Recent used Gibson Firebird Vs

[Zork]

What would be the decent years for a recent (last decade or so) Gibson Firebird V in sunburst?

Thanks!

[murkat]

Gibson Custom Shop ? 2007 / 2010. I built out a lot of them. If it has BB caps in it instead of ceramics, probably did it.

Most GCS Birds are very nice regardless.

USA plant, it is a crap shoot, but, for the most part, actually pretty good. henry has not messed with that cocktail recipe too much.

Not near as bad as finding the right Les paul....

[serial]

I think they went to the Steinberger tuners in 2013-they're much better than the banjos.

[gtone]

I believe the Steinbergers have been fitted post 2010 for the standard line. Apparently the die machine for the banjo tuners got so sloppy and out of spec that they canned it and outsourced the Steinbergers at that time. What they're doing for the Custom Shop line is anyone's guess.

[Zork]

Thanks, I'll look further

[gtone]

They're a little more and a little older, but the '77-80 Firebird V's are pretty cool. Think they still had the alnico pickups, good wood and the older style hardware in those days. The Bi-Centennial edition '76's fetch a fair buck these days, but the ones in the years thereafter were essentially the same guits minus the multi-colour Firebird engraving in the pickguard.

[LucSulla]

I just picked up 2013 without playing it first off Ebay. It kills. One of the coolest guitars I've grabbed in quite sometime. I'm looking forward to melting faces with it country/blues style Saturday night along with the Talladega. They compliment each other well

I also have a 2013 Lester traditional. Also a great guitar. Granted, I bought it from someone here, so it had been thoroughly vetted by someone else that knows what to look for. Still, I think 2013 stuff is a good place to start. It's the last year before they chunked the fret nibs and two years before they lost their damned minds and started screwing with the nuts, necks, and adding that tuning crap.

I *think* they also returned to solid rosewood boards in 2013. Obviously, that is one of those things that probably makes no difference as far as sound or feel, but it's always nice be able to tell people if you ever want to flip it.

[analogsystem]

I have a 2007 off-the-rack FB V that is amazing. The finish is not Hamer-quality by any stretch of the imagination but that guitar resonates like crazy and the neck feels really good. I changed the pickups (of course) and had a bone nut installed but didn't need to change anything else and I like the clunky banjo tuners. The guitar stays in tune very well. It has been my #1 recording guitar since the pickup swap.

They feel very different than normal 24.75" scale axes (like hamers or les pauls) but I find them incredibly comfortable sitting down especially. They are polarizing axes so it is definitely worth trying a few to see if you like the feel.

[Armitage]

I had a '76 back in the day... it was terribly neck heavy. Between the sholder mounted strap button and the huge tuners, it was to be expected I guess. It had a baseball bat neck too.

[SteveFord]

I know a little about Firebirds seeing as how LucSulla has my old one!

I've had 2005, 2007, 2013 and am familiar with 2014 and 2015 Firebirds.

Go with the 2013 due to the neck profile, lower frets and nibs.

That's a really good year.

[Sugartune]

A former bandmate has a '13. It's very nice. He swapped the pups for antiquity IIs and it sounds great too.