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I'm Pappy from the great Southwestern United States of America.
As I type this, a big Brown truck is weaving it's way through this bustling metropolis with a big box for Ole Pappy! Inside is my first Gibson Firebird. I am so excited, it's difficult to concentrate on work!
It'll arrive at the perfect time, because Mammy is taking a little trip this weekend and will not be back until Sunday night. So, When I leave work today, I'll stop at my local beverage purveyor and purchase enough Mexican beer to last the weekend and rush home, hopefully to find my Brown Sunburst Gibson Firebird V on my entrance patio.
Probably not, because my UPS truck usually doesn't show until about 5 PM and I get home @ about 3:30!!!
Just enough time to pull out all the stuff I'll need from my music room out into the living room and warm it up! I've wanted a Firebird for 35 years! I just never got around to it, but the day has finally come!
I'm over from My LP Forum and wanted to share my excitement w/ other Firebirders!
I'll check back in on Monday and bore you all w/ a review of my first Firebird!!!

I have to warn you.... immediately after my first riff on my first bird my skin and hair started to turn white... I had the sudden urge for an abe lincoln top hat and a cape...

Anyways, you'll never go back

I'm with Doug...you get one & then start thinking, "Hmmm..a red one would be cool..so would Pelham Blue!". It's a sweet, sweet sickness!

Tony

Yep. See far left...

Doug K, I was thinking the exact same thing about the top hat, cape, white hair and red, crossed eyes! (mine ain't turning white as much as falling out!)
I'm going to mount 4 legs on the case, throw a table cloth over it and use it for seating 4-6 at family functions!!! The case is friggin huge!!!
I have a 76 LP Deluxe w/ Duncan mini's> They sound great, but the mini's in the 'Bird sound totaly different, Some how hotter and more biligerent. In your face. The Neck seem's like my old G.F.s legs -- Long and never ending. Live the neck!!!
I played her all weekend. Slapped a new set of strings on her Sat AM (I not impressed with the stock tuners!)
Played her through a Fender HRDX, Blackheart Little Giant w/a Bitmo 10-uator and an old Line-6 Spider II. Great tone and screaming attitude through all 3 amps!
It'll take some time getting used to her, though. After playing the 'Bird all week end, I picked up The Les Paul. Man. The LP felt so weird after the Firebird!!!

Very cool!

You know the Firebird (imo) is the most uncomfortable looking yet probably the most comfortable playing I own.

Personally if you can swap the banjo's off for Steinbergers I'd highly recommend them. I dont even bother with using banjo's on my scratch build, straight to the Steingbergers.

Even though I love a lot of other guitars too, their necks seem too "squashed" to the body for me. I guess I'm used to the arm extension on a FB.
What pickups do you have on your FB, Pappy? the modern High-output units? FB Mini's are constructed completely different from those on a Deluxe, be they modern or vintage. I think the have more edge & cut. I myself can't stand the new ones!

Tony

My Firebird is brand new and completely stock, so she's got the modern, std issue Gibson pups.
The neck pup is really nice and blusey, but rocks with buttery smoothness with an over driven tube amp.
I like the middle pup position, too. The two pups together have a great rhythm groove, but I have to admit that the bridge by it self is rather ice pick-ish and harsh.
It's the same w/ my LP Deluxe. I rarley use the bridge pup by itself.
I Love Duncans in my LP Deluxe. An SM-3 in the neck and an "old" 1980's SM-2 in the bridge. They work very well in the LP.
I'll have to wait, observe and hear som of the different options that are available for the Firebird, before I think about a pickup change out.
I may get a premium electronic upgrade kit from R.S., or Jonesy for the Firebird. I have one from each in my 2 LP's and their kits really do make a difference in overall sound quality and tone versatility. I think I'll go down that road before I checkout new pups.

Pappy- the RS stuff is kind of a rip (imo). Email Ralph @ http://rhfactorguitars.mybisi.com/ and tell him you need some 500k pots and a couple good PIO .022 caps. It'll be cheaper than RS.

Tell Ralph that Doug sent you

Doug,
I see pickups etc, but no electronic parts on his site. Do you have to ask about them?

Tony