Firebird: Fattest solid body tone EVER?

[BlueFin]

Love the Firebird, David Hidalgo (Los Lobos) sure knows how to get some sweet fat tone from his. Just listen to Johhny Winter playing Sweet Poppa, doesn't get much better than that. Congrats to the Firebird slingers!

[cherrick]

The ohm reading on a vintage Firebird pickup: 6.5
The ohm reading on a recent Firebird pickup: 24
The magnet on a vintage Firebird pickup: AlNiCo
The magnet on a recent Firebird pickup: ceramic.

Just saying.

[snakestretcher]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

What was it I was watching...I think it was the Crossroads Festival a while back...it was the first one...and I think that year one of the guitar players from Los Lobos came out with a Fibebird.

I couldn't believe how fat the tone was on that guitar. So thick you'd have to cut the tone with a knife!

I thought it was a fluke...then I heard some old Johnny Winter recordings...

I'm beginning to wonder about this...and maybe some Firebird owners can chime in...

Just...how fat is the tone on this solid body? Fatter than a Les Paul? Sicker than an SG? More vibrant than a V? More ecstatic than an Explorer?

So....what's the deal with these guitars???

David Hidalgo gets great tones from anything he plays-you should hear the fat, rich sounds he gets out of a Telecaster.

[EEF13]

How fat could a Firebird be considering mini humbuckers aren't that fat sounding pickups compared to full sized humbuckers.

[The_Sentry]

Originally Posted by EEF13

How fat could a Firebird be considering mini humbuckers aren't that fat sounding pickups compared to full sized humbuckers.

Does output=fatness of tone?



Seems to me Johnny Winter and Steve Clarke got fat tones out of theirs. The Rev B.G. and Angus Young seemed to get really fat tones out of those old low-output PAF's.

[Grand Pappy in Chandler]

I have S.D. mini's in my LP Deluxe.
I have stock Gibson mini's in my Firebird "V".
Truth be said, my LP has much "fatter" tone and more sustain than the 'Bird, IMHO.
I know the Birds pups are ceramic and they really do wail like a knife stuck whore and I think the S.D.'s are Alnico, but I'm not sure which Alnico.
Different magnet materials = much different tone.
I'm sure it makes a big difference also in what amp is used as far as "fat" tone from any elect. guitar.
I will agree Mr. Hidalgo kicks some serious ass on that Crossroads cut.
I'll have to pay closer attention to what he's playing through next time I watch it.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

Does output=fatness of tone?



Seems to me Johnny Winter and Steve Clarke got fat tones out of theirs. The Rev B.G. and Angus Young seemed to get really fat tones out of those old low-output PAF's.

I don't get the J.Winters getting a fat tone , I find his has always been on the border line of shrill , thin icepicky almost.

[The_Sentry]

YouTube - Johnny Winter-Mississippi Blues

YouTube - Johnny Winter-Mississippi Blues

YouTube - Johnny Winter - Jumping jack flash - (live at BBC in 1974)

YouTube - Johnny Winter - Jumping jack flash - (live at BBC in 1974)

[cherrick]

sp: Winter.

Not Winters.

Originally Posted by overdriver

I don't get the J.Winters getting a fat tone , I find his has always been on the border line of shrill , thin icepicky almost.

[overdriver]

Originally Posted by cherrick

sp: Winter.

Not Winters.

Whatever . Xcuse me

[dougk]

Originally Posted by jonesy

No disrespect to you Firebird owners , but I have owned them, played them and worked on them and I consider the Firebird to be on of the ugliest guitars Gibson ever designed. Way to Neck heavy and awkward for my tastes. I guess I can't get past the headstock shape, regular or reversed, and the odd body shape

The necks usually play sweet and they do sound good with the mini or full size humbuckers (Johnny Winter is one of my favs) but for some reason I just don't have any love for the Firebirds. Give me an SG or LP any day of the week.

Ok, give me a couple of seconds to get my flame suit on.

Your welcome to your opinion just don't be upset when I feel completely the opposite. I think its headstock perfection, great shape, mine all balance and hang perfectly, killer tone. No shame in either view imo.

I always describe them as the most UNcomfortable LOOKING, most comfortable PLAYING guitars I own.

Ofcourse Im a fanatic...


(and thats just whats at home...lol)
firebirds Photo Gallery by Douglas Kauer at pbase.com

[dougk]

Originally Posted by overdriver

I don't get the J.Winters getting a fat tone , I find his has always been on the border line of shrill , thin icepicky almost.

If you listen to earlier stuff, mostly before he started using MusicMan amps its much better.

A good firebird should sound like a slightly cleaner version of P90's. Like really big strat pickups.

[Grand Pappy in Chandler]

I find my Firebird a very comfy player. I installed a set of Steinberger tuners and that helped a lot with the balance and w/ tunebility. The Steinberger's weigh about half what the shitty Gibson banjo tuners weigh and work better for me.
I love the Firebird look. That's one of the main reasons I purchased mine. It may not be everyone's piece of cake, but as I always say - Opinions are like assholes, everybody has their own!

