My JB Firebird Review

[Kong]

Okay I've had the Firebird a few weeks so I figured I'd give my review. I will admit that when I get a new guitar there is usually a honeymoon period where I just can't put it down and this is certainly the case with my Firebird. I really do think this one will be my favorite. I have a decent little collection but the only thing getting any attention right now is the Firebird. I'll be sure to reply back in a few months to see if the infatuation or interest has worn down any.

I'm a hobbyist /bedroom guitar player, I don't gig or play out. I like to play bluesy / classic rock stuff. I will try to put up a video or two to show the tones I'm getting from it. I have 3 small tube amps, and I like it best through my Blackstar HT Studio 20H. It sounds amazing with effects or straight into the amp, clean or dirty.

Aesthetically, I just love this guitar. I really dig the finish, the sunburst looks great and I love the look of the laminated neck-through construction. The reverse headstock looks really cool and I dig the bevels. Routs look clean.

When I received the guitar the action was set way high and the pickup was also extremely high. I'm not sure the gauge of the stock strings, but I installed some GHS .009s. I lowered the pickup and the bridge to get the action where I like it. The intonation was close enough out of the box so that I didn't feel the need to make any adjustments. I also made no adjustments to the truss rod, there is very slight relief. It plays amazingly well. It feels really solid, and is very comfortable sitting or standing. The neck feels great and there are no sharp fret ends. String bends feel amazing, very slinky, there are no dead frets, and notes do not get choked off even doing deep bends. Upper fret access is awesome. It holds tune very well.

The only negative that I can see is that the bridge stud is higher out of the body on the treble side than the bass side. I'm not sure if this should bother me or why it does. It has no affect on playability as far as I can tell. See the pics below. It also should come with a hard case at this price point.

Here are a few shots...

 

[Jota]

Congrats. She looks fantastic.
Can't wait for mine to get here...

 

[CaineIsCarter]

Beautiful. Congratulations, looks just like mine

The only issue I'm having is the neck-dive, which while not a deal-breaker is still a bit irritating. It's otherwise a magnificent guitar.

 

[Bud Stoner]

Sweet looking' bird right there!

I see you have an Epi Korina Explorer as do I.

Great minds think alike it seems.........

 

[Kong]

Sweet looking' bird right there!

I see you have an Epi Korina Explorer as do I.

Great minds think alike it seems.........

Right on

 

[Walt_T]

Very nice!

 

[Bud Stoner]

Hmmm, first off, LOVIN' your bird so much!

And looking at both mine and yours, it seems the sunburst has a thinner finish than my PMG.

I guess I would prefer thinner, but but not a problem with mine at all.

I think the PMG needs more coats overall than the burst, sealer primer, base coat and/or a clear, but correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[charlie chitlins]

Is the action OK with the treble side so much higher than the bass?
That looks very suspect to me.
Is the bushing on the treble side pressed further into the body, so more of the stud protrudes?
Something is wonky there, for sure.

 

[Bud Stoner]

If that is a concern, you can tap it down at your next string change. Remove the bridge, leaving the stud in place and then use a plastic tipped mallet or a small piece of wood on the stud itself to protect the stud finish.

And TAP LIGHTLY!!!!!!

Tone Man (TM1), when upgrading his bridge installed some steel bushings (1.188") with USA thread which are much longer than stock, and he had no problems with the install.

I ordered the same ones from PLM, and I'm looking forward to installing mine and replacing the thin ground wire with the proper bus wire.

 

[Kong]

Is the action OK with the treble side so much higher than the bass?
That looks very suspect to me.
Is the bushing on the treble side pressed further into the body, so more of the stud protrudes?
Something is wonky there, for sure.

Hey charlie - I took a better picture and dug the ruler out. The first picture I took made it look worse than it actually is. Below is a straight on shot of the bridge. The action at the 12th fret is about 1.3 mm on both the treble and bass side. Usually i have the action on the bass side a bit higer. When I was setting it up, I just went as low as I could go without any buzzing.

The post on the treble side is 2mm further out of the bushing than the bass side. The bushings both look like they are set all the way into the body, they have little collars on them and they are both flush with the top of the body.

I agree it is a bit wonky or at least is seems that way to me since the action is even on both sides, even though the posts are not even. This is not my normal setup though, usually I have to set the action on the bass side at least 0.5 mm higher to avoid buzzing on all my other Epiphones. Anyway the guitar plays AMAZINGLY well, and no buzzing or issues anywhere so I will be hanging on to it.

 

[Kong]

...

If that is a concern, you can tap it down at your next string change. Remove the bridge, leaving the stud in place and then use a plastic tipped mallet or a small piece of wood on the stud itself to protect the stud finish.

And TAP LIGHTLY!!!!!!

Tone Man (TM1), when upgrading his bridge installed some steel bushings (1.188") with USA thread which are much longer than stock, and he had no problems with the install.

I ordered the same ones from PLM, and I'm looking forward to installing mine and replacing the thin ground wire with the proper bus wire.

Yeah I took a better picture you'll see on my previous post. That original shot made it looks so much worse from the angle I took the pic. I just installed new bushings into my Korina Explorer, but I love this Firebird so much I don't really want to do any mods, maybe just a bone nut at some point, which to be honest, is more of an aesthetic thing for me since it only could affect tone on open notes. And to be even more honest I doubt I could ever hear the difference between a bone nut and a plastic.

 

[charlie chitlins]

Hey charlie - I took a better picture and dug the ruler out. The first picture I took made it look worse than it actually is. Below is a straight on shot of the bridge. The action at the 12th fret is about 1.3 mm on both the treble and bass side. Usually i have the action on the bass side a bit higer. When I was setting it up, I just went as low as I could go without any buzzing.

The post on the treble side is 2mm further out of the bushing than the bass side. The bushings both look like they are set all the way into the body, they have little collars on them and they are both flush with the top of the body.

I agree it is a bit wonky or at least is seems that way to me since the action is even on both sides, even though the posts are not even. This is not my normal setup though, usually I have to set the action on the bass side at least 0.5 mm higher to avoid buzzing on all my other Epiphones. Anyway the guitar plays AMAZINGLY well, and no buzzing or issues anywhere so I will be hanging on to it.

I would run a straightedge down both sides of the neck and measure the space between it and the body...make sure the neck is in straight.
A crooked neck can be compensated for by adjusting the bridge, and I believe you when you say it plays great.
If it is a little wonky, though...you don't want it to be getting worse.

 

[Bud Stoner]

Yeah I took a better picture you'll see on my previous post. That original shot made it looks so much worse from the angle I took the pic. I just installed new bushings into my Korina Explorer, but I love this Firebird so much I don't really want to do any mods, maybe just a bone nut at some point, which to be honest, is more of an aesthetic thing for me since it only could affect tone on open notes. And to be even more honest I doubt I could ever hear the difference between a bone nut and a plastic.

With my FB1, I'm not going too crazy. Tone Man (darn you! ) posted a pic of this ABM bell brass bridge he put on his, and now I have to have it.

I haven't touched my nut yet cool:), but I'll get my Stew Mac gauge and measure the string height and post my findings.

I think a well cut nut helps to overcome any material deficiencies one might think such material would have.

I've seen instances of people properly filing and slotting those cheap, hollow plastic nuts, and the result worked out so well that he could put off a nut replacement for a few years.

Hehe.....I said nut replacement.........