a high gain performance and it just didn't work out.
I wouldn't disagree that the looks are a big part of it. I do think the tone is cool and unique though. Maybe doesn't fill a need so much as is a nice option to have. But it also depends on how they're played, which is part of why I shot this. I do see alot of people, lets say "misusing" Firebirds, if there is such an admittedly judgmental way to look at it.
Looks and tone
“Where does the Firebird sit in the sonic spectrum?” - at the top , , , ,
Where does the Firebird sit in the looks department?~ at the top , , , ,
Where in your list of “cool” do you place the Firebird? - at the top , , , ,
I could go on and on and on and on , , , I SOOOO WANT THAT GUITAR.
Oh here he is, the little brother of my Thunderbird. 😅
Btw. Great video, very good and understandable explanation of the guitar.
I don’t know if I want one of these or an sg ... they’re both so cool and classic ... I’m leaning towards this it’s so different
The difference does make it very appealing. Gets all the tones but slightly outside the box.
Jack Fossett there’s a beautiful Pelham blue one on for sale near me it’s a lyre mode 1600$ Canadian it’s been eyeing me
Awesome video! Great playing btw! It's been my dream guitar for years. I'd love to get one someday. One thing I didn't like was that Gibson stopped using the banjo tuners on the standard line of Firebirds around 2009 I believe? You have to buy a custom shop Firebird to get it with the banjo tuners. I love the tone because I'm a Johnny Winter fan. Just an amazing sounding guitar especially when cranked through an old Marshall or Fender, but I totally agree with you, it's not meant to be a high gain guitar. I can't stand super hi gain anyway, I think so many players today use WAY too much gain. You lose all the clarity with too much gain. It also covers up bad playing. It's basically a crutch. Ok, I'm off my soapbox now lol. Time for me to find a used Firebird 3 or 5 with banjo tuners.
I totally agree. The steinbergers are pretty awful. I’ve casually looked into replacing them with banjo tuners but it seems pretty difficult if even possible
I agree with you on your comment about high gain covering up bad playing.
I was told by a friend years back that I should play a Firebird because there isn’t a modern guitar slinger who’s using one. I started using one and loaded it with 90’s & have one being built for me that’s going to be crazy special. Actually a few crazy special Firebird guitars. The problem with them is that they don’t get enough love. They have an amazing sonic delivery that other guitars don’t have & they look so damn cool!
Clapton used the Fbird on the Goodbye Cream album, which featured three brilliant live jams..I'm So Glad, Politician and Sitting On Top of the World...
I particularly liked Clapton using the bird for White Room on various recordings.
@@JackFossett I guess he used the SG in the studio recording. His technique in those days squeezed the tone juice out of any guitar he played. I play LPs currently.. I think I would have trouble adjusting to the stretch to the lower frets. All the best and thanks for the reply.
What did Clapton play on Badge? To me it sounds different from his SGs, and I’m not sure if he was using strats by then
I believe it was his red 335 on Badge
great video. i just got my 1st Firebird 6 mos ago. used 2015 mint. I didnt expect it but it has become my main guitar. great on classic rock songs . plug into a JCM2000 with good tubes in it and Smile!
I'm so with you on the bridge pickup being the "front" pickup and the neck being the "back". It's so much more intuitive. Absolutely nothing about the bridge pickup suggests "back" to me either and its somehow even more wrong calling the neck pickup the "front'".
Right? I did a talk feature on the subject too. Just doesn’t make sense.
Never really thought much about Firebirds before but I certainly am now
I had the privilege of trying one of these in my local guitar shop today. I thought it was simply fantastic. An incredibly playable neck, a deep, rich tone and 'endless' sustain, plus many other great features. An unusual shape experience, but I soon got used to it.
It kills me that no one mentions Gatemouth Brown. No disrespect to all the other great guitar players who played Firebirds but Gatemouth was incredible.
Hung out with gatemouth brown in Oxford MS. He was as funny as he was a guitar virtuoso.
Non reverse with mini humbuckers replacements.
The firebird is a cool guitar! I want one but have never pulled the trigger on one just yet. I agree with a lot of the classic players who have used them like Johnny Winter and Albert Collins Etc but also check out Scott Holiday of Rival Sons. He uses a couple of different ones and is a a big fan of them.
