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Hi guys, I'm new around these parts!

My name is Hamish, I'm from way down in little old New Zealand. Recently purchased an Epiphone 1963 Firebird VII Reissue, has 3 mini humbuckers and a Maestro Vibrola tailpiece. I also own an Epiphone G-400 SG, and an Epiphone Les Paul Custom, which is awaiting some new pickups and a rewire. I play through a Peavey Classic 30 all tube amp, and that's it! No pedals. Pretty simple rig, don't need much more than that.

I really love the Firebird and was pretty lucky to find one here since they were discontinued a while back, and don't often come up for sale on the used market here either. I've wanted one for ages, then I was alerted to one for sale and promptly snapped it up. She's in absolutely mint condition and plays like a dream. The wide, flat neck took a little bit of adjusting to but I like it. The neck profile is perfect, love the weight and the feel overall. And I love the sound of the mini humbuckers too, they offer a very nice blues crunch. Anyway, here's a picture of my Firebird.

That's a pretty VII you heve there!
Glad to have you with us! I look forward to your input.
Just out of curiousity,are Gibsons hard to come by in your neck of the woods?

Tony

Thanks for the welcome. I wouldn't say Gibsons are hard to come by, but they're certainly not as abundant as they are in the US. You guys don't know how lucky you are with places like MusiciansFriend etc. You get guitars much cheaper than we do here. Fortunately for me I've had great succes purchasing some gorgeous examples on the used market that are like new, but for a fraction of the new price. My Firebird is one of them. I was pretty lucky to get it. As I said, I've wanted one for ages but, in the whole time I was looking, I'd never seen one for sale, until the one I now own showed up. Just so happens that it's the exact colour I wanted and everything.

Availabilty and price have little to do with why I didn't choose a Gibson. Well actually, price does to a certain extent. I've never found Gibsons to offer me personally anything more than I get from an Epiphone. I'm not a professional musician, just a music and guitar palying enthusiest. Epiphone embodies all the things I like about Gibson guitars in a much more affordable package, still delivered at a more than acceptable level of quality. I've played my fair share of Gibsons, and just don't feel that they have anything that diversifies them from their cheaper counterpart enough to warrant the price. My first guitar was an Epiphone and I loved it, so I have continued to buy them, because they suit my purpose. Some brand blinded people have trouble understanding that I prefer the cheap, made-in-china version over the so called 'real deal'.

I've seen examples of good & bad from Gibson, Epi & meny other brands, so I know exactly where you're coming from. I think you just have to pick through for the good ones. I have had very good luck bying via the net too, though.
IMO, a good guitar is one that makes YOU happy!
Glad you'rewith us Hamish!

Tony