Which to buy?

[JakeK]

Now, I know I'm after many Rics, but I've just discovered the following guitars, and good deals on both:

Vox Teardrop Mark III "Brian Jones" model:
http://www.sheltonsguitars.com/2008/1-9 ... 08-08.html

Gibson Firebird VII "Brian Jones" model:
http://www.sheltonsguitars.com/2007/1-2 ... -1-08.html

Now, if you check out the prices, you'll find they're pretty good. My dad agreed to get me one (he said a Ric is a dream for another day) for my birthday, and I know both of these will nail the early Stones sound, but which one will serve me better?

Any advice will be appreciated!

[sloop_john_b]

Firebird.

[lennon211]

Firebird.

Ditto here. The Firebird is a way more versatile guitar. Plus it's easier to play sitting and standing. You'll enjoy it a lot more and it won't be missing its original pad and case. Good luck and have fun with it.

[JakeK]

Thanks, guys. I'm going for the Firebird without looking back!

Actually, I was talking to my friend and only bandmate Chris, and he said Firebirds are cool guitars and I'll won't regret buying this one! The day I went to buy my Fender Strat '62 RI, I played a Firebird V, and loved it, but I wanted the Strat. Glad I declined the V, because I want the VII!

Three of the many reasons I want this guitar is because I want that early Stones tone, I need it for a large list of Stones songs I'll be playing for this girl I like (if she comes over to hear us) and because I want to have the Brian Jones look. People tell me that I'd look like him if I had blond hair (although the girl I like said I was cuter than Brian, but that's another story).

Matt, if I purchase the Firebird, will it give me that early Stones sound I've been trying to nail? What other artists' tones will it give me? I know Tom Petty has owned a number of Firebirds...

I'm so looking forward to this guitar, and if I manage to get it, I'll borrow my Uncle's camera to post pics of my collection ASAP!

[sloop_john_b]

What songs exactly are you trying to get the tone of? If you want a Firebird, that's one thing, but don't think that you *need* it to sound like the Stones - there are certainly many guitars that would do the trick.

[JakeK]

Well, I'm not trying to get the sound of any certain songs. I know this guitar would come in handy for "Satisfaction", "19th Nervous Breakdown", "Get Off of My Cloud", the majority of "Aftermath" and "Between the Buttons", and even songs as early as "The Last Time", "Time Is on My Side" and "It's All Over Now".

[wmthor]

TomPettyandHeartbreakersFan, did you ever get yourself another amp?

[JakeK]

My friend (who broke his arm) from school is letting me use his VOX AC-30 for the moment and I'm happy with that. I will be saving up for my own AC-30 for when he can play guitar again

[lennon211]

The Firebird is a very versatile guitar. It's tones are different from the typical Gibson Humbucker because it has the Mini's in it. This guitar was designed and voiced to be competitive with the Fender market back in the '60's. As such, it can sound almost as ballsy like a typical Gibson, but it captures the sound of single coils as well. In my opinion, the pickups cop a P-90 tone very easily, which opens a wide variety of tones to you, depending upon your amp and pot settings. I'd say go back to the music store that had the Firebird V in and try it out if it's still there. You won't have the third pickup on it to play around with, but it will give you a very close idea as to what such a guitar can do. Also, I keep mine set so that I never use the middle pickup. I lower it down so that it doesn't get in the way of playing and I keep it turned all the way to zero.

[JakeK]

I checked their website a week after I bought the Strat, and this was the status: SOLD

I'll be asking my dad if we can make the purchase for the VII tonight, so wish me luck!

[lennon211]

That Firebird is actually Copper Mist in color. It's not Candy Apple Red as they say. The only Red that I've seen is the Heritage Cherry finish and the Cardinal Red. You may want to do a search for this color and see it in various lights before purchasing it will look different in different light.

[JakeK]

Bad news: my dad's truck broke down yesterday, and so he has to invest a good bit in getting it fixed. So, I'm going to have to keep saving up and check eBay constantly until I get enough to buy one.

[lennon211]

Bad news: my dad's truck broke down yesterday, and so he has to invest a good bit in getting it fixed. So, I'm going to have to keep saving up and check eBay constantly until I get enough to buy one.

That sucks man, but life has its necessities. Best of luck getting the cash sooner than later.

[JakeK]

Can I get a similar Firebird tone from a Strat running through a VOX AC-30?

[kenposurf]

As I recall, Keith used a Harmony Meteor in the early days. Brian forever will be linked to the VOX teardrop but I'd rather have the firebird...ala Johnny Winter though..