Does It Deserve the Hate? 2017 Gibson Firebird Zero Pelham Blue | Review + Demo
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- čas přidán 7. 08. 2018
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0:46 - Firebird Zero
1:00 - Specs
1:48 - The Pickups...
4:00 - Bridge and Pots - Korean!?!
4:47 - Easy to Change Pickups
5:13 - Pickguard
5:34 - Body design
6:07 - Headstock / Tuners
6:55 - Finish - 11 FUN Option!
8:04 - Final Thoughts
8:52 - Clean Demo
10:51 - Crunch Demo
12:41 - Condition
15:45 - Blacklight Test
16:27 - Gig Bag
The Firebird Zero was met with much criticism after it was officially launched. People on guitar forums seem to diss on this guitar a lot, as do many reviewers here on CZcams. However, the Firebird 0 has left a lasting impression on me a 'the freaky stratabird' guitar.
If you go into this guitar thinking you're getting a humbucker-equipped metal machine, you're going to be sorely disappointed. These might looks like hum buckers and cancel the hum like them, but they sound closer to a single coil. I feel this guitar does clean very well. It's not a crystal clear, clean, but it has a raunchiness to it that is good for certain genres such as funk and blues. I thought it sounded pretty good with a little bit of crunch as well, but heavy distortion did not sound good at all. Other reviewers seemed to get a good sound with it distorted, so I think it really depends on your amp and your settings.
Overall, I'd suggest a Firebird Zero as a fun - to have around guitar - if you collect and just need something to noodle on from time to time. If this is your only guitar, your money could be better stretched on the used market.
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I don't think it is as bad as everyone makes it out to be. It's a fun little player, nice and light weight without being too light. Play it to it's strengths and not it's weakness and you'll be happy with it.
If you'd like to see me overhaul this guitar - get this video to 2000 likes before it sells!
The Trogly's Guitar Show keep the neck, replace the bridge for a Seymour Duncan jb and boom, is a hs strat
2 vintage PAF Zebras and a Bigsby 😉👍
The Trogly's Guitar Show I do give props for the maple neck ;)
Were these a result of Gibson's financial difficulties? If Epiphone made this it would be $189 and sold in a pack with an amp! WTF Gibson?!!
I love that guitar, it's nowhere to be found here where I am
Here's what Gibson needs to do. Reverse the body, change the pickups to the 490 & 498 pickups, fix the frets, give it Grovers, give it a plain, American made wrap around bridge, and a slightly better finishing job. They would have to make the price like $799, but they would be flying off the shelves.
Also make it out of mahogany.
Ajit V. Pai poplar is not a bad wood choice. But I'd do all your choices BUT with p 92's
Ajit V. Pai: I was going to post the same thing, but your comment saved me the trouble. Thanks.
Problem with that is that you are pretty much describing a Firebird studio which is around $1300
mahogany wood will add $200 to the guitar price. It's probably $75 more than poplar, poplar being almost free in the US (but it's stable and easy to work). Supplying (finding a stable supply) mahogany costs money, so does buying it, so does throwing away the guitars that don't pass QC, and then the dealer wants a slice, so figure mahogany vs. poplar is probably a $200 swing.
As to the finishing, on a guitar that Gibson probably gets $500 for (and makes in the US, most likely with as little hand labor as possible), you'll get the finish off the gun and little finish build and buffing. Those things take time and labor, you have to pay more to get them.
For a $400 used guitar that's light and probably a good player with a fret leveling job - assuming it's not just one or two high frets (which is free if you can do it yourself), there's not a lot to complain about. If I tried to source the parts to make one, it would end up being close to that. And it would take me about 20 hours to make it by hand, and nobody would give me $400 for it.
You can get kit guitars for $100, but the hardware will be junk in them and the wood will be no better - likely worse. If you start replacing parts even after you fart around with the poor fitting joints, you're getting close to $400 quickly.
I personally tried out the firebird zero at sam ash when it first came out and I thought it was awesome! Every time we go in and see one my son asks me if I'm going to get one...it really was an impressive little axe.
