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Gibson Firebird Studio 70s Tribute Review
Gibson's new range of 70s tribute electric guitars have been met with hugely positive reaction - Dan from Music Junkie has given the Firebird a play and a review!
28th
June
2012
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The Firebird has always been one of Gibson's most unique and sought-after guitars. The iconic shape of the instrument has withstood the test of time from its introduction in 1963 to today, and its distinctive "reverse" body shape ensures that you'll always be noticed!
What does Reverse mean? Well, the Firebird has a unique body shape that features a horn on the lower, treble side of the guitar - the "reverse" to the standard of a longer horn on the top or bass side of the guitar. Distinctive and stylish! While there are non-reverse models available (with a slightly more traditional shape), Gibson have rightly chosen the classic Reverse model as the basis for their 70s Tribute model.
So, what makes the 70s Tribute so special? Just like the other tribute models, it's available in four amazing satin finishes - Ebony, Cherry, Silverburst and Vintage Sunburst - and has the same great mini humbucking pickups, which feature a highly efficient single alnico magnet and dual blade design to ensure crisp and clean high output tone.
So what do we think of it? Well, I took the liberty of playtesting one for you guys - I know, I know, my ob is so hard. Now, I must admit I was a bit of a skeptic when it came to the Reverse body shape - I thought the lower horn would get in the way and make it hard to play. Well, the good news is I'm wrong - as if fifty years of popularity didn't tell me that already! The body feels really comfortable and actually sits surprisingly well when you're playing, and the neck joins the body at the perfect point.
While we're talking about the neck, it's worth mentioning that the 70s Firebird has a neck profile all of its own, perfectly crafted to suit the shape and style of the guitar. It starts out with a volute at the base of the headstock to strengthen the headstock joint, then starts very thin at the nut and thickens out near the body to provide a comfortable playing position the whole way up the neck, and Gibson have inventively called this thin-to-thick neck profile the Thin-To-Thick With Volute. Okay, not many points for creativity - but it really does feel amazing.
Now, this is something that I don't say lightly, but the Firebird may actually be one of the best rock guitars I've ever played. It's comfortable, it's fast, and it feels like you can swing it around and have a great time rocking out without any worry. Not only that, but it's distinctly affordable - at only £699, this could possibly be the best investment you make all year.
Want to know more? Come on down to our flagship music store in Leicester and check out our the Gibson 70s Tribute Range for yourself, or better yet come on down to our 70s themed Gibson Day on July 7th, where there'll be fancy dress and all sorts of fun malarkey to celebrate the release of these amazing guitars!Related Articles
