Gibson Firebird V Guitar Review

The Gibson Firebird is one of the lesser known, yet higher quality, models that the brand has to offer. It has been played by legendary musicians such as Johnny Winter, and has a quiet reputation among musicians for being one of the rarer and more coveted instruments on the market today. In this article, I'll take a close look at the newest Gibson Firebird V.

Features: The body of the Gibson Firebird V actually has nine different layers of mahogany and walnut. Its shape is much like that of an Explorer, except it's curved instead of angled for a softer aesthetic quality. This gives it tone and sustain without making it too heavy. There are a few different finishes available with the Firebird V, including cherry red and sunburst. All of them have a black painted headstock and come together for a very vintage, classic look. The neck is set into the body, and is made of mahogany. It has a rosewood fretboard with twenty two frets and trapezoidal inlays. All of the hardware, including the angled tuners, pickup covers, and Tune-O-Matic bridge, is chrome. Electronically, the Firebird V has two mini-humbucking pickups, two volume and two tone controls, and a three way selector switch.

Playability: The neck of the Firebird V, unlike most other Gibsons, is actually relatively thin. This makes for easy fret access for tough chords and reaches. Also, the body's nine ply build is both solid and lightweight. The only minor drawback to the Firebird V's playability is the fact that its body shape towards the back can get in the way of the players' arm when playing on the lower frets.

Sound: The mini-humbuckers on the Firebird V are designed to play blues rhythm and leads with light distortion. It takes some adjustment and getting used to, because although the Firebird V shreds and is absolutely great for slide playing, it can at times be piercing to the ears if not properly set up.

Overall: The Gibson Firebird V is an slide playing and blues machine. It has a great high quality build, top notch craftsmanship, and a vintage gritty sound. If you're a serious musician looking to play slide or blues, and have the money to afford something in its price range, it's hard to beat the Firebird V. You can find it in music stores for about $1,700.