The Captain meets Bernie Marsden yet again.

Dont think I could play in front of Bernie--- like had I met Les Paul --- or Page -- any of the rock Royalty--- I dont think I could do it -- HELL I dont play in front of MANY people at all anymore --- but no--- couldnt play in front of BErnie--- especially his Gold Top----ugh .....
the NON signed by Les --owned by Bernie ones go for 20-30k ..........that has to be a 50k guitar!
 
Man I love Bernie. He's like a historian and he's an incredible player. So fun to watch and listen to.

Now, for the sacrilege: every time I watch video with Bernie he inevitably breaks out The Beast, and every time I think it's the worst-sounding of the guitars that he demos. I just have never been able to hear what it is that everyone thinks is so special about it. Maybe if he plugged it into an overdriven rock amp instead of a practice amp it would make sense but so far no bueno for me.
 
The video made me realize I must have a Firebird I before I die (a «lowly» Bonamassa Epi Firebird I would do just fine).
 
The video made me realize I must have a Firebird I before I die (a «lowly» Bonamassa Epi Firebird I would do just fine).

There's nothing like them. Every player should own one at some time in their life.
 
There's nothing like them. Every player should own one at some time in their life.
Firebirds are great. One of the guys I played with in my first band has a 1964 VI and Thunderbird. They are are awesome beasts. Do you have a Firebird I? For some reason I'm partial to the single pickup version. It might have to do with Clapton playing one with Cream, but I'm a big Johnny Winter Fan as well, so I recon I should really love the VI just as much. But there's just something about the I... I can't explain it.
 
Now, for the sacrilege: every time I watch video with Bernie he inevitably breaks out The Beast, and every time I think it's the worst-sounding of the guitars that he demos. Maybe if he plugged it into an overdriven rock amp instead of a practice amp it would make sense but so far no bueno for me.
A couple of videos using the same guitar...The beast:
 
Firebirds are great. One of the guys I played with in my first band has a 1964 VI and Thunderbird. They are are awesome beasts. Do you have a Firebird I? For some reason I'm partial to the single pickup version. It might have to do with Clapton playing one with Cream, but I'm a big Johnny Winter Fan as well, so I recon I should really love the VI just as much. But there's just something about the I... I can't explain it.


I have a '76 Bird which is a bit of a cross between a III and a V. Tunomatic bridge and dot inlays with no binding. It's a fun guitar, and have had it since about '86 or '87. One of these days, I would like a proper Firebird V.
 
Firebirds are great. One of the guys I played with in my first band has a 1964 VI and Thunderbird. They are are awesome beasts. Do you have a Firebird I? For some reason I'm partial to the single pickup version. It might have to do with Clapton playing one with Cream, but I'm a big Johnny Winter Fan as well, so I recon I should really love the VI just as much. But there's just something about the I... I can't explain it.

Nah, nothing special: mine is a 2016 'bird. Only thing I have changed is I put a Creamtone pickguard and truss rod cover on it and since that year only came with a gig bag I bought a Epiphone case for it. Fits perfectly by the way. Anyway, they are special guitars - nothing else feels or sounds like them, they sustain better than anything else I have ever played and the tone completely bridges the gap between F and G.

With you on the Firebird I by the way - they are on the short list of cool guitars I would really like to have one day.
 
Nah, nothing special: mine is a 2016 'bird. Only thing I have changed is I put a Creamtone pickguard and truss rod cover on it and since that year only came with a gig bag I bought a Epiphone case for it. Fits perfectly by the way. Anyway, they are special guitars - nothing else feels or sounds like them, they sustain better than anything else I have ever played and the tone completely bridges the gap between F and G.

With you on the Firebird I by the way - they are on the short list of cool guitars I would really like to have one day.
Yes, there is something about the «single coily» nature of those mini hums.

Btw. do you have any experience with the patent sticker T-Tops vs. the post-1974 ones with the patent number stamped on the back plate? Is there any difference?
 
Yes, there is something about the «single coily» nature of those mini hums.

Btw. do you have any experience with the patent sticker T-Tops vs. the post-1974 ones with the patent number stamped on the back plate? Is there any difference?

In my fairly limited experience there is no difference.
 
Mini hums are a different animal-- have them in my SG Special presently
had some in this ugly thing a while back
fire.jpg
Epiphone Firebird

--- (not the same ones they use in the Firebird...I know...I know) and an SG will NEVER sustain like a lester much less a firebird---but man those things have some ZIIIING!
they aint "dark" by any stretch thats for sure
 
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