Members Anderton Posted August 11, 2011 Members Share Posted August 11, 2011 Well, I have a prototype here to test out with the final shipping firmware So it's really close. I'm going to ping Gibson and see if I can write up a preview and give audio examples before it's actually in stores. Obviously it's way out of reach financially for most guitarists, but what's interesting about it is I think a lot of its features will work their way down the food chain over the years, so it's something at least worth knowing about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aliensporebomb Posted August 12, 2011 Members Share Posted August 12, 2011 There was a hell of a lot of negative noise about the guitar when first announced. I guess the question nobody seemed to ask was "how is it as a guitar? how does it play? resonant? dense? stiff? buttah?" I'd like to try one out just to try it out. But the backlash that happened when that thing was announced was unlike anything I've ever witnessed. Part of it is that in order for the electronics to be seamless the body shape had to be so nerdy it makes Carvin's worst efforts look hipster approved. Curiously, I like the headstock. So, yeah, I'd be curious to see a review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 12, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 12, 2011 Well, I can't write a review in the traditional sense, because I was involved in doing sound design for the patches. But there are many objective things I can say, and the first is that just about every aspect of the guitar has changed since it was first introduced, from body shape, to finish, to pickups (redesigned from scratch), to the onboard processing. A few effects changes were made in response to suggestions I made, like being able to modulate the delay for chorus/delay effects, adding a lowpass filter in the delay feedback path, adding a vibrato effect, and including 9-band parametric EQ for the pickup EQ instead of the original 6-band. My personal opinion is that Gibson took the initial criticisms very seriously. Firebird X was supposed to be introduced last December, and they've been working on it continuously since then so that gives you an idea of the scope of the changes. As to the guitar itself, the balance surprised me. I thought either the Robo-Tuner heads would pull the headstock down, or the electronics would pull the body down, but it balances well. As to the neck and "liveness," I realize this is going to sound strange, but Firebird X feels to me like a Telecaster that jumped a couple quantum levels. It's "livelier" than a Les Paul; even one of the sound banks that uses all humbuckers and sounds the most like a Les Paul sounds more like a "lively Les Paul." It's hard to describe...it's like the notes jump out of the guitar. Also, it's just about impossible to "fret out." I'm really comfortable bending notes with it. Regarding the onboard effects (and note that you can't run Firebird X passively, it is an active guitar only), some people will love them and some people won't. I saw one producer in New York playing the Firebird X and he totally got into the effects, moving sliders and layering sounds live to produce a sort of mini-concert. It was mind-blowing, but I don't know how many people are that comfortable with technology to be able to just dive in and tame the beast 100%. However, one of the coolest aspects of the guitar is that the pickup switching possibilities are outrageous (it works out to over 2,000 possible combinations, and as you can trim gain, all of them are useable to one degree or another). It wouldn't surprise me if some guitarists replaced all the onboard patches with just dry pickup settings that sound like other guitars, while others will want patches with nothing but hardcore effects. With considerable help from people on the Firebird X project I was able to get Tele, Strat, ES 335, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, and other guitar sounds that are pretty much dead ringers, all without modeling, primarily by messing with the pickups and adding some light EQ. Some of these made it into the final patch set, the others are sitting on my computer But I think Gibson would like to make the additional patches available online. One of the advantages of the effects from my perspective, although I don't know how many people would care about this, is I can get computer-type effects modeling but without latency because the effects are in the guitar, not plug-ins. This past two weeks is the first time I've been able to really sit down and just play the guitar, and (I have to get subjective here) I love playing it and I love the sounds. It's really too bad it has to be so expensive, but I know what's in it and when you add everything up, I don't think they had much choice in terms of setting the price - for example it comes with battery-powered, Bluetooth-connected expression pedal and footswitch so they have no wires or cables, and there's a custom USB 2.0 audio interface that allows breaking out the six strings individually and has a MIDI port. Even the case is pretty cool, I'm confident enough about it that I've checked it as baggage with zero problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 13, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 13, 2011 I just found out that you need to use certain gauges with the FBX - I'm using 0.010 and they're fine, but apparently there's a limit as to how heavy a gauge string you can use. I'll report back when I know what the constraints are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mygolfcart123 Posted August 13, 2011 Members Share Posted August 13, 2011 Take the good additions and put it in a decent looking body like a les paul or something useable and I would not mind trying it out. Keep it in a fred flintstone body and claim it is going to change the way guitars are made forever? Sorry, but THAT does NOT fly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aliensporebomb Posted August 13, 2011 Members Share Posted August 13, 2011 Well Craig did say that there would be a trickle down effect to other instruments. There was another aspect of the FX that was kind of neat - sort of a weird color scheme that was similar to a psychedelic version of a swirled bowling ball type finish. Not for everyone but it was kind of interesting. .009-.010 is fine with me - I'm not a huge fan of super heavy gauges though I did have a super heavy gauge phase for a while. That "mini concert" with a producer sounded interesting. I'd like to hear some studio quality samples of this particular guitar. I feel it probably will fit in the studio better than almost anywhere else, especially for guys who need to get a sound at a moments notice with a wide timbral range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mnewb1 Posted August 13, 2011 Members Share Posted August 13, 2011 I can certainly see all that built in versatility applying to a studio where one might not want to hoof around an endless supply of guitars for the sonic variety which may be required. However, don't forget, guitarists are like women buying shoes...always on the lookout for that new beauty of a guitar...they don't want one Swiss army knife...they want the Nigel Tufnel room of guitars!..."don't even look at it..