Members CicadaSilence Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Got this guy in the mail last night, right before band rehearsal. Let me preface this by saying that I've been a die-hard "Fender-camp" guy for years; I like 25.5" scale necks and single coils. I also NEED a damn whammy bar. I've always liked the look of Firebirds, though, and I found a pretty good price on this one whilst trolling fleabay. I jumped on it, and I'm glad I did. The neck is awesome, and it turns out the 24.75 scale doesn't bother me at all. The neck radius is nice and flat, which I like. Radius is a big deal to me; I hate that fizzy, choked-out sound that rounder radii can cause on string bends. Since I like low action, that's usually a conundrum. Fretwork is spectacular. The Steinberger gearless tuners are cool, but I'm a little apprehensive about them in the long run. You have to clamp them HARD to prevent string slippage. After 10 minutes, a bruised thumb and index finger, and ten + tries to tune the high e without slippage, I had to use a pair of pliers with a paper towel wrapped around the clamp knob. I'm a little worried about live string changes for this reason. I really like the tuning stability and response once you get 'em clamped tight enough. Time will tell, I guess. I've been neck bending to simulate a whammy bar, but I don't like doing that, especially on set neck instruments. I may invest in a Stetsbar in the near future, maybe after Giftmas. The one thing I can't get around are the pickups. They're pretty shit, honestly. Very muffy, woolly, almost no definition. I've played on quality humbuckers, and I don't care for the attack transients on the lower strings, especially when playing clean. I've never heard a humbucker bite or growl like single coils; they kinda grunt, to my ears. The stock Epi humbuckers are even worse: pure mush. And homey don't play dat. I'm looking at a set of Fralin Twangmasters and/or P92s. Single coil/P90 tones without ANY hum at all?! Fuck yeah. Again, maybe after the Giftmas season has come and gone. Anyhow, here it is in all it's Tobacco Burst (?) glory: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T3 Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 you're saying what most people generally say about epiphones really, good wood, bad electronics.... i've found the same thing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted December 4, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Yup. I picked it up expecting no less, so it's not really a shock. I planned on replacing the pickups anyway, as I said, 'buckers ain't my cup of tea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gambit Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 a firebird has always been in my top few favourite looking guitars, but i didn't realise epiphone had one of these classic shapes. do they make this old style still or just the reverse ones that look fugly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted December 4, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Yeah, they still make it. No longer available in Burst finish, only in faded cherry. Check it: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Firebird-Studio-Guitar?sku=519377 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belt Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 is the Gibson Firebird a short scale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted December 4, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Standard Gibson scale, as far as I know. 24.75". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belt Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Standard Gibson scale, as far as I know. 24.75". :argh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Belt Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 I don't know why I'm not a fan of the 24 3/4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted December 4, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Trust me, I know how you feel. That was my one major concern about this guitar when I was debating buying it, but I don't even notice it after about five seconds of playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members utterhack Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 it's not really a firebird without minibuckers but it's schmexxy as hell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted December 4, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 it's not really a firebird without minibuckers Yeah yeah yeah... It'll be even less a Firebird when I put a couple of Fralin P92s in it. but it's schmexxy as hell I think so too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MathiasWilliam Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Oh man, that is beautiful! If you are not keen on the pups just swap them for somethibng better, awesome guitar anyhow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members zooLemon Posted December 4, 2008 Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Upper fret access looks a little iffy, how is it? Are the steinberger tuners stock or added by the previous owner? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted December 4, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 4, 2008 Steinbergers are stock. Upper fret access is about the same as my Jazzmaster and Strat. Totally clear up to 19, but 20-22 necessitate hanging my thump over the top of the neck due the neck joint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members seifukusha Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 ilove my firebird. good choice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RUExp? Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 The Firebird is one of the only guitars that looks right with reverse headstock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NetStar Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 Does it have a cut away tummy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoboPimp Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 looks hot, how much did it run? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theweight Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 it's not really a firebird without minibuckers but it's schmexxy as hell This Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boytbpc Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 That, plus TV Jones PUs and a bigsby and I'd be in heaven Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C Fuzz Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 I had the Faded Cherry one for a while. The tuning was a never ending problem, the pickups did indeed sound muffled, and it is very top heavy (unbalanced when standing). But I still have my $200 Squier Tele. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CicadaSilence Posted December 5, 2008 Author Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 I had the Faded Cherry one for a while. The tuning was a never ending problem, the pickups did indeed sound muffled, and it is very top heavy (unbalanced when standing). But I still have my $200 Squier Tele. I agree; it's a very neck heavy guitar with the neck end strap button in the stock position, but I moved it to the back of the body, behind the neck joint, and now it balances just fine. Also, I've got nothing but love for cheapo Squiers. My favorite guitar is a Galactic Purple Squier strat I got for $179. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tb_308 Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 I have a red one with the trem arm... I'm actually the opposite: I don't care for single coils, but the mini-HBs can get that sound enough to satisfy my... I do kinda wish mine was the tobacco burst though :... oh well, cosmetics... sounds/plays great (minus neck-dive)... Happy NGD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ambient Exposure Posted December 5, 2008 Members Share Posted December 5, 2008 I hate the Firebird in red, but love it in Sunburst. With some decent pickups, the Epi FB sounds great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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