MORE FIREBIRD PHOTOS and MAIL
Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 01:52:00 -0400 |
Submitted Oct 05 I'm an old fart that has played in country and pop groups since I was 16 years old, I'm 53 now. In '69 my Gibson ES 335 was broken when another kid threw a bottle. That turned out to be a good thing for me. The next day I found a used Firebird I at a music store. It was from a studio sellout in Nashville and looked like crap, but when I played it I was hooked forever. A couple of years later a good friend brought a guitar to a gig I was playing and told me that he had a gift for me. He said he had bought it at a yard sale and couldn't play so he was giving it to me. When I opened the case I almost fainted. It was a Firebird VII. I've played Les Pauls since, but always went back to the FB. I recently bought an Epi FB VII and found it to be a very good axe. Except for the switch and the pots being cheap, it is every bit as good as the real thing. I like your site and I'll be checking it regularly. Thanks, Phil |
| September 2003 Hi Steve.. nice page... I am also a firebird fanatic, but I prefer
the non-reverse since they are more balanced and smaller (and I can
afford them)... here's a pic of my 5 darlings (the white one I refinished). Steve's reply: Wow! |
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January 2004 Hi Steve, Steve's reply: Thanks John. I'll look for that Phil pic and try to get it posted here. I found a pic of the eleven guitars Phil brought with him to a San Jacinto festival, but couldn't easily see the Firebird. Also, can you share a pic of you playing your Firebird? |
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Howdy, Thought I'd let you know of a great player currently using Firebirds frequently. Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers Band and Gov't Mule has currently been using several Firebirds with Gov't Mule. A few weeks ago Mule appeared on Conan O'Brien to promote their new live CD/DVD,The Deepest End (check it out-6 hours of red hot blues/rock guitar playing for only $23!).They played "Bad Little Doggie",and Warren used a Custom Shop platheo blue Non-Reverse Firebird which he uses exclusively for this song on all his shows.He picked it up on a trip to the Custom Shop in September 2002 (he also picked up a Les Paul '58 Custom Reissue on this trip). On the Deepest End DVD, Warren also plays a wine red Reverse Firebird 3 on "Voodoo Chile" with Jack Cassady on bass. Warren also has a purple Reverse Firebird that the late Allen Woody gave him so they could play matching guitar/bass (Woody often used Thunderbird basses during the last few years of his life). Here is a pics of Warren and his Firebird (above), and a great pic of Clapton and his Firebird 1 (below). Enjoy the pics and keep up the great site, Brian. PS-Planning on picking up a Reverse Firebird for myself in a few months.Probably a new production 5 model. Steve's Reply: Thanks so much Brian. |
The Stones in Seattle. 1965. (Thanks to Don Green)
Buy
and Hear-- or --Learn
The Songs
Tony Crane, of the Merseybeats, still plays lead on his Firebird
KISS guitarist,
Paul Stanley, used a Firebird on the
" ALIVE" album
Buy and Hear
Dave Mason: Certified Live CD
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Order
from Musicians' Friend:
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Vital Blues Guitar of Buddy Guy: Songbook
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Thurston Moore Sonic Youth
David Bowie guitarist, Earl Slick
Firebird owned by
Noel Gallagher of Oasis
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hi steve,
i came across your site and i was overwhelmed. i might not be famous, but i thought i might belong to your players gallery. i am playing a 65 reverse firebird. please check out my music (which was played on a 66 ES 330) and the pics me rocking my butt off playing one of the coolest instruments ever made. the pictures where taken when me and my band opened for duke robillard in hamburg germany. check out our band web site take care, jan mohr |
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hi Steve,
I took these pictures of this guy in a local club here in ARIZONA called 'joe's grotto'.., he had 4 red vintage Marshall 4x12 cabs and 4 red heads, and 4 firebirds on the stand, a black, red, sunburst and gold....all firebirds...he is a supercharged s.o.b. along with his band. I haven't heard anyone get the rippin guitar sound that this guy gets (todays trend guitar players just can't do much)....I have SPURS 3 song demo, a monster, heavy tone...when asked, Johnny said he only used 1-4x12 cab and one 100watt head...sounds like he used a tank!...johnny has emailed me pic's of all his birds ...around 25.....some twins (like 2 - 91 red birds in one pic)....the white firebird you see in pic has Johnny Winters sig on front, Johnny R. met Johnny Winter in philly and got him to sign it....Johnny Rushin said Johnny winter was his first guitar player that knocked him out when he first seen him at age 8...in concert. it was Johnny Winter,Randy Jo, Richard Hughes, Floyd Radford...as Johnny R. said, I was in the first row lookin up, it was so loud and full of sweet rippin guitar boogie n' blues with this long white hair albino standing 10ft tall over me......the world had changed for me forever at that moment. I was gonna do that....somehow. So as you can see I'm a fan of this Johnny Rushin and his band 'SPUR', He plays a wicked guitar, just as he once said he would do...he's a modern day heavy southern hard bluzymetal type music man, with solo's full of blues that bend slow n' cry and then just rip and burn by!.. thats old and new at the same time, i believe Johnny R. is the last of the heart n' soul players that play with a fire...so whether ohnny R's the last of the great real players or the beginning of bringing the new players back....i'm gonna follow him and his band....and I'm writing they're road diary,....they are going across the usa, if ya here of them in your town, go see them....and thank me later....Johnny will have a beer with ya, he's just easy going like that. SPUR'S 3 - SONG DEMO is called 'GRANDE DIABLO'......they are completing a full CD in the studio now....i just can't wait.....BIG JACK. |
 Hi Steve, Love Firebirds and your site. Maybe you or someone you know can help
me with mine. After 20 years, I just recently started trying to find
out what year it is and I'm having problems. Some guys say this and
that, even Jeff at Gibson wasn't sure, just speculated. Firebird III Here is a picture. The off color is the wear from me playing it forever! (and whoever had it before me) Any help is greatly appreciated or maybe send me to someone else who might know. Either way, great site! Rich ->- runruh@smdinc.com <-- e mail Reply: Thanks Rich. I'm clueless but can anyone else help? Steve April, 2004 Hey,
When I got it (1979) it had a Badass bridge on it. I replaced that with
the original style wiggle stick around 1984. That was a mistake -- it
made the guitar virtually unplayable due to tuning problems. In the You may be pleased to know, though, that two months ago I cleaned up the old Firebird and it's made its way back into my first tier of guitars. < Thanks and take care, May 2004 Check out www.blueguitarpalmsprings.com
and outstanding blue player Kal David |
Here I am with my white Firebird (Steve Moore)
Visit my Book and CD Store
| Hi, Firebird-lovers! There are lots of fine guitars
constructed and built in the world, but indeed the
Gibson Firebird is special!!! Striking design
and a great tone. Well engineered by the most innovative company of those days.
I call some of the originals my own and I love them. Thank you, Gibson.
The photo shows me playing a ¥63 twosome with a girl from the audience. Peter Driessen, Duesseldorf, Germany |
CONTINUE TO PAGE THREE for more mail and pics