I cannot help but to be further impressed with all the positive comments the firebird has gotten. I've always thought it was a cool looking guitar I like how it had its own specific pickups. Also the neck through Construction and cool looking headstock with those banjo style tuners are also big pluses for me. The only question is classic white or the traditional sunburst??
I have a 2016 Firebird V on which I installed a vibrola, a 2017 SG Special with a Bigsby B7, and a Epiphone ES-339 Pro, I find them to be the perfect mix of guitars for any sound. I mostly play blues and classic rock.
Great video. Love my firebird. I have fiber saddles under the HE,B, and G strings that takes out the tele twang and leaves a more strat like high end. Now I have a great HB low end (not as hot as full size humbuckers) and a piercing but not overly shrill high end.
Ahhhh yeah, now THAT'S the classic sound of the good old US of A right there as far as I'm concerned! This is one electric guitar that truly speaks to me on a deeper level (Fender Blacktop Baritone Telecaster, Rickenbacker 330, and the Gretsch Falcon all get honorable mentions in that category as well). Would love to see Derek Trucks rock out on a Firebird for a change, especially with a slide...
I was really wanting a firebird and your video helped me pull the trigger. Quickly has become my go to after years of being a strat guy. Don’t get me wrong, still love my strats, but like others have said, there is something magical and mystical about a firebird
Awesome, congratulations and so glad to hear that the video made a positive impact!
Years later now, but Epiphone knocked it out of the park with their new version of the original Firebird, which is close to original spec - especially pickups!! I already have Lollar Firebird pickups in a Shijie TLV classic P-90 (great P-90 pickups, but I have another one already). I have Firebird pickups in humbucking sized mounts for a Gibson LP Special (I have another one with humbuckers, SDpickups version - Dave is a crazy genius!). Since I obviously love Firebird pickups, after reading all the rave reviews I decided to buy one new $649USD shipped. Sweetwater keeps running-out as fast as they get them, so I went to ZZounds again, they have a warehouse in Nevada which ships to me in Portland within a couple days, already got an Epi Flying V and Explorer from them, $599USD each shipped?! This year they have the inspired by Gibson versions with hsc and burstbucker pickups, but they cost twice as much. I see people flipping these on Reverb for almost $1K now, they are that good, mine weigh 6lbs 6oz (one oz more on X), are very resonant, mostly two piece korina body and one piece korina neck, solid hardware and electronics, 1958 spec including medium frets (I like them this time) that have enough meat for bending. But I digress...? Thanks Jack, you'll likely never see this, but you helped me decide I had to get a Firebird, and these new Epiphone versions are spec-on, getting rave reviews, people keep saying they are better than the Gibson versions they used to have.......................cheers bro!
4 years ago! My goodness. Just got my Epiphone last week. Having owned a '76 Bicentennial Gibson, this hutar simply blew me away! Epiphone has improved many aspecs, fixing neck dive with perfect, 18:1 kidney's. Very comfortable to play sitting down.
You are correct. It is a metal monster. Rock monster, Free Bird, dude, lol.
It is slim and 60's tv modelesque. Not really fancy, just absolutely beautiful, comfortable, and the pickups ar absolut fantastic guitar, a blem , which I cant find anywhere, for &549..00. All the Firebird Ill ever need. Proving that you are the best and coolest channel for 4 years now. 12:48
I have a 2019 Les Paul Classic and a Gibson 2011 (?) Flying V. Both are exceptional but I really want a Firebird!
I tried out a Firebird the other day at Andertons. I was wowed by the clean tones both from the neck pickup on its' own, and from both pickups together. I was playing this through a Supro Delta King 12 Combo Amp - which is a great amp, one I thoroughly recommend. Needless to say, I am seriously considering getting one in the foreseeable future. *However, I do feel this is a guitar with pros and cons, as follows:*
*PROS:*
1) THE TONE. The clean tones are full, rich, and sonorous. I am a fingerstyle guitarist who plays jazz and jazz-influenced music. I only ever use clean tones clean tones, and I cannot fault the clarity and richness of the sound from the lowest notes to the highest.
2) THE NECK. The neck was super-comfortable and seems to suit my playing style to a 'T.'
