Gibson Firebird Vs Explorer
Crisoforo Schuhmacher
rct got it right. I have a firebird, and explorer and after playing those two for a while all my other guitars feel like they are half sized. Especially the Les Pauls. Got to say though firebirds and explorers are killer guitars. One of my favorite guitarists of all time Allen Collins played both and that is why I always wanted them.
I love them both, but the Explorer feels like an aircraft carrier, and the Firebird makes me feel a little like I am playing bass. If I switch to a Tele or my BC Rich Eagle right after, it feels like a ukelele by comparison.
I owned a 1964 Firebird for 20 years ('75-'95). My other guitars at the time were a Strat and an LP, so the Firebird was WAY different in sound, feel and looks. I was into Johnny Winter and Dave Mason at the time, so I had to have one.
Man that thing was LONG, point-to-point they are longer than a P-Bass. At that time I probably wasn't good enough, or smart enough, to be bothered by the ergonomics compared to the Strat and LP. All I knew was I looked REALLY COOL playing that guitar.
The Firebird never did displace the LP as my #1 Rock & Roll Gibson, and I think what eventually soured me on the guitar (and it took almost 20 years), was the neck dive and thin sound of the mini-humbuckers, not really just it's shape and size. At the time I finally sold it, it was setup specifically for open tuning slide.... and then I realized I sucked at playing slide.
Hello, I have had a few Gibson guitars but never a firebird. I have played a couple of firebirds but only for short periods and it has been several years. Not many guitar shops have them in stock. . I like them but have not spent a lot of time with one. I was wondering if those of you who have one could compare the feel and such against say an explorer or les paul even. Is it your main axe? Why do you like it so much? Please chime in and share all of your thoughts!! Thanks
I have a 2016 Firebird T and it is ok and a pair of Explorers that I love. My Firebird has Steinberger tuners which work great and do a nice job of staying in tune. The downside for me is the pickups. I think the pickups are not very precise. I have a selection of amps I have played this through including a Vox AC100, Fender Blues Deluxe and a Blackstar HT60 and I can't get the clarity of tone that I would hope for. To be fair, my Explorers have Seymour Duncan JBs and Jazz pickups that are a huge upgrade over the stock pickups in the Firebird. I will keep my Firebird and play it on occasion around the house but in general, it just doesn't sound good to my ear, clean or dirty. I would encourage you to look at the comments on the www.gibson.com page for this model year. My experience is very likely different from others.
I am a huge Skynyrd fan, specifically a fan of Allen Collins' playing style, and because of that I have always wanted both a Firebird and Explorer. I currently have a 2015 Firebird and a Reissue Explorer among other Gibsons and I absolutely love the firebird. On my list of favorites it is in the top 2. Besides the amazing looks these things also play amazingly. The neck is slim and fast. It's nothing like my les Paul necks though and my explorers neck is more akin to the les pauls. The steinberger tuners (on mine at least) stay in tune very well but do take some getting used to when changing strings only b/c they are so different from what I'm familiar with. It does take a little getting used to because of the overall length and the odd shape might bump into something from time to time but you get used to it quite quickly. My advice to anyone thinking about getting a Firebird...do it. You will not be dissapointed. I actually might snag another one later this year with a traditional neck width and nut on it. Still hoping that one day Gibson will bring back USA run firebird 1,3,& 7's.
Got a 2014 FB,I'm not a guy that has a main axe I play them all equally,sgs,les Pauls,tele etc., but if it were lost,stolen or I destroyed it in some bizarre accident,I'd buy another in a heartbeat. It has a different sound than any other of my guitars and plays just as well. Everyone should have one in their arsenal. Damn case is too big though,you could go sledding on it.?
I bought a very slightly used 2012 Firebird V. The original buyer must have decided that it wasn't for him almost immediately. I wasn't too hot on the Steinberger tuners at first, but as I read reviews, many owners really like them. They work great. I'm more of a Les Paul guy, it isn't a Les Paul by a long shot. The neck is a bit wider & flatter, more like a SG. It has ceramic pickups. The case is huge, last time I looked they were shipping them in Gig Bags. For me, it's a great addition to my arsenal, but I wouldn't want it as my only guitar.
A 1964 Firebird III was my first Gibson. Bought it in the early 70's to compliment my 1960 Stratocaster, and to have a guitar similar to two "inspirations", Johnny Winter and Dave Mason. A year later I bought a tobacco sunburst Les Paul Standard (having discovered Duane Allman), and found I got along a lot better with the LP.
Although one of the coolest looking guitar designs of all time, the size, imbalance, neck shape/size and pickups of the Firebird were just not for me, at least as my MAIN Gibson. I continued to use it sparingly on stage into the 80's, by which time I had also picked up a 335. In the end the Les Paul and 335 won out. My last try with the Firebird was to set it up specifically for open tuning slide work (ala Johnny Winter again). The problem then was that shortly after that I formed a band with a REAL slide player, and it quickly became apparent that I REALLY sucked at playing slide.
Thanks for all of the replies. Man this gets me wanting one even more. I see on the first reply that Megafrog is not happy with the sound. This is not the first time I have come across this. I was kind of worried about that myself. I know Seymore Duncan makes a good replacement set of pick ups. I would consider that myself if the one I wound up with sounded thin or too shrill. Do most of you use the stock pickups of have you changed them out?
I'm not sure my answer/opinion is relevant to the current reissues, but my '64 was dead stock, and I wasn't thrilled with the Firebird mini-hums. The popular mod at the time was to replace the Firebird pickups with a pair of the pickups used in the Les Paul Deluxe of the era, which were actually (pre-Gibson buyout) Epiphone mini-humbuckers. I don't think any of the aftermarket makers offered Firebird replacement pickups at the time.
I did play a 60s non-reverse Firebird and the neck on it was just like a 60s style Les Paul and I found the shape to be very comfortable. The down side was they wanted 3 grand for it and it looked like a puppy used it as a chew toy.
Main guitar? I am generally a one guitar kind of guy. I get one I like and stick with that for the most part with recording in the studio, practicing at home or jamming with friends. I never liked carrying more than one guitar to a gig and I do not believe I will ever break that habit either. Since I already have a guitar I use on recording and such the firebird will probably stay at home and not go out, I don't think. I have noticed though, with all of the different guitars I have used while doing session work, it never mattered what I was using at the time because the end result would all sound very similar. I guess it is because I like humbuckers and set my amp a certain way. I had an explorer and it was a bit cumbersome playing sitting down. A bit heavy too while out on stage. I would think the firebird would weigh a little less and would be slightly smaller bodywise compared to the explorer. Yes I love the way the firebird looks. Heck I want one alright and have wanted one for a long time. Just not many people will have them in stock. I went to the local guitar center here too.....No firebirds. All of the other music stores do not carry gibsons anymore either. So it is either a guitar show coming in March that I am planning on attending or I am just SOL. I will probably just wind up getting one through the internet and either be thrilled or so so. I would like to have either the firebird v in sunburst or the classic white version with the steinberger tuners. I really am not into the robot tuning kind of stuff. I like the old regular set up and so it may be the traditional version as well. I would go for a mint condition used one too. I take care of my stuff and am very particular about how my guitar is treated so the used guitar would have to be in top 10 condition without a scratch or small dings and such. Just kicking back and enjoying what you guys all have to say about yours. Been watching alot of youtube demos of them as well. I would love to have a 1960's version. Heck I even like the NON Reverse original version too. I just wish gibson would put trapezoid inlays in the fretboard of them but they don't.
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