Mr. Papa
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2002
- Messages
- 1,418
As in, if I put a set of Firebird pickups in an SG or LP, how close would it get to sounding like a Firebird? Or do I need the “full bird” for the magic?
Does your humbucker firebird sound the same as the one with firebird pickups?You may be asking the wrong question.
Apart from the pickups the only real diff is a Firebird has the multi-ply neck, is neck through, and sports a 6 in line headstock that is flipped. You have to buy into that these things make a difference in tonality, as otherwise it's basically no different than any other Gibson
Does your humbucker firebird sound the same as the one with firebird pickups?
I was under the impression that Firebird pickups are built differently than a mini humbuckers, but I generally follow what you’re saying.A Les Paul Deluxe would have very similar pickups - it's all the mini-humbuckers. There might be differences in the build, like Bustbucker versus custombucker and so forth. But if you can get hold of one (I don't think they're making them right now) you can hear the differences and similarities.
However, it's all an equation. Like the thread on Backstage asking if the wood makes a difference, it is in the wood of the firebird - or the lack of maple top affecting things, but also the construction itself - the through neck build will lead to a different tonality than the same thing built with a set neck, and vastly different than a bolt-on.
A Les Paul Deluxe would have very similar pickups - it's all the mini-humbuckers. There might be differences in the build, like Bustbucker versus custombucker and so forth. But if you can get hold of one (I don't think they're making them right now) you can hear the differences and similarities.
However, it's all an equation. Like the thread on Backstage asking if the wood makes a difference, it is in the wood of the firebird - or the lack of maple top affecting things, but also the construction itself - the through neck build will lead to a different tonality than the same thing built with a set neck, and vastly different than a bolt-on.
They are very different. A FB pickup is like two Melody Maker pickups, the magnet is in the middle of the coil, on edge, so it's a blade pickup. PAFs and minis have one magnet below the coils and the screws/studs redirect the magnetic field up.Another issue that arises with mdubya's 3 Firebird picture is, if we are talking about the inherent sound of a Firebird independent of the pickups, then the Reverse and Non-Reverse are very different guitars.
I thought the pickups were different, so this is helpful. As for mdubya's 3 Firebirds, I'd believe that the neck-through with laminated wood will sound different than an all mahogany SG or LP with a glued neck, and I expect that a Korina glued neck guitar would sound different, but I am not sure how much different a glued neck mahogany Firebird would sound than an SG or LP if they had the same pickups. This is essentially my point / my question. How much work are the pickups doing in the equation, and if I don't want the wingspan of a Firebird, can I still get the elemental sound by dropping the pickups into another shape?They are very different. A FB pickup is like two Melody Maker pickups, the magnet is in the middle of the coil, on edge, so it's a blade pickup. PAFs and minis have one magnet below the coils and the screws/studs redirect the magnetic field up.
Very different pickups.I was under the impression that Firebird pickups are built differently than a mini humbuckers, but I generally follow what you’re saying.
I'm gonna guess chainsaw bright... Korina is a bit brighter than mahogany, the laminate accentuates treeeble frequencies (or the glue used would, anyway,) etc etc.Wonder what a Korina reverse with a laminate thru neck and original FB pickups would sound like?
I thought the pickups were different, so this is helpful. As for mdubya's 3 Firebirds, I'd believe that the neck-through with laminated wood will sound different than an all mahogany SG or LP with a glued neck, and I expect that a Korina glued neck guitar would sound different, but I am not sure how much different a glued neck mahogany Firebird would sound than an SG or LP if they had the same pickups. This is essentially my point / my question. How much work are the pickups doing in the equation, and if I don't want the wingspan of a Firebird, can I still get the elemental sound by dropping the pickups into another shape?
You are correct. The build IS different.I was under the impression that Firebird pickups are built differently than a mini humbuckers, but I generally follow what you’re saying.