Dear god, the main riff to Can't Stop on the bridge pickup sounds incredibly similar, in a very uncanny way.
I laughed a bit too hard when you were describing all the finishes
Fantastic review. So informative and entertaining at the same time! Awesome
Just bought my second one! Love these guitars, love the double slugs.
Quite right, it’s about what you think about a Guitar, it’s not about what other people think, yes I would Rock this Guitar.
thank you for this video i might be picking one up for around 275 used as a new project and hard all the hate but i love the look! its weird and different
It seems like a lot has been sacrificed just to have a low price guitar with the name Gibson on it. It does however have a unique tone to it somewhat reminiscent MIJ guitars of the 60's and early 70's. Those first riffs you played sorta had a "sitar vibe" to them (well played by the way). I think it would be a good ax if you're willing to invest some time and $$ to "make it your own" ...if that's your thing. It definitely does not deserve the "hate" word ...like you said "it's just misunderstood". Thanks for the video and everyone have a great day!
I recently got a cardinal red one in great shape, and I’m loving it.
Not planning on changing anything unless the bridge starts giving me issues but so far it’s been fine.
@@auntjenifer7774 iv since gotten rid of it but bang for buck i thought it was fantastic!
I love the shape, id get another one day maybe another red or the black.
Hope your enjoying it!
Ive never played one so im not gonna knock it, with that said id like to say thank you for this review, Trog. I trust you, thanks!
I think id like to try one out though
Loved the animations! Very entertaining. More! More!
This guitar was interesting for about 5 minutes when it was released. Yes, i'd forgotten all about it. The Joe B Treasure Firebird I was one that got away, though. Besides being a caretaker of a Cardinal Red '76 for a short time, closet i came to wanting a Firebird.
I have the 2016 Les Paul CM. Love it, nothing wrong with it's build . Was about $900 here in Canada on sale. M2 is next on my list. LP #4!
Great take & review of this budget guitar.
Lovin the animations during the videos 😂
Just grabbed one after checking out this video a couple times. I appreciate your input and point of view on all these guitars. I love to mod everything and that’s what I purchased this for. Like new played a few times for $324 shipped! Can’t wait to start modding!
This would certainly be a guitar I would've loved to have when I was in high school.
luv how brutally honest he is XD
Beetlejuice Green he really knows his stuff. Love these videos
Hey, man, nice video, now I see this as my possibly next purchase xD Are you gonna talk about the Chris Shiflett's Firebird I talked you about in your last video? Thanks and good night!
It sounds more like a Telecaster than a Strat to my ears. Also I think it looks a bit like the new Fender Meteora
I kinda liked the sound. Especially for the Peppers song
I still own/love mine!!!! All I did was change out the bridge pickup/and disabled the neck.
Impressive. Had no idea he was such a competent player... (Rock on, brother!)
A used one for hotroding seems like a really cool project if you wanna rock something very different
It sounds freakin good! Lot's of usable strat like tones.
I swapped the pickups on mine out to a tone mountain for the bridge & a slash for the neck,swapped the tuners for a nice set of locking ones. As for the bridge, sometime ya just gotta learn to play with a higher action..my 80s gibson challenger has the same bridge..ultimately its a fun,inexpensive player thats a good platform to hotrod out a little.
I like it. I like the goofy offset shape. I like the set neck in maple. Not fond of the finish. I think it would be a nice little guitar to mod and honestly, done right, it could probably be turned in to an awesome player. I'm gonna get a black one if I can find one. I am not a big fan of Gibson these days, but I love my 2003 faded SG... one of the last models to sport a real ebony fretboard, real MOP dot inlays, and a solid mahagony body. What happened to them in the last 17 years is beyond me.
Sounds good man. It may be just you playing it well
i got a red one and it kicks ass. neck is mega fast for shredding. i got gibson, fender, esp, dean, squire, epiphone and other gits also. git rocks!
