Epi Firebird VII? NTC

Jim Sams · June 5th, 2003, 06:19 PM

Has anyone on the board ever tried out an Epi Firebird VII?
How is the quality? The price is now low enough on used ones that I am tempted to try one....

BTW I have always thought Firebirds sound like Teles, but with goofy ergonomics :D

Jim Sams · June 6th, 2003, 09:44 AM

Surely one of you guys has pick up an Epi Firebird and played it somewhere.....

Michael R · June 6th, 2003, 10:00 AM

I have a Gibson V, click "The Gibson Dicussion Page Reissue" link above and post there, thats the page for Gibson/Epi posting.

astro · June 6th, 2003, 10:02 AM

I haven't but.....

Our bass player has been thinking about getting one of the firebird basses. He has an EPI LP bass that aside from some setup issues is really an exceptional bass for the price he paid for it.

I have an EPI LP BB that plays and sound (i dropped a bb in it) as good if not better than most Gibson.

You should try over at GDPRI.

Deaf Eddie · June 6th, 2003, 05:14 PM

... but it don't sound like no Tele. In fact it, don't sound like a Firebird, either. The pups in it were just TOO DANG HOT - something like 12k - and it was harsh sounding, lots of thunking mid-range.

I been swapping a few pups in and out, looking for that more signature Firebird tone, but I'm still just chasing it.

I tried a pair of OLD Seymour Duncan mini-hummers, the kind with the embossed covers, sounded pretty good but they squealed like pigs. I even pulled one of the MIK's gold covers off and stuck it on an old LP Deluxe pup. Now, that pup had a very good sound, but still too microphonic for gigging use (BYW, it metered out at 6.5K).

I've tried a few tricks to cut down the squealies, but only suceeded in attenuating them, not eliminating them.

IF I was heart-set on gigging with this axe, I'd probably have to drop the dimes for a NEW set of S-D minis - and NOT the hot ones, I learned my lesson.

My band-aid for now was to put the old S-D's in at neck and bridge, and one of the stock MIK's back in the middle, but wired the MIK coils-parallel instead of coils series as a standard humbucker would be. I also swapped the covers on the S-D's with the MIK pups, so it looks "stock"... the black pickguard is a whole other story... you could check my webpages for that.

It's at best a compromise for now, it don't squeal quite so bad and the MIK really does give it a nice quack with its coils paralleled... I also put in a rotary switch with three throws: normal; coil-shunt on the S-D's , and the S-D's series/out of phase. Cool tones, but it's just not workable for the big venues and high-volume stages...
I probably shoulda left it stock, but it just DID NOT have "the sound."

Fit and finish on the axe is nice, I have had a couple of other MIK Epis, and find them to be good bang-for-buck deals, ESSPECIALLY if you re-pup 'em...

Gee, this all shoulda been over on the Gibson/Epi board...
I guess ya gotta broaden them horizons somehow!

Jim Sams · June 6th, 2003, 08:16 PM

I have heard good things about the Semourized Minihumbucker, and the Dimarzio hot minibucker.
Of course you could always do P-90s.
I would like a 3 P-90 firebird I think :D

Deaf Eddie · June 6th, 2003, 08:40 PM

... back in the seventies, when they were worthless - oops, make that VALUELESS! - I had a Firebird III (non-reverse) with threee P90's.

Ya, some good tones, but the pup selector on that axe MORE than sucked - remember that Fender-Mustang-ish slider? Sheesh! Repro parts weren't as readily available back then as they are now, and rather than cut up the pristeen pickguard, I swapped the 'Bird away after a couple of months.

I never considered P90s for this axe - I really was looking for the "BIRD-tone" ala Kal David (a personal HERO), Johnny Winters and others... I think it will eventually have a set of new S-D's. But...

Just for fun I sent one of the MIK pups up to my pal Pete at Vintage Vibe Guitars -

http://vintagevibeguitars.com/

He's gonna take a look at it, maybe do a little after-hours rewind for me... then we'll see what's what!

Jim Sams · June 7th, 2003, 10:07 AM

Are there any sound clips of Kal David on the web?

Deaf Eddie · June 7th, 2003, 12:02 PM

... but for a stab from the past, there's an MP3 from the Fabulous Rhinstones at:

http://www.lp2cd.com/time/70/70003.htm

He gets the second solo (harp gets the first). Of course, this IS from 1972!

Today Kal owns and plays at his own nightclub in Palm Springs, CA, The Blue Guitar. Has a trio called "Kal David and the Real Deal." Not the usual power trio, it's Kal plus drums and keyboards - and the keyboardist does a FABULOUS job of covering the bass parts, you'd swear there was somebody off-stage with a P-Bass...

I think you can buy the "Live at the Blue Guitar" CD right from the webpage. It's well worth a listen. He gets a great sound out of his Firebird through a Boogie - geez, who wouldn't? It's very Strat-ish, almost an SRV deal.

http://www.blueguitarpalmsprings.com

Um, lemme see, to give this thread a Tele spin, Kal used to play with James Cotton of Poco...

sunkidd · June 8th, 2003, 12:32 PM

That name, Kal David, reminds me of a group I Loved to see in the very early '70s.... Illinois Speed Press..... They were GREAT!