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 21, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 21, 2011 I feel it probably will fit in the studio better than almost anywhere else, especially for guys who need to get a sound at a moments notice with a wide timbral range. Actually, I kind of feel the opposite...I want to take this puppy out live. I've been playing it a lot, and the "operating system" is waaaay simpler than the Dark Fire or Dusk Tiger. Being able to set the guitar up with 55 patches, arranged any way I want, with studio sounds and then being able to recall them live is pretty compelling for the kind of music I do. The thing that's lacking for me is Adrenalinn-type synched sounds, I'd probably still need that in the effects chain but nothing else. I talked to quite a few guitar players in Nashville who thought the best thing for them was being able to have the same guitar for studio and live, and I can definitely see that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 21, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 21, 2011 I'd like to hear some studio quality samples of this particular guitar. Here's one of my favorites. I don't have an acoustic 12-string, and I wanted to see how close I could come with Firebird X. This isn't something I could do live, it's totally a studio technique, but I think it's a pretty frickin' amazing 12-string sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dendy Jarrett Posted August 25, 2011 Members Share Posted August 25, 2011 Very nice, Craig. Would be cool if you 'could' do that live! That would freak folks out.D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jon Chappell Posted August 25, 2011 Members Share Posted August 25, 2011 Here's one of my favorites. I don't have an acoustic 12-string, and I wanted to see how close I could come with Firebird X. This isn't something I could do live, it's totally a studio technique, but I think it's a pretty frickin' amazing 12-string sound Best emulated 12-string acoustic I've heard. Nice work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mnewb1 Posted August 26, 2011 Members Share Posted August 26, 2011 Here's one of my favorites. I don't have an acoustic 12-string, and I wanted to see how close I could come with Firebird X. This isn't something I could do live, it's totally a studio technique, but I think it's a pretty frickin' amazing 12-string sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scuzzo Posted August 29, 2011 Members Share Posted August 29, 2011 Here's one of my favorites. I don't have an acoustic 12-string, and I wanted to see how close I could come with Firebird X. This isn't something I could do live, it's totally a studio technique, but I think it's a pretty frickin' amazing 12-string sound granted its sounds good as a 12 string... but... it will not play like a 12 string.. it will not have the note separation.. when i had my 12 string... the think i thought was cool about it was... being able to arpeggio on all 12 strings... not a simulation of a chorus and compression... the actual notes of the EADGBE.. high low strings.. as a exercise its a fun idea... but i would never choose that over a true acoustic with 12 strings... its just emulation... but it sounds pretty good... just not the same.. mho Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 30, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 Well, it's not a 12-string. It's like when the Variax came out and nailed the Tele sound, but if you played it, it didn't feel like a Tele - the only guitar that feels and sounds like a Tele is a Tele. Point is, though, I was able to get an acoustic 12-string sound for recording, and that was my goal. I have a "real" 12-string (Rickenbacker electric), but I can't get acoustic 12-string sounds out of it. FBX actually comes much closer. But the other thing is that this same technique can produce Nashville tunings, 18-string guitars, and so on. The 12-string acoustic was more like a proof of concept, although it's definitely a sound I would use on a track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted August 30, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 Very nice, Craig. Would be cool if you 'could' do that live! That would freak folks out.D I have an idea of how to do that, and I'm going to give it a try. I'll post a clip if it works! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Motorcycle Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 I just played one yesterday at GC and liked it. I'm tempted to buy one, but the main sticking point for me is how much support for this guitar can I expect from Gibson ? I've heard many horror tales about Gibson robot technology breaking down with ensuing problems getting them repaired by Gibson. People with Dark Fires and Dusk Tigers getting no support on break-downs etc... If I buy this guitar (Which is limited to 1800 pieces) will I be able to have it repaired if there's a problem with the tuning system (or anything else) in two years time ? If so, sign me up, if not, then I'll abstain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aliensporebomb Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Nice twelve string sound - it really sounds much more like an acoustic than some 12-er emulations I've heard. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted September 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 20, 2011 This is just too damn funny not to share: [video=youtube;tZa4iZ93QwQ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted September 20, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 20, 2011 ...and here's another clip. I wanted to come up with a really smooth power chord, no artifacts, like a polished buzzsaw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted September 29, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 29, 2011 This is a clip I did of an electro-acoustic sound that combines the piezo and magnetic pickups, along with some onboard modulation effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted November 5, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 5, 2011 Another clip...in this one, I was going for the Clapton sound in Disraeli Gears, particularly "Outside Woman Blues"...I wanted that kind of round, singing tone. This is all just FBX, no studio processing or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anderton Posted November 5, 2011 Author Members Share Posted November 5, 2011 Another clip...in this one, I was going for the Clapton sound in Disraeli Gears, particularly "Outside Woman Blues"...I wanted that kind of round, singing tone. This is all just FBX, no studio processing or anything. [edit - for some reason the attachment didn't "stick" - it's there now. sorry] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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