Can you give more info on the electronics plz? Like capacitors and the actual values of the pots? I think the wrap around bridge is giving it that ‘strat like’ tone as well. Would love to hear P90’s in that guitar.
I use my U2 for the stratty tones....that was when Gibson used super tonewood... Basswood!
Yeah i love my Gibson superstrat.
Love the satin finish on this one for the rest.... Neh.
Hey Trogly! Do you think you could look into a fender jazzmaster? It’s a bit of an oddity of a guitar and I think it would be cool to review one
I'm still waiting for the M2 to grace your channel. Or even an LPJ!
I found one at a guitar center used. Freakin loved it! Broke my heart that I had to make the responsible choice and pass because I’m eternally poor and I have 2 other guitars
Id pop a new pickup in the bridge and rock it! I love those guitars!! 🤘😎🎸
it makes sense for a beginner who wants a higher end entry level guitar! for the price point I think it is good for what it is
It looks like a good beginner guitar. Maybe a good instrument to up grade. Nice colour too.
I have the Phantom Gray M2(Melody Maker wannabe), and I love the pickups. And I love the pickups for metal because they're not muddy and they'll expose a bad player. The only thing I changed was the bridge post. I installed adjustable and lockable post to have the ability lower the action should I want to. No buzzing frets, no sharp frets etc..
I would take time to level the frets for sure. I thought the neck pickup sounded pretty good for many applications, especially acoustic like sounds. I would be real tempted to change the bridge pickup. I think they are compensating for the lack of string distance behind the bridge and mini humbuckers by using those pickups. I always thought the Fire Bird had an odd sound to begin with. LOL... I would want it to look like a Fire Bird and sound like an SG. Nice guitar and playing.
Hello what is the difference between the early 2019 Flying V and the new 2019 Flying V
I actually REALLY like the pickups
Do you think it would be a good idea to buy one of the s series from stratosphere to make a personalized rock machine? I really want to get either a lp junior or a custom special to MOD the hell out of it
I played one at a guitar center for like 15 minutes, it just feels cheap, the frets weren't finished great, and I picked up an epiphone Lucille instead (which are amazing btw)
Didn't like the pickups but do like the non reverse body. Nice review
Another Video that I haven't seen ❤️
When will we see the review on the victory mvx?
I think it's kinda appropriate that the pickups sound as they do given that Firebirds came originally with minihumbuckers. I like the arm-contour too
Actually, no. They sound horrible.
Damn, everytime i watch these reviews im at work... I gotta start bringing an axe here to work
Wesley Dunn perfect idea if you're a lumberjack
ao el ...hahaha
I've said it before and I'll say it again. Troggly, you are a funky dude. Let's start a funk band.
....Is it wrong I kinda want one? Just throw out the pickup's to 57's?
I'm in your boat. I don't want one particularly, but I'd build something like it if I liked the shape. duncan JB and 59, or even a third world PAF knock off.
I'm sure the fret issues on a simple guitar like that are minor. It's not a complex instrument and a go-over with the frets and a check of the quality of the nut work could be done in less than a football game.
I have a few and they're worth it if you mod it correctly.
Kudos to you for sticking with your love for Gibson. I had several les pauls, and after buying a more recent one and dealing with Gibson, I sold them all for MIA and MIP ESP Eclipses. Never looked back.
Well I bought my daughter one (her first electric) she loves it and I think it's a damn good axe for the money. And it's pretty hackable.
Trogly(showing a maple neck that’s flames top to bottom):“Little bit of figuring, wouldn’t call it flames”
Also Trogly(showing a neck with a couple lines of figuring): this has a beautiful almost custom flamed neck
Depends on which one he has for sale lol
Justkiddingjustkidding
Could you do something similar to this with the 2015 les Paul CM?
i like it. i want one now. thanks
I think putting a tremolo on it would brink the full potential out on what Gibson made, sadly I’ve been looking for a strat sounding Gibson just because many songs I play normally require great sounding humbuckers like my emg 57/66 but some songs would sound better with some strat style pickups instead. Every guitar shop in my area wants new price for a used zero
acctualy i realy like it . it have a nice vibe but pls make a video playing this guitar using fuzz i m sure it will sound realy nice
Personally I really like it, like the sounds also.
