Firebird

[Bernard_Rzeznik]

Purely out of interest, I am wondering if any of you blessed lads own a Firebird??
I have recently decided that maybe one of those will be my next guitar. They are a slightly odd shape, but after seeing some photos of Brian Jones with one, I think I am convinced of their merits.
So, to those owners/players of them, how do they go? How do they sound? How are the mini humbuckers? How do they feel? How many questions will I ask?

 

[Lex Lurid]

Here you go Bernard, what I suspect will be the first of several responses and hopefully pictures.
This is my Art and Historic 1964 Firebird 111 ReIssue.

The "Boid" is a very versatile Beast and is often overlooked by Players because of certain features. By this I mean that Boids do have something of a reputation (undeservedly, in my opinion) for being Ungainly when being played. Yes, they do have a tendency towards being Neck Heavy, but look at that Headstock and then add the not inconsiderable weight of 6 Banjo Tuners!! No wonder the Poor Thing can attempt a Nose Dive!
The Balance problem is easily sorted out, the two popular ways of doing this are.... Positioning of Strap Buttons and (in my experience at least) the type of Strap that is used with a Bird.
Because of the Neck Through Construction.....When played on a strap, one of the first impressions that a newcomer to Birds will get is that the Neck appears to be VERY Long. It's always quite funny when you first let someone unused to a Bird have a go! They suddenly discover that the Nut end of the Fingerboard is rather further away than they at first thought! All of this passes very quickly and you soon discover that it is actually a very nice playing position? I find that it certainly isn't a "cramped" feeling.

Soundwise? Well again, people tend to either Love em or Loath em. I think that the Bird is possibly one of the most versatile Gibsons around. You really can do just about anything with one of these beauties. The Appearance might look somewhat out of place in a Jazz Combo ;D, but the Sounds wouldn't! The Mini Hums are so versatile......anything can be played from Country through to Melt Down Metal. I use mine predominately for Blues (Think Johnny Winter etc) and also for Slide. Sonny Landreth has been a Long Time Firebird user....as has Warren Haynes (spg?) and that has to say something for what can be done with one of these? I find that a Good Combination has always been a Bird and either an SG or a LP in a Band situation. The Bird can shine through all the Cleaner moments in an almost Fenderesque way, but open up the Gain...and then you REALLY discover what they can do!
Phil Manzenara (Roxy Music) gave my favourite quote many years ago regarding Firebirds............."It's Like Standing Under Concorde As Its Taking Off". They really do have some phenominal Power on Tap.

I have had 4 Birds over the years and they have all been incredible Guitars. It is just a personal thing with me....I happen to adore the Dot Inlays found commonly on either the 1 or the 111. The V has the familiar SG and LP Standard Coronets whilst the V11 has Block Inlays ala the Custom SG and LP. If buying Secondhand...watch out for Headstock Repairs! Yes ANOTHER Gibson that suffers from the age old problem.

If I have missed anything.....ask away. ALWAYS happy to talk Boids!

Pip Pip
Lexie :)

 

[Bernard_Rzeznik]

Happy indeed Lex! Thanks for the response. Quite helpful, and its always great to read about nice guitars, especially when the writer is passionate. Rock on!

 

[Voxman]

I do, I do !

Boy Lexington, yiou've outdone yourself .......

[move]BOID is da woid!        BOID is da woid[/move][move]BOID is da woid!       BOID is da woid[/move][move]BOID is da woid!         BOID is da woid[/move]

 

[Bernard_Rzeznik]

Looks beautiful Voxy!!


Gonna have to get myself one of these puppies... :)

 

[Voxman]

It's an acquired taste that grows on ya Bern ......

 

[alazary]

i guess im too busy admiring all the pedals and amps in the backround! but cool guit-fiddle.

 

[Bernard_Rzeznik]

when it comes to cool gear, you are truly out of control Voxman!! And good for you!! ;D

 

[Voxman]

[quote author=Bernard_Rzeznik link=topic=4089.msg54480#msg54480 date=1126531471]
when it comes to cool gear, you are truly out of control Voxman!! And good for you!! ;D
[/quote]

I'm more out of control when I'm not around it Bern....   :tickedoff: :funny: Just been in  my blood forever! :dontknow:

 

[Alex]

Here is a new one for sale on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Firebird...ryZ38086QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[E.Buzz]

Always have loved the way a Firebird looks, and I was knocked out by thier sound when I first heard Johnny Winter. Never really got into mini-hums, though.

 

[Voxman]

Is Tom thinking of a Boid? :funny: It is quite nice BTW!

 

[aisuru]

man, i love this thread ;D

 

[Alex]

I have thought about it lately. No money right now though.

 

[Voxman]

That's

  not

  an

  excuse 

around

   here 

Tom .....

 

[Alex]

Well I just bought a Gibson U2 and it should be shipped tomorrow.  I mainly bought it for the case as my Showcase Edition U2 came with a very nice gig bag.  They don't make the cases any more so this was the only way to get a case.  I'll see how much I like it when it gets here and if I decide to keep it I'll probably sell one of my Epiphone ET 290s.

For any who don't know what a Gibson U2 is here is the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...mp;rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEAFB:IT&rd=1

So no new guitars for a while.

 

[Voxman]

Look pretty new! Nice grab! .....

 

[CharlieB]

I was expecting a spy plane ... how HOW disappointed I'm feeling......

 

[E.Buzz]

Never was into the whole "super-Strat" bit...

 

[Lex Lurid]

Hi Tom,
I guess Brew will do his pieces when he returns home. He has a U2 which he has been toying with selling for ages now. ;D I kind of get the impression that he will be somewhat displeased that he missed the boat ...so to speak.

Pip Pip
Lexie :)