I've had my Epiphone Firebird for a little over a year and am still in love with it. Just an excellent guitar without any issues. Very well made, great looking, plays great, and it's hard to tell its sound from the Gibson.
Years ago Gibson went with ceramic magnets on the FB pickups. The magnets on the Epi are Alnico, which are more like the original FB pickups than the current Gibson ones.
I'm definitely going for the Epiphone. There's a nice clarity there and an articulate presence, as well as plenty bite. Plus, it makes my Epiphone 'Bird set complete: Thunderbird-V, Mandobird-VIII, and a Firebird :)
Firebird nerd here... Out of the 2 guitars in this video: If you want the guitar that replicates the look AND SOUND of the original 'bird most closely, get the Epiphone. The Gibson is a fine modern instrument in it's own right.
I was trying to decide between the Epiphone Firebird or their Tony Iommi SG and I think your fine review has tipped me towards the Firebird. It sounds good and it’s definitely a visually striking instrument that’s not the typical weapon of choice. It will make an impression when performing, especially with a black pick guard. It’s little more affordable than the SG as well. It’s a win, win. Cheers.
I've got the Epi ... I also own a Korean Sheraton II from 09 ... Epi make SERIOUS quality Guitars. I played a BUNCH of Gibsons before I bought my first Epi ... many of the Gibsons lacked for QC ... I went with Epi all the way.
I had a 2016 Gibson FB for several years. It had a weak ground right from the factory so I didn't play it very often. I finally sold it a few years ago and just got the Epi FB a few months ago. The Epi wins every comparison except for the "look" of the fret-board wood. I liked the "look" of the RW board better. I doubt anyone could hear any difference though from the Laurel board and they feel the same. Plus you can save an easy grand. Easy choice. Crank the neck pickup to 10 on volume and zero on tone and enter guitar heaven.
I just bought the Epiphone Firebird, and I LOVE IT. Would have bought a new Gibson Firebird if they still make them. Couldn't find a Gibson under $5000 used. I got to say I'm glad Epiphone was my only choice. It's a hell of a guitar for $650.
This is the first time I watched your videos. This and the previous video on the Epiphone firebird was excellent. Thank you. I really enjoyed them and I subscribed.
This is awesome. Helped me make a serious decision about my next guitar! My current lineup is two Gibson Les Pauls from 2019, a PRS Custom 24 SE, Epiphone Lzzy Hale Explorer and now im about to take this Epiphone Firebird on once Thomann has it back in stock. By the way I dig your channel! let me know if you ever feel like doing a collab in podcast style - I do original music mostly but I also do a bunch of gear videos and looper jams.
@@OliRoyer i just saw a four month old reply from you! Since then ive acquired a PRS CE24 that i love, another Les Paul studio and yeah i skipped the Epiphone Firebird and went straight to a Gibson one!
Gibson sounded a little more compressed and warmer. Little rounder. Epi sounded more open and brighter. A little more raw. I’d take either to be honest. No. Seriously. Give me one. 😂 oh and awesome playing by the way!
I've been playing for 40+ years and have a good size collection. I just received my Epiphone FB and the quality is great. If you told me this was a $1500 guitar, I would have believed it. As you know you give a new guitar your own personal setup and adjustments. The neck needed no adjustment. Frets had a good dress, no sharps. No buzzing. Action was low but not crazy low. Perfect for 10's. Finish looked amazing. The only minor issue was the nut was cut a touch high, but really nothing. I definitely got a good one.
The difference is so minimal, especially in a band setting where the instruments aren’t isolated, the Epiphone is the clear pick here unless you really like red.
The red Gibson just sounded so much better, like the difference between a vintage Mackintosh amplifier and a Sansui amplifier. The Gibson was just so much more warmer like a really good aged whiskey, while the Epiphone was like a Teenager, bright and full of life but lacking experience and quality. It would be better to compare the 2020 Epiphone with the newer 2020 Gibsons Firebirds, the ones made after the cardinal red ones(2019 models) . The newer ones are in Cherry and Tobacco Burst but they have the cream binding with the retro serial numbers. They were made by the new managment and have better quality control. Cheers and thanks for the comparison. done in a very expert way, and some really good tunes also.
