Any love for Firebird pickups?

Lebarque

The tone on this vid is sublime IMHO. It's got me gassing for some Firebird pups. I'm reliably informed that the modern day Gibbo ones are cack, so boutique is the way to go. Any other lovers of these pickups?

Rabs

I stuck some Gibson mini humbuckers in one of my builds.. I think it sounds fantastic (but then I would )..  They have their own thing going on and the sound they make really cuts through the mix


I also remember there were a few videos of Gary Moores son Jack where he was using a Firebird and getting some great sounds out of it

roberty

They sound great in neck position, fat tele sort of thing

p90fool

Yep, love 'em. FWIW the JB Epi Firebird pickup is very very good, don't know if you can buy those separately.

Lebarque

Rabs said:

I stuck some Gibson mini humbuckers in one of my builds.. I think it sounds fantastic (but then I would )..  They have their own thing going on and the sound they make really cuts through the mix


I also remember there were a few videos of Gary Moores son Jack where he was using a Firebird and getting some great sounds out of it

Yep, that sounds great, @Rabs Are yours mini humbuckers or Firebird pickups though? I believe they often get confused - minis are more like humbuckers, whereas Firebirds are more like hot singles. Or so I'm told.

Lebarque

Am I right in saying mini humbuckers have pole pieces, whereas Firebirds don't? Or is that over-simplistic?

Corvus

I like the modern ones for what they are, sound like less fat humbuckers, but they are pretty well different to the trad type ones.

TINMAN82

All I can say is the pickups in my new Firebird 2019 model are great. Not sure if they are ceramic or otherwise but pleasantly surprised. I’d say more humbucker than single coil overall but quite articulate.

roberty

Lebarque said:

Am I right in saying mini humbuckers have pole pieces, whereas Firebirds don't? Or is that over-simplistic?

You're right there's two types. Firebird style pickups have two bars and Les Paul deluxe style are constructed like mini PAFs. Firebird style is more single coil-ish

meltedbuzzbox

Love a firebird pickup. Especially the ones from mojo

Rabs

Lebarque said:

Rabs said:

I stuck some Gibson mini humbuckers in one of my builds.. I think it sounds fantastic (but then I would )..  They have their own thing going on and the sound they make really cuts through the mix

I also remember there were a few videos of Gary Moores son Jack where he was using a Firebird and getting some great sounds out of it

Yep, that sounds great, @Rabs Are yours mini humbuckers or Firebird pickups though? I believe they often get confused - minis are more like humbuckers, whereas Firebirds are more like hot singles. Or so I'm told.

Actually now I think about it you are right (its a few years ago now).. I now seem to remember that they came out of a 70s Tribute LP like this
https://i.imgur.com/mHG5FMs.jpg

But to my ears, the LP type minis still have that cutting sound.. Even though yeah not quite as single coil like as the Firebird...  Still nice though..  Not a humbucker, P90 or single coil.. They really do have their own thing going on.

pintspiller

Didn't like them in my SG Special. It rocked when I stick a P90 in the bridge

Funkfingers

Lebarque said:

Am I right in saying mini humbuckers have pole pieces, whereas Firebirds don't? Or is that over-simplistic?

Mini humbuckers are exactly what the name suggests - conventionally constructed humbuckers but with narrower bobbins.

Vintage Firebird pickups have no adjustable polepiece screws. Each coil is wound around a bar magnet. 

Present day Gibson Firebird pickups are overwound. On some models, the output level is switchable between full and pseudo vintage.

Teyeplayer

Love mine, great midway between tele, p90 and paf. Sure these are Gibson’s modern take but they are great for cutting through.

The thing that changed it for me, was non-guitar playing punters coming up and saying ‘you’ve a new guitar haven’t you? It sounds great!’ -I won’t argue with them.