[LES STORY]

I have to agree , i love everytihng about my firebird but the sound. To much treble and the bass is muddy. Ive tryed several aftermarket minis but i think the only way to get the sound im after will be to put in normal humbuckers

[HEY!YOU!]

Originally Posted by LES STORY

I have to agree , i love everytihng about my firebird but the sound. To much treble and the bass is muddy. Ive tryed several aftermarket minis but i think the only way to get the sound im after will be to put in normal humbuckers

That was my experience.
I fixed it.

The secret is in the pups and the wiring.
I put in Lolars, RS Superpots and re-wired it 60's.

Magic.

[Cookie-boy]

How much fat does a Firebird shat when a Firebird don't shit shat!

Here's my 1976 Bicentenial. I like the sound, very bluesy but bright.

[Boss 302]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

YouTube - Johnny Winter-Mississippi Blues

YouTube - Johnny Winter - Jumping jack flash - (live at BBC in 1974)

Thank you Sentry,
I watched the clips, muchos gracias amigo.
I have the latest issue of Guitar Buyer here. September 2009, Johnny Winter has a write up in it as does the Gibson Firebird.
I should have checked him out a long time ago, as my main influence is blues.
A bloke from work suggested that I listen to his music, and I was uncertain.
Not anymore, Many thanks to you my music collection will increase, by how much I don't know.
To you guys who want more proof, check out Kevin Borich, an expat Kiwi, he plays a Firebird as well as other guitars.
Neil Youngs "Ole black" has a firebird pickup in it as does it's replacement, another Goldtop.

[SG John]

I also have a '76 Boid. It has a real bright sound, and with my DST-30 (ac-30 clone) it cuts through a mix real good. By itself, it seems too bright, but up against my bass player it's perfect and doesn't get muddy or lost in the mix. I don't think I'd call it fat, but it does slash through a mix like a machete.

[Benguitar]

Originally Posted by Cookie-boy

How much fat does a Firebird shat when a Firebird don't shit shat!

Here's my 1976 Bicentenial. I like the sound, very bluesy but bright.

Here's a video of Steve Clark with his Bicentennial *with Kalher Tremolo mount*, I'd do ANYTHING to have that guitar, Or one made exactly like it.

YouTube - 04 Def Leppard - Too Late For Love

YouTube - 04 Def Leppard - Too Late For Love

04:12 =

[kevin134]

Main Ax for Allen Collins for the first few years of Lynyrd Skynyrd was a Firebird, he had a P90 in the Bridge and a mini in the neck.. Main solo on Freebird(from the first album, not live) is supposed to be on his Firebird.. here is a pic, not the best but all I could find..

[p90rules]

I loved my 76 Bicentenial Firebird, Great Fat tone. Sadly gone many moons ago.

[IMG][/IMG]

It was a pig to hold straight though.

Clapton was meant to have played White Room on his Firebird 1

[pit_s_xroad]

some days ago I had a Johnny Winter Firebird in hands and could test-run it... It was an amazing nice guitar ... light-weight, resonant honky sounding, great handling ... I loved it on the spot... It's a different animal as a Les Paul... I would have bought right away if haven't had just bought a R6...


Greetings
PIT...

[Cookie-boy]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

YouTube - Johnny Winter-Mississippi Blues

YouTube - Johnny Winter - Jumping jack flash - (live at BBC in 1974)

Jumpin' Jack Flash was the bollocks! Thanks Sent's!

[dougk]

firebird awesomeness (and total hack playing from me)

YouTube - Dirty Dishes- RR Jam Night "Bearded Maiden!"

YouTube - Dirty Dishes- RR Jam Night "Bearded Maiden!"

First solo after the verse. "Firebird VII", Greer Ghetto Stomp into a Greer Thunderbolt 30.

[The_Sentry]

Damn, Doug! That was kickass! Thanks for posting that!

[SiriusAbbott]

I really love 'birds
odd,considering I have been playing explorers for the better part of 34 years...but a 'bird was my first (and 2nd) "real guitar".
I have a 'bird in my near future as well....I am currently shooting a number of guitars for my luthier and instead of the usual $ arrangement,I am doing the shooting of a number of these guitars in trade for a set-neck 'bird-like custom from his impending "top secret" new line.
And,on top of that,I personally have a new type of 'bird under construction on my workbench right now

[dougk]

Originally Posted by The_Sentry

Damn, Doug! That was kickass! Thanks for posting that!

No problem

I have a bunch of videos of my Daylighters, Greer Ghetto Stomp, 66 Bassman I have to upload. I guess one of these days... lol

[Rico]

My bird is very bright and not fat sounding at all. Of course you can beef it up with the setting's on the amp. But over all, it's a bright sounding instrument.

[ungauged]

I feel that the Firebird has more of a SG sound and feel to it. LP's sound so much different compared to the Firebird.

And the mini-humbuckers are a love and hate kinda thing. I totally agree with Rico about the brightness of the Firebird.

[jomo]

A teaser for Ben. She'll be shipped out soon.










If I played out, I would have kept this guitar. It's light, comfortable and has such a wide variety of tones. It sounds down right mean.