3) POWERFUL LOWER NOTES. The reverse headstock means that the 6th string is longer than normal (here I'm including both the speaking and non-speaking parts of the string) which helps to give a powerful tone for lower notes, because the string is under greater tension than on a conventional guitar.
4) LIGHT WEIGHT. The body weight is surprisingly light - nowhere NEAR as heavy as a Les Paul, or a Yamaha Revstar.
*CONS:*
1) BODY SHAPE. The body has a very odd shape is large, and is somewht awkward to play when sitting down. This is not a deal-breaker for me, but it is a factor to be considered.
2) NECK-DIVE. The guitar suffers from 'neck dive.' *For me, this is of no relevance whatsoever, because I have a shoelace around the headstock just after the nut, tied onto my guitar strap.* But I realize that for many people this might be less than desirable.
3) IMAGE. The image of the Firebird is as an instrument used exclusively for heavy rock, with overdriven/distortion set to the max. And this is NOT what I play. In theory, I should be playing a 335 - however, I have tendonitis in my right shoulder, and the lower bout of a 335 is around 16 inches, which is simply too big for me.
I realise that as a substitue for a 335 the Firebird might seem an insane choice - but for anyone who like me plays jazz, and fingerstyle guitar using clean tones, this guitar sings like few others.
I love, for example, Dave Mason and his Gibson Firebird on the album "Certified Live" (1976). You may hear at least the audio files in UA-cam, just search for it: ua-cam.com/video/KmF11a65Pno/v-deo.html
See this pic:
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Mason#/media/Datei:Dave_Mason_4_-_1974.jpg
Dave Mason once was part of "Traffic", has written "Feelin' Allright" for Traffic (indeed, look: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Mason#Singles), but always had his own voice - singing and playing this wonderful guitar. And, well, I really dig Dave Masons version of Bob Dylan's and Jimi Hendrix' "All Allong The Watchtower" on this album, with a very, very good grooving band in his back. The Firebird flies higher and higher, it seems to open Mason the way "upstairs" to Jimi, just to ask him, what a Firebird could have meant or can mean to the master himself.
Mr. Firebird for me is Johnny Winter. I was lucky enough to meet and greet Johnny backstage before a concert in Nuremberg, Germany. He was in the best mood and shape that was possible then ... He was not able to play a Gibson Firebird on stage, he was to weak. He used the easy-to-play "Fazer" headless guitar he preferred in those late years. To meet Johnny Winter, to make him smile, I had brought my Japan made "Orville by Gibson" Firebird (Gibson produced in Japan for 20 years, for the japanese market). He took it, felt it, both hands wandering over body, neck, headstockm hardware. Yes, he gave a big smile: "These yellow men know how to do it!" He signed the guitar, no problem for him. Since then, I am a happy man - having a "Johnny Winter Firebird" on my side. And, no, I will not sell this one. I have to take it with me on my way "upstairs" to meet Johnny again.
I have a 2013 firebird V and I agree with pretty much everything you say
Im selling all my Fenders & Gibsons and buying myself 3 Zakk Wylde Warhammers !...All three colors ! Dont be jealous ! Haw -haw-haw !!
I'm buying a 17 Gibson Firebird T Pelham blue I just bought a 17 Fender USA Eric Johnson signature stratocaster I miss my Telecaster and I love the look of the firebird and the way it plays I'm 5ft8 and yeah its a big guitar but it's a nice guitar to play awesome tone
The only Gibson I'd own. They are neck heavy but you can move the strap pegs and balance it out.
I've actually not had a problem with this one being neck heavy, due to the Steinberger tuners I believe. Much lighter than the original banjo style tuners.
I think it has something to do with the neck goes all the way through the body. Don't need a wammy bar. It ruins the tone.
I’ve had mine for a few months and I’m still a little on the fence with it. There is a certain stiffness with it when it comes to bending the strings. I’m much more likely to just pick up my LP standard. I am going to try some 9s on it and maybe swap the bridge pickup before I let it go though. The necks on these are very wide and flat but one interesting thing about these is it gives you extra access to the lower strings above the 12th fret.
Hi Jack, You mention " Lust for Tone Moonbeam" pickups. Can you say which other Firebird-type pickups you've tried?
The Firebird looks to me like a rounder explorer, and as I prefer rounder designs, I like the Firebird a lot, it looks rock n roll, but a bit subdued.
