Firebird VII Opinions

[Old-Guy]

Hi Gang,

I have a chance to pick up a 1991 Reverse Firebird VII Custom Shop 3 pickup in Kerry Green. It has the ebony board with block markers and hardware is all gold it has a stop bar with an ABR-1it is excellent shape, do any of you own one or have opinions on this I can get it for about 2,200 with original case and all candy.

O-G

 

[Rev.WillieVK]

My only comment is that the Firebird Reissues I've played (Firebird V's [5]) have been neck heavy, and that didn't work for me. Your experience may be different.

Best of luck! :dude

 

[59gibson]

My only comment is that the Firebird Reissues I've played (Firebird V's [5]) have been neck heavy, and that didn't work for me. Your experience may be different.

Best of luck! :dude

Yes, some are neck heavy, but not all of them. I recently purchased a 2000 Historic Firebird V (cardinal red) and to my delight it's NOT neck heavy at all.

I must say that the pickups they're using in these birds really suck and are very thin and weak. I'm still in process of seeking better pups :dude

 

[BlueBoxer]

I agree the Firebird pups of present are not true to the originals. I put a set of SD Antiquity II Firebird mini humbuckers (from LP Forum sponsor, JMI Music) in my Firebird V and MAN, what a difference!!! I highly recommend them.

 

[TM1]

I've got an `03 FB VII and it's balanced really well! Sounds amazing. I replaced the pickups with a couple of Antiquity's and a old Sixties one that I lucked into. It's a great guitar. $2,200. doesn't sound bad at all!

 

[Coachmoe]

I have owned three Firebirds since 1996. One was a VII and the other two were V's. The VII was extremely top heavy but the two V's balanced well.

I agree that the pickups are lousy. I had an RS treble tamer kit installed in my 03 Firebird V and it has taken the shrillness out of the standard pickups. However, I stll do not get the sound that I want. I am thinking about a pickup replacement. I am leaning towards 57 Classic full size humbuckers.

Blueboxer, did you have to have your existing cavities routed to mount the Duncans? How has your sound changed since the swap? I am looking for more output similar to full size humbuckers.

Oldguy, $2200 sounds reasonable for a 91 VII HOWEVER, if at all possible play the guitar first to see how it balances.

 

[Old-Guy]

Thanks guys,

I went buy the shop yesterday and played her. First off it is in great shape with little or no playing wear. The Kerry Green is very cool. There was a few check lines on the back and there was a slight yellow blemish on the headstock. I asked for a strap to see how well she was balanced and found her to be very neutral not head heavy at all. This is the 3 PUP model with a selector position for each PUP. Opinions are correct the PUP's were shrill on the bridge and lacked body on the neck but wern't to bad. The biggest problem I have with this guitar is the middle PUP I was constantly hitting it with my picking style and it effected my method greatly and I had to be very conscious of where I was picking or I would be bunting away at the mid PUP. After about an hour I concluded that this guitar was not for me san the mid PUP, now if there wasn't a middle PUP I think with a PUP change she would be a fine axe. The action was decent and the acces to the upper register on the neck was excellent. So she is back hanging on the wall waitng for somone else to adopt her. Thanks for your input gang.

Old-Guy

 

[Plankspanker]

For what you're planning to spend I'd hold out and look for the Historic Vll model with the Maestro Vibrola, that price seems high for a stop tailpiece CS Production model Reverse Firebird evern if it's a custom colour. The early '90s Reverse Firebird Vs without the Maestro sell for around $1000./$1200.

 

[The Boz 56]

Hi Gang,

I have a chance to pick up a 1991 Reverse Firebird VII Custom Shop 3 pickup in Kerry Green. It has the ebony board with block markers and hardware is all gold it has a stop bar with an ABR-1it is excellent shape, do any of you own one or have opinions on this I can get it for about 2,200 with original case and all candy.

O-G

$2,200 is kinda high for a non-Historic Collection FB. I really dig my Historic Collection Cardinal Red FB VII. I think a FB VII has to have the vibrola to sound/look like an original 60s model. Biggest drawback is its on the heavy side (9.5 lbs) - not too bad. Not neck heavy at all (as long as you use the strap button near the neck heel). I had the original pickups completely redone - magnets and wire - and the frets ground down so they're not so tall - just like current Les Paul R9 frets. Oh yeah - I replaced the stock knobs with some original early 60s ones. It really sounds like a 60s model. Here's some pics:

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/3b3dbaf68507998acd6a5a5254ab2d76/2755_p37415.jpg

You gotta buy the Historic model to get the paint over the binding and mono color headstock (no black-painted center) like original 60s custom color Birds:

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/3b3dbaf68507998acd6a5a5254ab2d76/2755_p37416.jpg

http://www.lilypix.com/photos/data/3b3dbaf68507998acd6a5a5254ab2d76/2755_p37417.jpg

 

[Coachmoe]

Oldguy,

Look for a Firebird V. There's no middle pickup to mess you up. I had the same experience and when I went to the V I had no problems.

 

[andreja marovic]

I am a Firbird freak too.
I own a 76 Bi Cenntenial in Natural finish.It has a 3 piece body and plays and sounds fantastic.
Now I wish to add another FB and my choice is between FB1.and FBV.
I love the FBIII,as well as FBVII but I have to get one at the time.
Can anyone tell me where can I look for some Historic Collection one's.I can't find any FBV with Maestro.There is a choice of colors for the FBVIII and FBIII available, but I cab't locate a FBV.Help is welcome from the LPFORUM.
Peace + ABRAXAS
Andreja

 

[keef]

I passed on exactly the same guitar a few years ago - Dave's had a near mint one in Kerry Green and said that Gibson called it a Firebird VI because of the stop bar. Priced then at $1495. Maybe I was stupid not to buy it, but the stop on a 3 pup firebird just looked wrong to me - even if it could be an improvement tonewise...

Later Dave had 2 VIIs I was interested in, a regular production model and a historic. I called him about the constructional differences - from the Gibson site there did not seem to be any apart from the nickel/chrome hardware. Dave said a pro player tried both guitars in the store and liked the cheaper one much better....YMMV, as always.

 

[59gibson]

I was lucky to purchase my Historic 00 Firebird V (cardinal red) from Daves a couple of month ago. At that time, he also had a Historic Firebird VII in ember red. Keep trying the forum dealers :dude

 

[andreja marovic]

I was lucky to purchase my Historic 00 Firebird V (cardinal red) from Daves a couple of month ago. At that time, he also had a Historic Firebird VII in ember red. Keep trying the forum dealers :dude

THIS IS WHAT I CALL A KILLER GUITAR.
................CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
keep the volume pot on max. ABRAXAS
Andreja