The Firebird X is a Gibson Firebird loaded with electronics that are supposed to make the classic design into a versatile guitar that can sound like anything. By using the onboard digital sound processing, which is controlled with switches on the guitar’s body, you can achieve exploding distortion or loopy tape delays without ever stomping down on an effect pedal.
Infinity sounds! Awesome, assuming the effects sound as good as this axe looks. Gibson says the Firebird X’s analogue to digital conversion is the best in the industry, and they’ve clearly put a lot of thought into making the guitar’s sound endlessly tweakable. The variety of sounds still can’t be everything to everyone, and with a limited release and a $US5570 price tag — it won’t be. [Gibson USA]
Pauly
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 9:28 AMNothing new Line 6 have had a guitar that can sound like virtually any guitar you want via modeling technology for a number of years.
The line 6 offering does more than offer a few effects but also offers the ability to alter the tuning of the guitar without touching the strings, all of this at a fraction of the price of this Gibson guitar.
I wouldn’t consider an overpriced guitar from Gibson with a few built in effects to be a guitar of the future – more an expensive toy.
Dewy
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 8:01 PMHaha, you are right about line 6 having a guitar that can sound “like” different guitars, but this one is a GOOD guitar that actually plays well and you know, sounds good!
Richo
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 10:11 AMI kinda wish Gibson would spend money on quality control and factory set up of guitars people actually WANT! Not all in one shit like this that is virtually unusable live – who wants to control effects by turning knobs on the guitar when floor pedals are far more convenient?
Greg
Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 10:03 AMThere are bluetooth pedals that come with it so when you are playing you use those to change the effects. They don’t show them on the front page of the Gibson site, but if you look into it a bit further you can see that.
May be worth looking into it a bit further before slagging it off…
James
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 10:28 AMActually, being a Gibson Les Paul Standard owner, I will say that Gibson no longer makes some of the finest quality guitars period. The newer Gibsons these days are renowned for a massive quality drop. Thankfully, mine’s over 25 years old.
Azoshi
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 12:06 PMIf that’s what the guitar looks like, then I must say that it looks like the most expensive toy I’ve ever seen.
Virus__
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 12:37 PMGibson has ruined the Firebird for me, I hope they don’t do this to the Thunderbird.
I also agree with the posts about Gibsons quality going to hell. A mate of mine picked up a Gibson LP in a Billy Hyde a few years back looking to buy, it rattled like scrap wood had been left in it. Bloody disgraceful.
I also don’t think “to help you shred like Hendrix” was a good example on a Gibson article.. Maybe use Jimmy Page, Slash or another famous guitarist renowned for using Gibson, where as Hendrix loved his Fender Strats.
Dewy
Friday, September 30, 2011 at 8:23 PMOk i cant reply to all those crazy comments so im gunna have one all to myself.
RICHO *Factory setup is stupid, everyone likes it different, if you cant setup your guitar then maybe try playing keyboard or something
JAMES *Owning an old guitar doesnt make the new ones crap, but expecting a great gibson for less money than an epiphone makes you stupid. Good guitars cost good money!
AZOSHI *Guitars were around for a bit before “guitar hero” and “rock band” i think they were even made out of wood!
VIRUS_ *Hendrix was also known for playing Gibson flying V’s and has even had a few different gibson signature models over the years
Well thats my rant everybody thanks for visiting :p
Pablo
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 10:27 AMIt’s just SOOOOO ugly.
William
Wednesday, October 5, 2011 at 2:45 AMAlmost no one’s buy things like these, We’re in 2011 and most of all of us guitar players still struggling to buy the 60′s amplifiers models with a tons of valves, just only because the “organic” feel is what everyone like in music… even the most pop hits are made with them…