Wonder if you added Mojotone Johnny Winter pickups to the Epiphone if it wouldn't beat the pants off the Gibson. About $300 with installation. Still comes in way under the Gibby.
Now we’ve got the “rubbish” out of the way from another guitar snob (probably just picked up his Murphy Lab!) let’s just all be honest. A Firebird is a Rock N Roll guitar not a guitar for Jazz or other polite forms of music and from that perspective the Epi trashes the pants off the Gibson!
Great Comparison video thanks for posting,, not choosing between either one cause it's all in a individual persons taste,, I think the Gibson sounded Thicker/Fatter while the Epiphone sounded Cleaner/Brighter ,, I'd love to own either one ...........
Epiphone hands down IMO. We all hear differently i suppose. The gibson just sounded muddy on the bridge, but I will say the epi neck pup isn't fabulous but 600$ thats a deal and a great guitar, this is from a tele guy too. Thanks good luck great guitars!
I frikken love that cardinal red! It's m number one picknif I ever get a Gibson Firebird 😉👍 P.S. I'd like to hear you weigh in at the end...speak for a bit. Let us know if you rate the Epi or not. From behind the axe..
@Justin Hoard Gibson went bankrupt due to stretching themselves to thin more than anything else. It was trying to be lifestyle brand as opposed to strictly an Instrument manufacturer.
the gibson sounded a lot better in my opinion, but it should… you could swap the electronics on the epiphone to high end electronics and probably still be paying under half of what it would cost for the gibson. both are great guitars
Oli, I am grateful for sharing with us your 2 Firebird videos but very much regret that around 90% of your demo was with distortion/overdrive and that makes all humbucker guitars sound the same. The limited clean demos ? Could not tell the difference between the 2...
Did you listen with headphones? I could definitely tell a difference with headphones on. Gibson sounds a lot warmer. A little too warm for me. I preferred the sound of the epi.
Gibson nitro finishes account for a large portion of the price difference. Poly gloss Epiphone’s won’t age like nitro and feel much cheaper. That said, the Epi sounds really good here and is like $4000 cheaper. Pop some Seymour Duncan mini humbuckers into the Epiphone and you’ve got an excellent axe.
Question - how long did it take you to adapt to playing a Firebird sitting down? and do you find it easy now? Ive just got one, finding it easier by the day
@@OliRoyer thats how i feel after just a few days of using it...also it has its moments, sometimes it feels absolutely amazing to play. Especially standing up
No discernable difference to my ear.'Course people will argue that Chinese People "Vibrate" at a different frequency than Americans,and this will affect tone.(Or some other nonsense).
Quite tempted to agree with you here. The Gibson is slightly lower output to my ears, but nothing that can't be achieved by turning the gain down slightly on the Epi
If you are gigging with an Epiphone Bird I don't think the audience will even know the difference between the two brands and no one will tell you why didn't you buy the Gibson. Epiphone is alot more respected nowadays..
well...a brighter tone on gibson i think 🤔 but i have an epiphone myself,and it is a damn good guitar....but tone mostly have with the pickups ...so if you dont like the sound of epiphone,you can change humbuckers to the gibson....
Epiphone sounds better, and looks better to, and while the finish isn't nitro lacquer the "nitro" Gibson uses is full of plasticizers, and is spayed over a non-nitro base coat. Poly is more durable, for those of us always banging into things (especially with a 'bird...!).
I'm currently saving for an Epiphone Firebird, I'm really hoping it doesn't go off sale or the price doesn't go up just before I get the chance to buy it lol with my luck that's probably going to happen. I will literally commit mass genocide for one though 😐
Nah! That Epi Firebird is a Rock n Roll machine, the Gibson sounds too sanitised! Surprised really, as the pickups are usually the weak link with most Epi’s!
