I own a 2004 mk7. Fully pimped, 3 pickup gold hardware and a vibrola. She looks and sounds amazing! I only use it for recording these days due to the weight and the space eating factor. But damn what a sound! The bias to the left took some getting used to and like you I went for a wider padded strap and added some strap locks for extra security. You definitely don’t want it coming loose and diving into the floor. She is a conversation starter that’s for sure. Btw the designer was Ray Dietrich who had worked as a designer in Detroit. Truck tons of rock Blues and country cred in a Firebird. YES own a Firebird! But keep a Tele or an SG nearby. Your back will thank you.
Mr. Winter is tops in my book. The first album, DAMN! Those acoustic RJ covers are amazing. And be Careful with a Fool, Leland Mississippi, I'm Your I'm Hers, simply amazing. And then that soulful singing on Drown in My Own Tears-whew!! First album I owned as a young lad in the 60s.
I own 2 American Firebirds 2013 and 2014. Love them both. Gigantic and everything is shifted to the left 4 inches (neck wise) Buyer beware you better have long arms. I met Johnny Winter in Honolulu of all places around 2011 playing at a small club. He was very gangly with long arms. I could see why he would play them comfort wise.
Fine looking guitar! Martin Turner of Wishbone Ash uses a Thunderbird, it looks great. Check out the 20th anniversary concert from Colston Hall, from 1989 where Martin uses it. Good ole youtube
Now that Epiphone has the Firebird I feel like it’s just a matter of time until Gibson brings them back… and I don’t think I’ll be able to resist! The case size is the only thing against it, I have an explorer and the case is an absolute behemoth 😂
Something about those little Firebird pick ups when you turn them up, they have an incredible howling sound compared to The Gibson humbucker or the soapbar pickups.
Thanks for the comment ! This guitar is completely stock . It's 2014 Gibson firebird . Those are firebird pickups in it . I have not swapped pickups in any of my guitars but I think about that at times .
I'd guess those are the ceramic pickups Gibson used in Firebirds during that period. They're a true Firebird pickup but the magnets are ceramic and they're VERY high output compared to a vintage one.
Just going to be real, I really don't like the video title or premise. People don't _need_ more than one or two functionally decent guitars to have a great experience playing music, and the consumerist addiction that is often pushed by guitar companies is a bad thing for people and the planet even for people who can easily afford it, and alienates people who can't. All that said, great playing, great review, still gave it a thumbs up
@@WesRettinger and I appreciate you being chill about the feedback! As I said, great playing, and a good look at what this type of guitar has to offer 👍
@@WesRettinger : It sounds amazing in your hands wes,awesome! I have a 2004 and 2009 also usa production gibson firebirds and i've never had a chance to play cs reissue to know how big of a difference there is. Have you?
Unfortunately I have never played a custom shop bird before . I definitely would want to get a white custom shop one if I was going to do that . I don't own any custom shop guitars , but the ones I have played are great (they should be since the cost of them ).
@@WesRettinger : I truly believe that in the end,it's the player that brings the instrument alive and not the other way around. The lengendary Django reinhard played a very flimsy and surprisingly simply made instrument which didn't have much of a tone,volume nor sustain and he could only play it with 2 fingers and he what he could that instrument still is surreal...
I have a Gibson CS '63 Firebird I reissue. I bought it new and I've had it for maybe 10-12 years now. For some reason Gibson put these high output ceramic magnet pickups in those back then. It registered at around 14k and was way too hot and bright for my liking. I put an original spec low output (6.9k) Klein Firebird Alnico pickup in it and it made all the difference in the world. Gibson got it's act together and now puts the proper pickups in the Firebird, when they decide to make a run. Mojotone also makes a great set of Johnny Winter replacement pickups with vintage type specs. The Firebird I is the coolest looking guitar I have ever owned and a lot of fun to play.
I have the same guitar in white, like Mike Campbell's. It's my favorite solidbody, and I agree; everyone should have a Firebird. I love mine.
I own a 2004 mk7. Fully pimped, 3 pickup gold hardware and a vibrola. She looks and sounds amazing! I only use it for recording these days due to the weight and the space eating factor. But damn what a sound! The bias to the left took some getting used to and like you I went for a wider padded strap and added some strap locks for extra security. You definitely don’t want it coming loose and diving into the floor. She is a conversation starter that’s for sure. Btw the designer was Ray Dietrich who had worked as a designer in Detroit. Truck tons of rock
Blues and country cred in a Firebird. YES own a Firebird! But keep a Tele or an SG nearby. Your back will thank you.