June 5th, 2003, 06:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jim Sams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 280	Epi Firebird VII? NTC Has anyone on the board ever tried out an Epi Firebird VII? How is the quality? The price is now low enough on used ones that I am tempted to try one.... BTW I have always thought Firebirds sound like Teles, but with goofy ergonomics :D

June 6th, 2003, 09:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
Jim Sams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 280	Anyone? Surely one of you guys has pick up an Epi Firebird and played it somewhere.....

June 6th, 2003, 05:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
Deaf Eddie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,248 14 Photos	I got one... ... but it don't sound like no Tele. In fact it, don't sound like a Firebird, either. The pups in it were just TOO DANG HOT - something like 12k - and it was harsh sounding, lots of thunking mid-range. I been swapping a few pups in and out, looking for that more signature Firebird tone, but I'm still just chasing it. I tried a pair of OLD Seymour Duncan mini-hummers, the kind with the embossed covers, sounded pretty good but they squealed like pigs. I even pulled one of the MIK's gold covers off and stuck it on an old LP Deluxe pup. Now, that pup had a very good sound, but still too microphonic for gigging use (BYW, it metered out at 6.5K). I've tried a few tricks to cut down the squealies, but only suceeded in attenuating them, not eliminating them. IF I was heart-set on gigging with this axe, I'd probably have to drop the dimes for a NEW set of S-D minis - and NOT the hot ones, I learned my lesson. My band-aid for now was to put the old S-D's in at neck and bridge, and one of the stock MIK's back in the middle, but wired the MIK coils-parallel instead of coils series as a standard humbucker would be. I also swapped the covers on the S-D's with the MIK pups, so it looks "stock"... the black pickguard is a whole other story... you could check my webpages for that. It's at best a compromise for now, it don't squeal quite so bad and the MIK really does give it a nice quack with its coils paralleled... I also put in a rotary switch with three throws: normal; coil-shunt on the S-D's , and the S-D's series/out of phase. Cool tones, but it's just not workable for the big venues and high-volume stages... I probably shoulda left it stock, but it just DID NOT have "the sound." Fit and finish on the axe is nice, I have had a couple of other MIK Epis, and find them to be good bang-for-buck deals, ESSPECIALLY if you re-pup 'em... Gee, this all shoulda been over on the Gibson/Epi board... I guess ya gotta broaden them horizons somehow!

June 6th, 2003, 08:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
Jim Sams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 280	Firebird pups I have heard good things about the Semourized Minihumbucker, and the Dimarzio hot minibucker. Of course you could always do P-90s. I would like a 3 P-90 firebird I think :D

June 6th, 2003, 08:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Deaf Eddie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,248 14 Photos	Three P90's? I had one... ... back in the seventies, when they were worthless - oops, make that VALUELESS! - I had a Firebird III (non-reverse) with threee P90's. Ya, some good tones, but the pup selector on that axe MORE than sucked - remember that Fender-Mustang-ish slider? Sheesh! Repro parts weren't as readily available back then as they are now, and rather than cut up the pristeen pickguard, I swapped the 'Bird away after a couple of months. I never considered P90s for this axe - I really was looking for the "BIRD-tone" ala Kal David (a personal HERO), Johnny Winters and others... I think it will eventually have a set of new S-D's. But... Just for fun I sent one of the MIK pups up to my pal Pete at Vintage Vibe Guitars - http://vintagevibeguitars.com/ He's gonna take a look at it, maybe do a little after-hours rewind for me... then we'll see what's what!

June 6th, 2003, 10:00 AM	#3 (permalink)
Michael R Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Mystic CT Posts: 579	I have a Gibson V, click "The Gibson Dicussion Page Reissue" link above and post there, thats the page for Gibson/Epi posting.

June 6th, 2003, 10:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
astro Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: North Shoa, MA Posts: 872	I haven't but..... Our bass player has been thinking about getting one of the firebird basses. He has an EPI LP bass that aside from some setup issues is really an exceptional bass for the price he paid for it. I have an EPI LP BB that plays and sound (i dropped a bb in it) as good if not better than most Gibson. You should try over at GDPRI.

June 7th, 2003, 10:07 AM	#8 (permalink)
Jim Sams Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 280	Kal David Are there any sound clips of Kal David on the web?

June 7th, 2003, 12:02 PM	#9 (permalink)
Deaf Eddie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,248 14 Photos	Can't find any NEW sound clips on line... ... but for a stab from the past, there's an MP3 from the Fabulous Rhinstones at: http://www.lp2cd.com/time/70/70003.htm He gets the second solo (harp gets the first). Of course, this IS from 1972! Today Kal owns and plays at his own nightclub in Palm Springs, CA, The Blue Guitar. Has a trio called "Kal David and the Real Deal." Not the usual power trio, it's Kal plus drums and keyboards - and the keyboardist does a FABULOUS job of covering the bass parts, you'd swear there was somebody off-stage with a P-Bass... I think you can buy the "Live at the Blue Guitar" CD right from the webpage. It's well worth a listen. He gets a great sound out of his Firebird through a Boogie - geez, who wouldn't? It's very Strat-ish, almost an SRV deal. http://www.blueguitarpalmsprings.com Um, lemme see, to give this thread a Tele spin, Kal used to play with James Cotton of Poco...

June 8th, 2003, 12:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
sunkidd Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: San Diego Posts: 409	Illinios Speed Press & Kal David? That name, Kal David, reminds me of a group I Loved to see in the very early '70s.... Illinois Speed Press..... They were GREAT!