In rock music, innovation takes a long time. The first electric guitars that really stayed in tune and worked well for the stage were produced in the 1950s, and the basic design (fingerboard, pickups, tuning knobs, quarter-inch jack) hasn’t changed much in recent years. 60 years.
The Gibson Firebird X is the latest “digital guitar” that tries to change some of the basic mechanics of the guitar. While you can play the instrument right out of the box and the chords and notes work the same as always, you can change the tone of the Firebird X in many ways, some more dramatic than others.
There’s an effects switch (which doubles as a power button when you pull it out) so you don’t have to change settings on the amp or effects panel. Another switch closer to the quarter-inch jack allows you to robotically tune each string. Simply play the string you want to tune and the Firebird X tunes to that string. New footswitches for FireBird X let you change effects and volume, and even record and play loops.
At $5,570, the Gibson Firebird X is aimed at serious players, artists, and recording gurus. Some initial setup issues caused some headaches, but these were easily resolved thanks to the excellent quality and extensive features of this inspiring digital instrument.
new things to learn
Anyone used to Apple products could be confused by the initial setup. Unboxing the Gibson Firebird X and all the parts that need to be assembled takes time and thought. (Interestingly, once you understand how everything is connected, the system works remarkably well.)
Part of the initial frustration is exacerbated by the guitar itself, which has several knobs and switches that seem mysterious at first. Most of them are designed to give him that perfect tone or mimic the lush effects he’s heard on albums by, say, Snow Patrol or the band Thursday. Gibson says more than 2,000 tons is possible. He can change the switches to use all three clamps, two, or just one. Most of the knobs look like those on a normal guitar, but have a more dramatic effect.
The guitar itself weighs six pounds and is made of hand-picked ash with a maple neck. The instrument looks and plays like a premium Les Paul with a fine satin finish. The sustain on the Firebird X is so pronounced and the tones so lush, it’s the best-sounding guitar we’ve ever played. The fact that you can play with these shades in countless ways adds value.
Once you figure out the knobs, you need to connect all the pedals and the kick box. The flexibility is good as there is no particular order to place the pedals. Confusingly, the pedals have quarter-inch jacks, but you don’t have to use them: the guitar plugs into a breakout box called the G-node, and then the pedals connect to each other and to the guitar via Bluetooth. To activate the master footswitch, press the volume pedal all the way down. Switching between effects or recording and playing loops with another pedal is also a bit confusing. For example, you may need to check the manual to see that you double tap the switch to record a loop.
Another issue with the setup is that each device uses a rechargeable battery – they look exactly like the ones you’d use in a camcorder. The batteries lasted around 45 minutes after a full charge, which isn’t much of a problem if you have spares on hand (Gibson included four or five extra batteries with our review kit). You can also use 9 volt batteries for backup. However, battery life may be an issue for some.
ready to rock
Still, once you’ve set up the pedals and interface, charged and installed the batteries, and installed the included software (Guitar Rig 4 and Ableton Live Lite 8 Gibson Studio Edition), the Firebird X is a smart live and recording rig because you can change tones on the fly. On the few songs we recorded on guitar, we found that we could switch between a tight jazzy sound and then switch to a hard distortion sound with tons of reverb. In many ways, the Firebird X is like multiple guitars in one, and even multiple amps, for the serious player.
The guitar tuning worked perfectly, and we were even able to use alternate tunings (like drop D) without much trouble. For anyone who wants to learn to play the guitar, we still recommend learning to tune because it teaches you the basic mechanics. Relying too much on the autotune feature means you won’t know as much about keeping your guitar in tune as you play, for example changing notes in a guitar riff or playing alternate chords.
The Firebird X has too many features to mention: the guitar’s dynamic range is over 100dB, it uses a Freescale multiprocessor with reliable electronics, and it can even emulate a Gibson J-45. You can share the patches you develop on your guitar with other Firebird X owners on a social network. With the Firebird plugin, you can even create your own modulation and reverb settings. There is a charging coupler that connects both pedals via magnets, so you only need AC power for one pedal. Even the Firebird X case is nearly indestructible – you can drop it from a six-story building.
The real question is whether the guitar is worth the $5,570 price tag. In general, the guitar itself matches the quality and playability of any guitar, but even high-end guitars tend to cost around $3,000. The accessories that come with the Firebird X add value, but the key for us was when we started changing the tones of the guitar using switches and knobs. They just change the sound drastically, which isn’t possible on other models we tested.
For those who need tonal flexibility, ease of control, and additional looping capabilities, the Firebird X is unique in a way no other guitar comes close. If you tend to use the same tones while playing, other guitars may offer those basic features. And you can do a lot of patching and recording with software, or a really good stompbox. But the Firebird X packs all of those features into one package. Like good German sports cars, the Gibson Firebird X has no equal.
editor’s recommendations
Categories: GAMING
Source: newstars.edu.vn