Mr. Winter is tops in my book. The first album, DAMN! Those acoustic RJ covers are amazing. And be Careful with a Fool, Leland Mississippi, I'm Your I'm Hers, simply amazing. And then that soulful singing on Drown in My Own Tears-whew!! First album I owned as a young lad in the 60s.
Your slide work sounds great man! I really love the tones you get out of that bird, and she looks as good as she sounds!
Thank you!
I own 2 American Firebirds 2013 and 2014. Love them both. Gigantic and everything is shifted to the left 4 inches (neck wise) Buyer beware you better have long arms. I met Johnny Winter in Honolulu of all places around 2011 playing at a small club. He was very gangly with long arms. I could see why he would play them comfort wise.
Definitely one of my favorite guitars!
Nice. I love my Firebird too. Amazing guitar.
Johnny and a firebird perfect combo🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
Fine looking guitar! Martin Turner of Wishbone Ash uses a Thunderbird, it looks great. Check out the 20th anniversary concert from Colston Hall, from 1989 where Martin uses it. Good ole youtube
Ooof when you hit that front pickup, wow. That is some tone. Makin me want one of those haha
Now that Epiphone has the Firebird I feel like it’s just a matter of time until Gibson brings them back… and I don’t think I’ll be able to resist! The case size is the only thing against it, I have an explorer and the case is an absolute behemoth 😂
The firebird is also a behemoth. That sucks.
If G brings them back, what will they be? 2500 bucks? 3000 bucks?
Something about those little Firebird pick ups when you turn them up, they have an incredible howling sound compared to The Gibson humbucker or the soapbar pickups.
Are those pups stock? Sound great man. Nice vid.
Thank you these stock pickups !
Great playing!
Thank you !
20 years of playing and haven't played one yet :(
Id have one with trons and a bigsby
🤘 - what pickups are in that axe? And do you/have you ever swapped pickups in any of your guitars?
Thanks for the comment ! This guitar is completely stock . It's 2014 Gibson firebird . Those are firebird pickups in it . I have not swapped pickups in any of my guitars but I think about that at times .
I'd guess those are the ceramic pickups Gibson used in Firebirds during that period. They're a true Firebird pickup but the magnets are ceramic and they're VERY high output compared to a vintage one.
@@InjectBleach-em9tg No the aren't what? Ceramic magnets? High output?
Just going to be real, I really don't like the video title or premise. People don't _need_ more than one or two functionally decent guitars to have a great experience playing music, and the consumerist addiction that is often pushed by guitar companies is a bad thing for people and the planet even for people who can easily afford it, and alienates people who can't.
All that said, great playing, great review, still gave it a thumbs up
I appreciate the feedback . As I'm still learning how to make these I will take any criticism. Thank you .
@@WesRettinger and I appreciate you being chill about the feedback! As I said, great playing, and a good look at what this type of guitar has to offer 👍
what model is your firebird? which pickups does it have?
It's a 2014 . These are the stock pickups .
What Vibe is this?
Blues, brother.
@@connorbutler5900 I meant the Uni-Vibe you used :)
I used a Deja vibe from fulltone
Is that a cs reissue or a usa gibson firebird?
It is a 2014 Gibson USA
@@WesRettinger : It sounds amazing in your hands wes,awesome! I have a 2004 and 2009 also usa production gibson firebirds and i've never had a chance to play cs reissue to know how big of a difference there is. Have you?
Unfortunately I have never played a custom shop bird before . I definitely would want to get a white custom shop one if I was going to do that . I don't own any custom shop guitars , but the ones I have played are great (they should be since the cost of them ).
@@WesRettinger : I truly believe that in the end,it's the player that brings the instrument alive and not the other way around. The lengendary Django reinhard played a very flimsy and surprisingly simply made instrument which didn't have much of a tone,volume nor sustain and he could only play it with 2 fingers and he what he could that instrument still is surreal...
Silly. You don;t need one. Move onto a new topic that someone cares about. And please, no more unboxing videos.
Why do people make comments like this? Go somewhere where you find the content interesting. Contribute, don't whine.
I have a Gibson CS '63 Firebird I reissue. I bought it new and I've had it for maybe 10-12 years now. For some reason Gibson put these high output ceramic magnet pickups in those back then. It registered at around 14k and was way too hot and bright for my liking. I put an original spec low output (6.9k) Klein Firebird Alnico pickup in it and it made all the difference in the world. Gibson got it's act together and now puts the proper pickups in the Firebird, when they decide to make a run. Mojotone also makes a great set of Johnny Winter replacement pickups with vintage type specs. The Firebird I is the coolest looking guitar I have ever owned and a lot of fun to play.