Good explanation of these somewhat quirky guitars. One thing you didn't mention that I hear a lot from other players - the ergonomics can be weird. Personally, my Firebird is very comfortable for me to play, but others have issues with "everything sitting forward towards the headstock".
I find the sound to be really versatile. Amazing twang and bite but still gets fat with the tone rolled a bit. I've been playing mine with crunch and boosted crunch (early Sabbath-ish) and it sounds stellar. The brightness helps fight the compression of a saturated power amp.
I've been thinking about maybe getting a Firebird, but so far not found one for a good price that I like.
it's so nice to see a video like this on the firebird. I find it also to be the overlook guitar. You see a lot of reviews for the let's even say that he had 2019 lineup and it's like they mention the firebird nothing about the specs or anything sometimes a disparaging remark on the color of something and then just passed it by. The firebird has always been my favorite guitar from any brand. I think they sound like a Firebird I don't even compare it to anything else it's unique. And it was Johnny Winter that got me spyzie you know what when it comes to this guitar. I remember the album cover for still alive and well and he's got that katara right there next to him. I've seen him so many times playing that guitar and it was because I wanted. I own a Firebird v finally I love it it's beautiful it's unique got its own sounds. And you're right about that stuff bridge pickup it could be a little bit shop or whatever the time you want to use. Although I think some 2013 maybe they change the pick up to very high output pickups the pickups on my guitar are very high output and they are the dreaded word when it comes to pickups ceramic! The boogeyman ceramics. they sound great anyway I'm so glad to see this video I love Gibson Firebird I love Gibson. And it's nice to see people doing Gibson guitars that are a Les Paul. I also own an FJ love that also sick my next purchase will be the a hollow body or semi hollow-body maybe a 3:35 and then I think I'm done with the Gibson I really want. Thanks for your video I'd like to end this this please excuse any typos misspelled words that's not lie lack of punctuation I'm not illiterate I'm not even at that cipher I'm just legally blind mr. Magoo was like super eyes compared to me and I use speech to text and it also has a mind of its
I dropped a pair of Lollar Firebird pickups on a Chinese made Epiphone Crestline.. it completely changed an ok guitar into a real keeper. It’s a drop in mod. There is something special about the sound they reproduce.
Hehe, first time I NEED to disagree with you (just my humble opinion): The front pickup can only be the NECK-PU! I also don't understand, why the pickup-selector positions (for example in a strat) are this way... for me the 1 is always the neck; 2 is neck-middle and so on...
Maybe we europeans think in a reverse way, but though I can see your point, I myself can't understad front = bridge! 😋
Though this video is a year "old", I want to praise this one, too! My statement above should not be taken too serious!
Greetings my big big youtube- 'n musicisnship-inspiration!
Yours,
Phil :-)
I played the newest Epiphone version and it sounded great but the balance of the guitar is weird -it’s as though all the weight is in the neck and sitting with it the guitar wants to head south going neck first ! Guy in the store agreed and said the Gibson is exactly the same . Years ago I played a vintage Firebird through a Fender Super Twin and it’s been a holy grail sound for me but was out of my price range ... then and now !!
When I first got mine (bought out of "curiosity" after decades of playing strats, tele's, and SG's), I thought...
"Mmmm...what's going on here?!"
I couldn't work out where it "sat" at all.
But slowly it dawned on me...
Its THE sound of "Classic Rock"...but with a very "acoustically" clear edge.
Each note it very defined.
Now I love it.
I'm not sure you would want to play a whole gig with one, but for CERTAIN songs....nothing else will do.
H Jack, Thanx for the vid- we r on the same page- Dark Cherry 2007 Firebird with SD Antiquitys- it was a Maserati, now an F! Ferrari- sadly not using it in the rockabilly/ rock n roll show here in Brisbane- the Rickenbacker 360 does the job- the Moonbeams sound delicious- you r right- I found the Bird a cross between a Tele and a Gibson Standard. Maybe will give it a run at a gig- certainly has hot rod style!! Have owned an Explorer, Standard, Special- none come close to this Firebird. Vale Johnny Winter
I have an Epiphone Firebird (a cherry version) with two full-size humbuckers. Not really sure of the pedigree, because there is no identification on it.