I expect at some point I will attend a gig and see somebody playing one of these and they will be getting some really cool sounds , it's all about being inventive and doing something different.
Don't we all love new music and new sounds?
I expect secondhand prices are are quite affordable let's give the zero chance why not?
I think it looks and sounds good
I think it's very interesting guitar !
Double slug means that there are no pole piece adjustment screws in the humbucker and the pickups in this guitar are humbuckers (two single coils in series or parallel). The pickups in this guitar have ceramic magnets which make them sound brighter than the typical classic humbucker. Possibly that's why he's calling it a Strat which it's not. The scale length on a Strat is 25.5 inches and this guitar is the typical Gibson scale length of 24.74 inches.
One of these just came up forsale on Guitar center website. Sold fast @ $349
Did they ever make a left-handed version? That would probably make a pretty cool right-hand player…they even moved the controls a long way back behind the bridge so they wouldn’t be in the way. :)
You we're ripping on this day!
Lol! I love the editing on this one!
I like it and I'd rock it, but in some other color. I don't like blue or red guitars. Don't wait for 2000 likes, just mod it Trogly. I wanna see what u do with it!
i would have one as a modding platform.
Isn't $499 a bit much for something to mod? 2nd hand Epi a better way to go?
Same; I'm not a fan of the tone, humbuckers, etcetera. But I actually like this guitar's shape. It's like a firebird with fetal alcohol syndrome. (...which for some reason appeals to me.)
It looks great! I’d throw a bigsby and some humbucker sized p90s in. Poplar though.. hmm
Maybe the crapiest Gibson you have demoed but the best sound demo I have herd you done. You were really jamming out and the songs you played showed what that guitar can do. Great job. For real tho even better then your most recent stuff
Do you think it would work good for lefties like me?
Love your videos!
With a little modification work, I think these would be better string up lefty haha. Just route the controls from behind on the other side and remove them from the current pickguard area
I was thinking you could. If I got one thats what I would do but I would pick one up in cardinal red or the all black color and get red pickguards and thrown in some new pups
Thank you very much!
Thanks Trogs, you and me are friends, right? FOREVER???
I like the offset stuff, but I don’t get the top cutaway.
Bought one of these new for under 400. I agree that this is not the guitar you want to approach with a traditional "gibson" mindset. I compare this to a Jazzmaster or a Jaguar more so than a strat. It has an offset body and two pickups rather than three like a strat . This is also a guitar you won't feel bad treating like Kurt Cobain treated his guitars. I put a Dimarzio Tone zone in the bridge and an air norton in the neck, really beefed up the sound! Added a coil split push pull in the tone and it can get really funky and jazzy. We shall see how it holds up to the abuse in the next five years or so, and as far as future value goes, who ever knows with small run instruments that were commercial failures, sometimes they land in the future and sometimes they don't, often depends on someone in the spotlight having one. If any of you want to hear that guitar in a mix i have a few songs featuring it on my page.
4:56 how the hell are you holding the guitar like that
These are pretty light weight haha
@@Trog
The body shape looks awesome! Not every guitar must look like all of the originals (LP, Strats, Teles, etc). Kinda like how the SX or Supro looks.
Yes!
The tendency of the bridge to "lean" is easily explained: They used a set of mounting posts that didn't match up properly in size with the slots in the bridge itself.
That's not a matter of being "cheap." It's just BAD work. Getting the right size would've been no more expensive than doing it wrong.
Yep, the same problem the BC Rich Warlocks suffered from. The ones with the wraparound bridges anyway. They leaned so badly you'd swear the bridge posts were coming out of the body. The bridge even looks like the same manufacturer made them. They're not thick enough to just slide onto the mounting posts. Too much play.
