Yeah, it's only a Studio, but for us lefties who've always wanted a real LH 'bird, it's almost a Godsend- and at this price point, AND a couple of cool colors at least, I'd tell any Johnny-loving lefty out there to JUMP ON IT before it get's discontinued. Still would like a Std. thru-neck version in LH, but they did a decent job on this. Pluses include: Nice mini-Grovers, neck volute (bit small, but still) nice Light-weight, GREAT bluesy tone from the new mini HB's, nice colors incl. a matte trans-red and a cool silverburst. No hard case but a plush gig bag. MINUS: The BIG one- they didn't care enough to use real LEFTY POTS on a lefty ax like Fender and many others DO, and even on my $$ Les Paul the VOL. and TONE pots are BACKWARDS, which is real annoying when you plunk down that kind of change! Shows no class for the Big 'G'. And while I prefer a thru-neck to a set-neck, and would rather a real ebony board to the 'carbonized maple' (or whatever they call it), I do applaud their trying to make a more avail. f'board wood more 'palatable' while saving more overharvested and 'poached' tree species like rosewood and ebony, and will support any efforts of the guitar industry to be greener and sustainable- and the maple plays just FINE, thanks! All in all, a good deal on a pretty cool little ax (except for the backwards pots) that's way overdue for us lefties!!

Sound
Has a soulful, bluesy sound that surprised me a bit from the newly designed mini humbuckers!… read more

Features
Love the neck volute and straight string-pull H/S. The slightly modified shape still says 'Firebird' but is light and comfy to play even sitting. NICE! The 'ebonized' maple neck plays well and feels like rosewood. The WORST feature? Their continued use of 'backwards', right-hand VOL. & TONE pots on a lefty ax shows NO CLASS that one would expect at the prices Gibson charges.

Ease of Use
The ax, though 'no-frrills' and basic, looks, feels and sounds quite good. Any lefty that likes Firebirds would love to have this- and for the $$, most actually can!! The Big G should sell a TON of these.! I HOPE they DO, so they may reissue other lefties (and other colors) from the past (like the cool X-Factor models) and perhaps make some BASSES and other models seldom (if EVER) seen in a lefty version!! It could start a whole new era for Gibson as well as the long-suffering LEFTY out there!! A lefty Victory reissue! Vic bass too! Lefty V's, Jr's, Specials, Explorers, Thunderbirds and D/C's will be commonplace!!

Quality
Aside from issues mentioned, they are known for a well-made product, although their attention to detail and Quality Control is known to be spotty at best. I had a new Classic that came w/finish issues, wood chips in the compartments, strings touching pickups when played (as on this Firebird) and other things. Not what you want to see. Would like to see bigger volutes on more models- would go far to answer H/S breaks.

Value
In todays market, for the materials used, and ESP. for a LEFTY model, (and for Gibson) I would say a better than average value!! Their recent 'Worn Series' light-finish models and the Tribute Series of SG & LP models have also been exceptional values, in my opinion. Not everyone has 2K+ for a workhorse ax.

Manufacturer Support
Never dealt with.

The Wow Factor
HUGE!!!! I KNOW I'm not the ONLY lefty who has wanted a Gibson Firebird (tho the Epi's were pretty cool- just hard to find!) for like- FOREVER!!

Musical Background:
Blues-rocker who jams at home & w/friends, playing since teens or 40+ years on guitar, bass, keys, harp, flute, sax & whatever i

Musical Style:
Mostly hard rock and rockin' blues, fusion-era jazz, ECM records artists, heavy into 70's-on English rock, but also dig (real) M read less