nderbird Basses
Thunderbird is the Firebird’s bass cousin,
ch like EB basses are related to SGs. A
ticularly powerful sounding bass, John
wistle finessed many bass lines for The Who
of his Thunderbirds. Due to their size, they
double as a lifeboat in the event of a cruise
emergency.
XII
super-hyped, much maligned and very
ensive Firebird X was introduced as the
ar wave of the future with its three pickups,
omatic robot tuners, and built-in digital
cts. Many players complained about its price
futuristic feature set, but Gibson defended
desire to push guitar technology forward and
wed no signs of slowing down in regards to
ducing guitars with futuristic amenities.
Firebird
VIII
X
Non-Reverse
Firebird
ebird
Current Models
As of this writing, Gibson offers many variations
on the Firebird from both Gibson USA and the
Custom line. Although they are scarce, there are
also some Epiphone models out there, though
many of those are not historically accurate as
they are equipped with standard humbuckers.
The Firebird is perhaps the most affordable entry
into the Gibson Custom line of products, as used
models are frequently seen for sale in the
sub-$2,000 range.
It is worth noting that the Firebird, like other
great guitars, has inspired other guitar
manufacturers to produce instruments in
its likeness. If you’re in the market for a
customizable, boutique-style ‘Bird, the Fano
PX6 offers a wide range of colors, pickups, and
hardware options in the non-reverse shape. It
isn’t an exact copy, as it has a bolt-on neck, but it
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