Epiphone Firebird Review. How do Gibson Allow This?

[@triphandle3608]

actually, there quite a few great guitarists who used The Firebird, and helped make it famous including: Brian Jones, Johnny Winter, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Warren Haynes, Dave Grohl, Phil Manzanera, Allen Collins, PJ Harvey, Tom Petty, Mike Campbell, Paul Stanley, Steve Clark, Steve Jones, Bob Stinson, Pat Smear, James Williamson, Joe Bonamassa, Steven Stills... and I'm sure there are many more who I just can't think of now

[@beenderedonedat]

Me lol :))

[@ryanfulldark2775]

I was gonna say the exact same thing. To say no famous players used the Firebird is just plain wrong.

[@andydavid9]

@@ryanfulldark2775 thanks for the list dude! I didn’t say no one uses them, I actually said “not many players use them” And I’m not wrong, because if you compare how many players use a strat or a lespaul, the list would be a lot longer, and also way more players exclusively use them. I know quite a few players you’ve mentioned on that list don’t exclusively use firebirds. An example of this would be Joe Bonamassa. So far I only know of him using the firebird live on the song “curtain call.” I’ve seen him live a few times and not seen him play a firebird though. This also has a knock on effect and is probably why Epiphone don’t make them in the same numbers as their other guitars. Everyone wants the strat and les Paul style guitars because that’s what is being used by the majority of players. Again, my point in the video was to highlight that it’s not a common guitar to see being played and that’s probably why not many people own one.

[@triphandle3608]

@@andydavid9 I didn't say that you said "no one uses them". The actual point is that when musicians reach a certain level of fame they get locked into contracts with major brand labels. As a result, companies like Gibson, Fender, etc.. will negotiate to have artist versions built of particular models. In return the artist is paid, supplied, and obligated to continue using a particular brand and model whenever in public, and for all publicity. These contracts can last quite a few years. The same can be said for all instruments, microphones, amplifiers, tech and devices ,and what have you. It's all about business & marketing to the masses. In the end nobody really knows what guitars any particular guitarist personally prefers using at any given time. I would imagine, like anyone, this changes over time. But, breaching contracts is a no no --rock on !

[@andydavid9]

@@triphandle3608 I guess that would be a reason for why not many players use the firebird then! 😉

[@martinclayton7260]

I love Firebirds, and I bought mine a week ago, and it's amazing! One upgrade I would suggest is, change the switch tip to a white one, it just makes it look a lot better!

[@KentuckyRedneck13]

I've seen a clip or two of Joe Perry playing one. I bought mine recently and love the thing so far! Love the looks and the raucous and sweet sounds it makes, and looking forward to a long journey with it! Thanks for the videos Brother!

[@timelwell7002]

Perhaps surprisingly, the Firebird was designed initially with jazz guitarists in mind - just as the Fender Jazzmaster was. As it happens, I love both these guitars, where Gibson and Fender approached things in a very different way. But as a jazz player myself, I can see that the mahogany body of the Firebird combined with mini-humbuckers actually gives a rich, somewhat mellow tone, when using clean tones especially. The Jazzmaster achieves a similar result when using the 'rhythm' circuit, this time using P90 pickups, but achieving a failry mellow tone suitable for jazz. This is why these two guitars are among my favourite solid body electric guitars, along with the Les Paul Special - which uses P90 pickups with a Mahogany body - again giving a great tone when using clean sounds, for us jazzers.

[@bretspangler8717]

I have 2 so far, an olive drab green and the vintage burst. A new ruby red version has just been teased, I put one on order, a week or two hopefully it will be available. I love the neck-through design and overall body shape; I sit down and play, which is very comfortable. I get great tones with these, the pickups are great!

[@larrynoe6162]

I just got my Epiphone Firebird from Sweetwater. They had a free plek job did I mention free plek. For a guitar at this price point the value is awesome. That makes the $2600 or the Custom Shop Gibson at $7000 out of my price range.

[@andydavid9]

That’s amazing dude!

[@palmhammer]

You have to hold it to see how beautiful it is. He is right about the tone, thick yet sharp. The sustain goes on forever. You can really bring the thunder with this guitar.