Joey Molland of Badfinger had one that’s what got me started
I find it amazing that the SG is more popular than this guitar. The firebird is stunningly gorgeous especially when it's got the banjo tuners and straight string pull. The headstock design is so cool. Then you look at the SG, it's like a little toy guitar. The only thing I can think of is the guitar is shifted to the left...for a righty. When you play one, both of your hands are shifted to the left. But slightly. And you get used to it fast. All I know is in buying one! Gonna bite the bullet and use it love of the firebird to by my first Gibson guitar!
The Firebird reminds me of the great guitarist Allen Collins and Jeff Carlisi two Jacksonville Florida Boys🤟🤟
My cousin here in finland was a world class professional player and he wanted to have original firebird but it was impossible because of the resale value of the vintage firebird was uncertain. So he had pre-cbs strat as his main guitar.
Put a LES PAUL DELUXE Minihumbucker in the bridge to get more power and less shrill tones. IT WILL FIT.
Always, loved it! Always, wanted one!!! Gotta a cheap Epiphone version with mods and I am in love with it!!!
No one does what I see is obvious. Pair up a PAF with a Firebird at the neck. You set up the PAF with a killer fat sound and that set up works on the Firebird PU it will not go muddy or woofy yet is still clear and full.
A Strat on steroids, or a bluesy Telecaster on steroids? So, with small testicles?
Edit: Ugh, screw you, Jack, now I have to get one.
I don't know what the hell is, but sounds damn good like no other guitar.
Daniel Lanois used a firebird live until he put a firebird pickup into his 53 Les Paul, now he only tours with the Les Paul (& the pedal steel) and his firebird stays in the studio.
Thanks for your explanation - I totally agree that it is like a tele on steroids more than a strat. I have a heritage cherry firebird and absolutely love it. It is the perfect fit for me and I think it rides the line between Fender and Gibson tone and feel and is amazing for blues.
Firebirds make me think of Stephen Stills in the 70ies.
I am going to build myself one
Misrepresented mostly. The pickups in the reissues are nothing like the original pickups. They sound like shit.
The Reissues sound absolutely nothing like the originals.
I have the fb v and the studio and don't venture outside of those 2. I have other guitars like a strat ,LP and acoustic guitar but they just collect dust.
Sounds good to me. Not much exp with one other than playing one a friend had (cr '76) Felt like i was chasing it sitting down. Two V's here.
Love my 2016 firebird to death a tone beast very broad tone spectrum
Nice!
It’s called the front pickup because it’s nearest the fretboard 🙃
Why is the headstock like that tho? The tuning pegs being on the opposite side
It definitely has something 'Tele' like about, but I would also add almost an acoustic like vibe too, a totally unique tone within my collection. It's the guitar I reach for first when I need a sound that I can't get from my Fenders or my other Gibsons. I've had mine for over ten years now. Classic white '09, the last year of the banjo tuners on the standard production models. I know they're ridiculous and some people have trouble with them but I love them. Mine are actually really stable now but it took a couple of years of constant attention early on. I love what you said about playing differently on different instruments. One of the things I enjoy about owning various different guitars is how they make me play differently, almost as if I'm not really in control of it. In addition to the different sonic qualities, I would add that they feel completely different and this affects the way you play too. A Firebird sits in your lap and hangs off your shoulders in a different position than a Les Paul or a Strat or an ES335, and it puts your hands in a different position. Nothing looks cooler either, I'll never get rid of mine.
You could have mentioned what a pain in the ass it is to sit on a stand, how much of a coffin case you need to house it, and how you have to get used to a very different playing position
you need.
Ha Jack do you find the firebird, nicer to play than a Les Paul? Shape ,size , neck etc.
Thanks,
Kim
Nicer to play is sort of difficult as feeling wise they’re so different. The Les Paul feels more familiar, but that’s just because they’re more common and I play them more frequently. I’ve done a shootout between a Firebird and a Les Paul if you’re interested in hearing them back to back!
I just traded in a Les Paul for a Firebird and I was blown away by how comfortable it is. Your right arm sits in the nook on the top and guides the hand to where it has to be. I thought I would have to get used to the neck being further over to the left but it felt more natural than a Les Paul, for me at least, and I'm 5' 9". And I really love LPs. My band mates who play guitar said the same thing. mine isn't even neck heavy and it's lighter than most LPs at 8 lbs. Definitely underrated