Umm Firebirds are so comfy.

equalsql

I purchased my first reverse body Firebird after seeing a nice 2013 vintage sunburst  model with the Steinberger tuners and a lyra vibrola come up for sale on evilbay for a good price.

It's a lovely guitar, but what I never realised was just how light and comfy they are. The ergonics are sublime. With the lighter tuners the balance on the strap is excellent and if set to the right height the raised upper bout of the body ever so gently support the arm's weight. It was a godsend when I was trying to play after braking my right shoulder.  

The same goes for sitting down with it. It just tucks itself in nicely into my right arm when sat on the computer doing some recording. It's thin enough not to get in the way of me typing and using my scrollwheel and of course when playing access to the top of the neck is insanely good.

It does appear that perhaps more thought went into its design than just the visual esthetic (which l originally thought).
If you have never picked up a Firebird and played it, then you IMHO are missing a treat.

Any other Firebird admirers on here?

Eggman

Never had one but I think they look and sound really cool.

p90fool

I find them really comfortable too, and I feel the same about Explorers. 

Alnico

My Firebird studio is my favourite guitar that I've ever owned.

It sounds like an SG on steroids and the feeling I get playing it is like nothing else I've played. It's a very inspiring guitar.
It's totally become #1 favourite among the others it hangs on the wall with. 

Teyeplayer

Big fan of the non-reverse and intend to add a reverse body to the collection too (as soon as I can afford the spare cash). I think they are hugely underrated guitars. Great pickups for me (even these modern ones) and love the neck!

grappagreen

Love em but I’ve got short arms

TeleMaster

Are they really? One guitar I’ve never given a good shot. I guess I’m not sold on the looks and the one time I played one I felt the neck profile was a bit flat or something. 

equalsql

TeleMaster said:

Are they really? One guitar I’ve never given a good shot. I guess I’m not sold on the looks and the one time I played one I felt the neck profile was a bit flat or something. 

I don't know about the more recent models with the upside down tuners, but if you get a chance to try one with the Steinberger tuners then definitely try one out.

equalsql

Eggman said:

Never had one but I think they look and sound really cool.

Have a wiz coz you are so right!

StefB

I’ve always fancied one but fear the sheer size on my 5’9” frame? I’m used to MusicMan & PRS so expect I’d look like I was wearing an oar. 

ICBM

I genuinely assumed the thread title was a joke .

I love the look and sound but I can't play them properly - far too long and too far to the left, and unbalanced unless they have the Steinberger tuners. (I'm 5'6".)

On the other hand @AuldReekie has just bought one - he's not that much taller than me and he seems to find it comfortable.

wrinkleygit

Loved my old f'bird , swapped out the oe pickups & fitted some mini humbuckers from my old les paul deluxe & fitted a vibrola, as per Johnny Winter, the only downside was the case took up more space in the van than the bass players, eventually p/exed it for a les paul pro deluxe, but i did keep the mini humbuckers, somewhere out there is a cherry red Firebird with a vibrola attached. From memory there was an issue with std pickups at the time which I think were bar pole pieces under the plain cover & not quite long enough to get a good signal from the high E string, the guitar was an early 90's Series V reissue in Cherry.

p90fool

I'm 6'3" so maybe that's why I find them comfortable. It's still a jolt after a Les Paul though, it can feel like you're playing a surf board for the first few minutes.

http://i68.tinypic.com/1y7dzs.jpg

Henrytwang

I love Firebirds, never played a bad one but I’m inclined to bang the headstocks on things. The one strange shaped Gibson I do have problems with is the Flying V, love the look but find them unwieldy 

Corvus

@Telemaster I had an '06 that had a slimmish 60s profile, wasn't my favourite feel either.

I like Firebirds, love the shape and the feel, the upper fret access, minibuckers etc. I like the modern/hotter ones, actually prefer the extra meat they have over trad-style ones.

Two here plus resting on a block of cedrela that's probably a Firebird, it just doesn't know it yet. Although it's so very light, it should really be on something else

http://alleykat.co.uk/images/stuff/misc/twobirds.jpg

Funkfingers

I like the sound of the small Firebird humbuckers but have never been entirely comfortable with the ergonomics of the body shape and vulnerable headstock. Consequently, I have Firebird style pickups in a single cutaway, set neck guitar. 

Exorcist

I like the ergonomics, they work for me. I have had a couple, and the last one I had, had very disappointing sustain, I tried everything but was dead around the 12th fret forward.. 

Henrytwang

Funkfingers said:

I like the sound of the small Firebird humbuckers but have never been entirely comfortable with the ergonomics of the body shape and vulnerable headstock. Consequently, I have Firebird style pickups in a single cutaway, set neck guitar. 

Those small Humbuckers sound great. The old non-reverse Firebirds with P90s can sound really nice too .

HarrySeven

p90fool said:

I find them really comfortable too, and I feel the same about Explorers. 

Amen to that.

roberty

Not just for tall people!