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Anyone use a Firebird for jazzy-blues?
Confession time: 40 years ago, when I was 14, I discovered the blues through Johnny Winter. I quickly moved on to other things, but still have a hankering to play a Firebird.
Well, I saw one in a shop in Edinburgh last week, and gave it a try - one of the best necks I've ever played, which surprised me. The mini humbuckers are great. I played a lot of blues, with just a little distortion through an amp (can't remember which one) _ It sounded great.
I was so taken with playing straight-ahead blues on it, I neglected to play jazz. Although it's an odd-looking guitar, it strikes me that, through the right amp, it could probably do a decent job at playing some styles of jazz.
Anyone have one? Gibson have just brought out a 2014 model - looks good.
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06-27-2014 06:41 PM
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In the right hands it can sound very decent for jazz. A local guy was gigging with one for a few months. Not my favorite tone but it can definitely do the job, seemed as good as any other similar solid body and better than many of them.
Personally I'd be turned off by the lack of adjustable pole pieces on the pups but the local guy didn't seem to have a problem with string balance.
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Cheers, Vinny.
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That is the most unjazzy-looking guitar ever. IMO. I know it was hip in the 60's, quite a few great guitarists have played one at one time or another, Jimmy Page played one in the 60's and even played a 12-string Explorer dueting recently with his old bandmate Jeff Beck, etc.
But...that combination of Gibson, bass-ackwards body, and assymetrical headstock is just TOO MUCH. I don't care how it sounds frankly.
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OK, but that wasn't the question.
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Go for it! Blaze your own trails I say!! I play jazz on a Heritage 357 (think firebird) with underwound p92s and I love it.
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Owned one briefly a few years ago, good neck, if a bit narrow for me, main problem was overall length and general size of the guitar and case. I was always having near misses with other musos on the bandstand (playing blues not jazz,) and the case was huge and wouldn't fit across the back seat of my car. Soundwise, neck pickup could sound fairly sweet, but never thought of it as a jazzer. However, YMMV.
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though i'm very much a "real" mini humbucker guy, i once sat down at a store with a white firebird and a dr z of some kind. played nothing but cleans and time went by pretty fast. i don't remember a whole lot about the experience, other than it sounded a lot better than i thought it would. was intrigued, but could not justify. sounded pretty indeed. only played seated, though. don't remember it being an issue, but it isn't a small guitar.
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Cheers, guys. All interesting. The comment by feet chimes with my experience.
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Sounds like a possibility. Next time I see one I'll try.
Last time I even tried one, the headstock was too heavy and I hung it back on the wall. Same JW thing here!
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I fancy one but at 54 with a bald ,ead I might be a bit late for it!
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I'm 54 too...it does seem a younger man's guitar...or woman.
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bear in mind that most people are dissatisfied with the latest incarnation of gibson firebird pickups. too hot and brittle or whatever. so either seek out ones that have "safe" pups (not sure which those would be) or take heart that there are all sorts of aftermarket pups that'll fit you could install to tailor the sound, from firebirds to minis to p90s. several makers tackle both kinds of minis now. so you have a little flexibility if it isn't exactly a 100% love connection. or you could seek a jazzier option for the neck and a rockier one for the bridge.
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Cheers, feet. Understood.
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Rob,
This is a traditional type firebird for sale at 12th Fret Guitar Sales - Gibson Firebird 2013 in Kent.
Not a bad price either. The one I had was white, just like this, described by the shop I bought it from as a 'posing pole'!
Who says you have to play jazz with a big sunburst archtop - make a statement!!!!
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Thanks, bananafist, but I'm not keen on the white ones. But, yes, it's at a good price.
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I am sorry Rob. Not to hijack this thread but how is a firebird pickup different from other mini humbuckers except you cant adjust the poles?
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Why not let the man himself explain?
Originally Posted by SamBooka
Small in Stature, Big in Tone | Lollar Pickups Blog
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I know this is resurrecting an old thread, but I think it's an interesting topic, especially for anyone thinking about buying a Firebird for jazz. I have a 2007 Firebird V, and I play jazz on it all the time, and I don't even use flatwound strings on it. Twelve gauge roundwound strings are perfect for jazz, and even blues, on a Firebird.
Some people think the Firebird's mini-humbuckers have too much of a crackling sound for jazz, but I totally disagree. What I like about them is that when you roll off the tone knob on the guitar to about a 5, that "crackly" sound mellows down to what I think is almost like a nylon string acoustic sound, which I find great for jazz. It's a nice crisp, mellow sound, without Les Paul-type sustain.
True, it doesn't look like a "jazz guitar", but I don't care. It sure sounds like one when you fiddle with the tone and volume knobs. Besides, I can't think of anything cooler than walking onstage in a jazz gig with a Firebird. You'd definitely stand out.Last edited by shamu1; 03-29-2015 at 03:38 PM.
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Great ...
now I want a Firebird, too
LOL
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I always wondered how the odd shape feels under your right arm. Same with a V or Explorer.
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I too found blues via Johnny winters in my early teens...when I tried a firebird it just felt too big for me...I'm 5ft7 and it just felt like a Cadillac hanging off me. I had a les Paul deluxe with mini humbuckers that worked out fine...still got it. Still...firebirds look really cool. I saw a firebird/telecaster hybrid somewhere on the internet a while back....looked like a clever blend of the two designs.
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It's a weird shape, but it doesn't feel weird when you play it, even when you're sitting down. It's a huge guitar, but it has a thin body, so it doesn't feel huge in your hands or under your arm. Unlike a Les Paul or a Flying V, I find it very comfortable to play while I'm sitting down. I use that big freakin' wing as an arm rest for my right arm, so it balances out the weight of the neck (Firebirds are very neck heavy). Originally Posted by Woody Sound
When I play a Les Paul sitting down, I find myself, over time, crouching over the guitar because it's such a small guitar. My back starts killing me after about 20 minutes playing the LP, which is why I no longer own a Les Paul. Not so with the Firebird. I can go on playing for hours sitting down with my Firebird.
Firebirds are underrated guitars, and a lot more versatile than their appearance may lead you to believe.Last edited by shamu1; 03-29-2015 at 03:35 PM.
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Someone told me that they are prone to headstock breaks due to the huge headstock.
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+1 Originally Posted by shamu1
The new Firebirds with the Steinberger gearless tuners are not neck heavy anymore. A very comfortable guitar for playing seated.
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