NGD - cozart firebird review

Short story:
Totally worth the money. With a setup, fret polish and new strings this guitar may get gigged, stock. Pickups would be the only possible change. Fit, finish, hardware, nut, electronics are all up to snuff for the money.

Long story:
I've wanted to get into a Firebird but haven't wanted to spend a bunch of cash and not like the dang thing. Enter the inexpensive Cozart Firebird import(?), with a great looking finish.

On Tuesday I put in an offer on eBay for a new Cozart Firebird, non reverse. I paid $190 plus tax. Got the new guitar, a cord, and a gig bag which is shaped for the body. Impressed that the gig bag wasn't generic but is cut to fit. Cool

It came Friday. The one flaw is in the clear coat finish on the underside of the fretboard. Not noticeable at all unless 'inspecting' the guitar. Out of the box the action was high so I dropped it down and started working on the intonation. Long story short, I got the action down, much lower than expected and the intonation set by reversing saddles on the three lower strings.
It's 25.5" scale length. It played slow and wouldn't stay in tune. I took off the crap strings, polished the frets w/ steel wool and also used the steel wool on the fretboard to smooth it out. Next, lemon oil and new Slinkys.

HOLY COW...we've got a player and I'm totally surprised. It does have a somewhat large Gibsonesque' neck although it plays well, stays in tune and sounds good. The pots are mini, of course. The hardware all seems solid. Tuners are good and the nut was cut properly.
I've yet to get an extensive feel for how the pickups will cut it compared to my other guitars but so far they are making the cut. Plenty of power, not noisey, they have clarity. Not garbage.

My plan is to continue playing it for a few months before deciding on a pickup change.

Yea, it's got a scarf joint, bolt on neck...yada yada. Remember, it was $190 and gets me a different shaped guitar that looks great and plays and sounds good too.

 

You know it. I ultimately bought it because getting into a non reverse Firebird is a pricy proposition. They aren't prevalent.

I figured this was a low-risk option to try. As it turns out I have no reason to do much at all to the guitar except play it. I'm pleased with it.

 

Yep, I Made an offer of 1$90 and it was accepted immediately. You should see if he'll go lower

 

Yeah the odd tail piece was the first thing I noticed...It's a chunk of metal bolted right down to the body and the strings just slip into a notch. It is a steep angle, but it's working.

P90s or mini humbuckers...basically a non full sized humbucker pickguard would have been great. Non reverse Firebirds are tough to come by so I figured if the bones were good...the neck/body/hardware.... I could get into electronics mods down the road.

 

I happened to do a little looking around for a cheap case today. Saw on CL a guy is selling a Cozart reverse Firebird with a similar finish. Good looking guitar. I'd grab another Cozart if the price were right....
https://chicago.craigslist.org/nwc/msg/d/mount-prospect-cozart-firebird-3-color/7212599289.html

I didn't know that. Seems to work fine.

 

That's awesome!