Make a review of firebird tabacco Joe bonamassa signature
Yeah! I've had one for about two years now, and I love it!
Every time I see one of these I almost want one, but the single cut melody makers and M2s cost the same so I keep buying those instead.
After I had learned about 4 chords, I bought a Fender Modern Player Tele. It is made in China, but with a Fender name. Around $400. This Gibson seems like a similar idea, a cheap way to get a Gibson. I like my MP, and, I think I would love this guitar too.
That is a very sensible comment.
Fender and squier are known for outstanding price-performance ratios. There are pros that play bullet strats on tour. This one is known for sounding and playing like trash, as gibson is generally known to be less value for money than other manufacturers... So that comparison makes little sense to me. =) I also think the guitar sounds in this video where very hard to listen to as well though, so if your ears aren't bleeding from both the guitar sound and the playing at around 9:30 maybe we just disagree and that's that (=
Ive seen a few of these used on gc for $350 or less...ive thought about buyinng one just to mod the crap out of it...lol. I wonder if you can replace the wraptail with a tuneomatic and install a bigsby b5...🤔
Tommys Timeless Treasures wraptail has stop tail spacing and not Tom spacing
Men I bought one. It sounds good to me
If I could fine a mega cheap one I would change the tuner to hipshot locking tuner, change that nut to a graphtech, the pickups to my humbucker preference which I would prob go for lambertones grinder / crema and change the electronics to better cts and three way switch and get a complete set on it its would be good from there on
Changed pickups to Seymour Duncans.. now I'm totally satisfied with it..just a lowly rhythm/vocalist and not a shredder..but I love my little Firebird..just one man's opinion
I thought the pickups were nice and hot. The black one I played wasn’t bad!
It sounds cheap and nasty like something White Stripes would use. Definitely has its own thing going on. Would be good for somebody who records or has a studio to have when they need something quirky and different for a guitar part. Might do well set up for slide too.
Have one, and bone stock I got a BIG jack white vibe from it, it's very punk rock and grungy with fuzz. I modded mine immediately because I knew it could be a lot more versatile, and now it is.
Could you fit an EMG 81 in the bridge position?
Yes
I'm not a fan of Pelham blue, but other than that what's the deal?
The Foos are clean?
What's the point of double slugs?
picked one of these up dead stock from my local Guitar Center on clearance a few weeks back for $250. ...Honestly; still a bit high for what it is.. theres better QC in the epiphone range.. but I'm gonna make it a nice player.
FML, one of these just appeared locally on CL for a fair price and I happen to know the seller.
Can the pups be replaced by real hums?
You should review a firebird X!
Great gig guitars... I had a Gibson Nighthawk in silverburst that was a great gig guitar.. Wishing I didn't sell it
I need a bolt neck Firebird.... And a ES335 kit... Because Trini Lopez 335
I had commented on one of these tubies about this particular make of gibson and weather I should buy it from a pawn shop here in Canada.
After finding out it was in fact a real and actual Gibson and hearing it, not the crunch but nice enough for heavy blues and country. I bought it, I play out of mostly Epiphone but this one with a lille work will scream I love the action I don't care about the sadle easy fix. For that cheap I own a Gibson.
Oh yes the owner of the store told me he had it a bit over a year and that a young guy brought it in and traded it for a video game console. I knew right off that it was new. The neck was in great shape but the intonation was not good he must have been trying to get the rock tone. With that one unless we put in new hard ware, won't happen. I'm happy.
I would like to see this guitar turned into a metal machine with EMG or Fishman fluence Killswitch Engage signature pickups
premise or preface?
I think the major problem with this guitar is Gibson decided to use a legendary nameplate on it, obviously hoping that would boost sales. It backfired, when people think of Firebirds they think of some legendary guitarists and expect the guitar to live up to it. If they had started a different nameplate here I think they would have done much better because it is a USA Gibson. I played a couiple and found that I could get some really nice Korean guitars that I dont need to mod or get a fret finish done to, at a much lower price used so it was a no for me