[@Gary_Robinson]

Desperately looking for lefty Firebird… they look and sound amazing

[@TommySG1]

Thanks for the review, I just placed an order for a nice light one at around 7.3 pounds, can’t wait to get it. 🤙

[@johnnyteres]

Gibson owns Epiphone and allows them (they are the only ones) to make Gibson replicas. Epiphone are considered Gibson's "budget" line of guitars, but in fact, you'll be hard pressed to find anyone who can tell the difference between the two in blindfold tests. Epiphone's quality has improved dramatically over the years. I own a 2010 Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty that is absolutely fucking amazing. I'd gladly pick up a newer Epiphone Firebird.

[@bensthebest]

Now that’s a sexy looking guitar. Presenter isn’t bad either

[@andydavid9]

But Bens the best 😉

[@marcop1587]

Now the problem is: the *VII* (3 pickups + Maestro Vibrola) looks way cooler but the cool Reissue model that Epiphone used to make in Korea roughly 20 years ago isn't apparently a neck through but rather a set neck guitar, basically a weirdly shaped SG with Firebird Pickups, on the other hand these new "Inspired by Gibson" Firebirds are actually neck through guitars...but only two pickups and no Vibrola...I really wonder how the neck through nature of the instrument has to do with its famous sound...and I really wonder wether to go for the cool one or the "real" one...

[@jeromewagschal9485]

I own a '99 VII in Cardinal Red and this one too ( and others ) and as much as I love my VII I would strongly advise you to get this one... The overall quality of my Korean-made VII is good but this new model is much much much better... The neck-through construction really gives this one the true Firebird sound and the mini-humbuckers really re-create the classic 1963 sound... Epiphone have really done a splendid job with the new version because it's almost a re-creation of the 1963 model... By comparison the Korean VII still sounds like a Firebird...Sort of... Because the set neck doesn't give it the classic Firebird sound... The stock Korean pickups were terrible, the tremolo and the tuners were unstable and the electronics were very low-quality... After a lot of work and pickups/hardware upgrades the VII became a cool guitar but, if Epiphone had built this 1963 reissue back then I would have bought it right on the spot 🙂🙂🙂 I hope my reply will help... Have a great day...

[@rodnyg7952]

Gibson didn't allow this; they decided it. They like selling guitars and making profits

[@rodnyg7952]

@@TexasBlues-ip6sv what does any of that have to do with their decision to release an EPI version of their Firebird model? I don't see the point of your immature babble

[@rodnyg7952]

@@TexasBlues-ip6sv you make no sense, must be embarrassing for you

[@heaththompson3834]

Opening tone is SICK!!!!

[@Twirlyhead]

Nice demo and playing except the Firebird sound barely recognisable through that patch.

[@peskypesky]

Great review and demo! Very nice playing. I think this video is going to sell some Epi Firebirds.

[@Paine-yr9wd]

Check out Johnny Winter playing a Gibson Firebird!

[@Asshat237]

Eventually going to get a white Firebird with the Maestro Vibrola. Not concerned about tuning as i won't use it that much. I just love how they look.

[@andydavid9]

Ahh dude that’s the nicest one I’ve seen! Do it man!

[@larrynoe6162]

Me too

[@rickhancock3398]

My working guitarist son got himself one about a month ago. He has been AWOL ever since. Been playing it almost constantly for weeks and is incorporating it into the bands (Henry Cruz Band) shows as of tonight. See them at Kimbro's Picking Parlor along with two other bands tonight in Franklin TN. they will be playing several of there 20 or so originals along with some killer covers of Dylan or Bramlet or Allmans or maybe some Skynyrd or Marshall Tucker or...........................

[@philsoltau2707]

It looks as good as it sounds 👌

[@jacobmcpherson5107]

I got one during Sweetwater's Guitar Month. They offered it for $699 with free PLEK. I think it's the best deal on a guitar that I've ever got; thing feels like smooth butter and screams through my Marshall half stack.

[@rm-pc3544]

Just Wow!!! Any idea how many Epiphone produced?

[@LeeHoMusic]

Wow , please do.... thanks for sharing it. 👍👍👍

[@glenkepic3208]

Great demo! I've had mine for just over a year.....trips to a shop (not the guitars fault) but rox now..... btw, BBP pups sound better than the CR '76 i took care of in the '80s. Dang, neck thru and all. Nice guitar.

[@ZPX945]

Looks and sounds great!

[@toddmayer6859]

From what I understand, Clapton played his FB1 on Had To Cry Today on the Blind Faith album. I just happened across this video of Blind Faith in concert .... where Clapton & Winwood are both playing their Firebird guitars: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZDdlGSdZrSNo9U I had thought on the recording, Clapton was on one side of the mix (right) and Winwood on the left. But Winwood seems to credit Clapton for all the guitar work on that recording. If you listen to each side, you can hear a lot of blues riffs on the right ... with more of a classical melodic feel on the left. Anyway ..... that tone on the album is why I've wanted to some day get a Firebird ...

[@bobcabo4509]

Original BC Rich's had wings and neck through body.

[@HarlemFingerboards]

looks and sounds great! Only thing i personally dislike is the red emblem on the white scratch guard

[@andydavid9]

That’s one of my favourite parts! But I guess it’s not for everyone

[@rcsutter]

No disrespect intended, but that's the trademark of this guitar going back to the 1960's. It's like saying you like the 1977 Pontiac Trans Am (Smokey and the Bandit car) without the gold bird on the hood.

[@truckergilligangilligan5877]

I love the Red firebird on the pickup guard 👍😁😎

[@LeeHoMusic]

Do you still own this guitar? Any cons? Thinking of buying one

[@andydavid9]

@@LeeHoMusic I’m actually planning on doing another review after owning it for more than a year. But yeah, it’s a great guitar

[@anthonyarredondo6356]

Turn on the light !! I can't see !😀

[@nickrook5519]

Start doing these in Nitro and I’ll buy one.

[@eddykidd]

need to crank up that audio signal for vids but cheers anyway

[@danjames8570]

No audio on KZbin tv app but works on iPad. Gave up trying to watch the video on Apple TV. Every other video seems to have sound so seems like yours is an isolated incident

[@andydavid9]

Thanks dude. This happened on my tv when I initially uploaded, but was working fine on all my friends and families tv. I assumed it was an issue with my tv. Not sure how to resolve it! Thanks for the info though

[@TechMule59]

Why do you add background music to the video. It sounds like I have a TV on in another room and I can't hear your voice very well.

[@andydavid9]

I add it because I feel like it adds to the video. When editing, I find it makes my content more engaging to watch. Also, my room has bad echo, so some background music covers it slightly

[@jojolapraline]

Ok and the other positions ????

[@andydavid9]

Theres no middle position in this vid, mainly because I never use it, but I will be posting a tone demo in the next few weeks

[@paulcatarino2209]

The reason you like it is the reason I don't...the slim neck. I had a Slash Firebird (trans black w banjo tuners) with Slash custom neck shape, a not to chunky 50s "C" and it was very comfortable to play.

[@darioreboli7105]

No audio

[@davidohara6515]

Cool as . Just looks silly on me !

[@MFFMmioamao]

Another David over here that totally agree this guitar is just pure sex and an awesome instrument ❤but my firebird got the schenkeberg tuners

[@andydavid9]

There does seem to be loads of versions of the Firebird, so I can see why people collect them.

[@thomas_S.O.P.]

If you want a guitar with wings and a ton of resonance then get a Reverend airsonic. It’s the same construction and sounds amazing.

[@epasternak4206]

Why is it insane? Its a great guitar, i tried it out. Epi good stuff! My explorer is excellent...

[@hawtenslaton4307]

⚡⚡⚡🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

[@Kommander_Rahnn]

Why is there no sound?

[@andydavid9]

hey dude, I have no clue. its only on some TVs that it doesn't work. This was actually a re upload as the original did the same thing. I exported the video like how I export all my other vids. Sorry man

[@jimmyhartman573]

no doubt sitting with a les paul can be cumbersome after a while , gotta walk around after a bit and straighten the back out . . lol

[@andydavid9]

😂