Gibson 1982 Firebrand The Paul

1981 (yes, 1981) Gibson LP Firebrand, serial number 81 070614. Not a "The Paul" as it has the branded Gibson logo on the peghead, not the gold decal logo. You know the spec. Mine has two custom features which I fitted myself. The first is a coil tap switch which triggers both pickups and gives a result very close to a Telecaster. Very handy for switching from a clean rhythm sound to a more furry lead sound, very versatile. The other is a black-white-black laminated floating pickguard which I copied from a Les Paul Deluxe, cut and fitted myself. Some might say it's wrong for the guitar but I like it, so there. Otherwise as factory spec. Dull cowpat brown all over, unrefinished. I like its simplicity of layout (eg. toggle switch in SG position, much more sensible than on upper bout) and appearance (no body binding, inlays or other unnecessary fluff).

Just spiffo for my country/rock/rockabilly stuff. With the coil tap, all the sounds you need for this style. Nice played pick-and-fingers. String spacing is ideal for this mode and cross-pickup balance is perfect. Not noisy at all. Currently using a nasty little Traynor 30w tranny combo, but sounds heaps better through my old unreliable 60s Selmer T&B 50 valve amp and 2x12 Celestion homebuilt cab.

Bought secondhand and immediately set up by myself, so perfect in every respect of course. Fast as a ferret up a trouser leg, and string bends are like butter even with medium-light strings - no choking. Slight fault with nut - due to poor profile, top E string slot is not very deep and string will jump out if really wellied - could fit a replacement nut to cure, but not a problem as I don't welly! Almost unmarked, but who cares about finish? I hate new guitars - they lack character. (Pass the chisel, Alice.)

Built like the proverbial brick sh*thouse. Where do Gibboes get that reputation for fragility? Had one problem: earlier this year a small crack showed up in the neck, running lengthways along the grain of the mahogany from the angle of the shallow step made for the nut (poor design really, the neck top face below the fingerboard should have been cut flush with the face of the peghead to avoid this stress point). Didn't affect playing, and might have been there for quite some time before I noticed it. Filled the crack with EvoStik woodworking glue and taped it up rigidly for two days - complete cure. No other problems. In every other respect, as solid as the proverbial Telecaster. Would NEVER go out without a backup - usually take at least two and usually three as I like to look a bit flash. (When I saw Jackson Browne and band a couple of years ago, he, two guitarists and bassist had 28 instruments on stage between them. Now that's really showing off.)

Never needed any. Could probably tell them a thing or two.

Have played since 1972. Collection includes Epiphone Casino 1962, Fender Tele 1971, Strat 1977, Coronado II 1966, Rick 450-12 1967, no-name Gibson copy doubleneck 6-12 (probably 60's Japan - looks, plays and sounds like a bitch in heat), Hagstrom H-45E 1965 (better than any Gibson acoustic), several recent cheapo resonators (the Tanglewood TBS-700, similar to Mosrite Californian, is awesome), several other cheapo acoustics including a dustbin-ready acoustic that I've converted into a Hawaiian, and a really nice Gold Tone banjo. The only thing I'd swap the LP Firebrand for would be a really nice 60s SG with P90s like Pete Townshend used to use with The Who. If it got stolen I'd use the insurance payout as a down payment on such an SG.

Average features for a Les Paul: two original Gibson humbuckers, tone and volume pots for both, 3-way toggle-switch. My '81 for '82 model has a mahogany body and neck with ebony fretboard, dot markers, standard Gibson tuners and tune-o-matic bridge.

Toggle switch is near the pots - a much more sensible place, compared to the usual.

I play mostly rock and blues but have used this guitar for classical finger-picking stuff as well. This guitar has a great sound for any style! Loud and rough ala ZZ-Top, to clear, bell-like tones when fingerpicking "Stairway" - flip over to neck pick-up at high volume for the solo!

I have used this with many amps, from 15-30W practice amps to high watt gig setups with equal performance on each. Slight hum evident, which may be from a grounding problem, as it disappears when any of the metal parts are touched.

The previous owner used it for gigs as well as studio work.

Got this one second-hand, with an almost perfect set-up: low, but no fret-buzz. Some adjustment on pick-up height to suit myself. Frets are typical flat Gibson, which I am currently having replaced with med/jumbo, to make bending easier. Great if you play jazz, though, especially with the great tone of this guitar.

The top is not carved as with other Les Pauls, but flat, with a clear finish and 22 years of character! No pickguard means lots of pick wear, but this only adds to the appeal. No embellishment. This guitar seems to have been made as a budget line which never took off, but it's like a sports car without the metallic paint: still goes like a thoroughbred!

Gets a 9 because of the absolute playablity.

Built like a tank. I bought this from a gigging musician, who also bought it second-hand. Still has original wiring, pickups and hardware, in almost perfect nick.

Stays in tune well, even when shipped around in a hot car during the day.

No info on this guitar at all from Gibson. I must admit this was done via email and website, and not personally.

The website did indicate how to decode the serial number though, which was helpfull in determining the date of manufacture. This can also be done by opening the wiring cover - it's stamped inside!

I reviewed this column before buying the guitar, partucularly since no-one else seemed to know anything about this model. "Firebrand? Don't you mean FireBIRD?" The opinions here helped me make my decision, and I would buy another like it in a heartbeat. The muso I bought it from said it was the best Les Paul he had ever had, including his "Studio".

I bought this one because my influences are Billy Gibbons and Gary Moore, and I had to have THAT shape and THAT sound. I doubt I'll ever part with it.

1981-82 Gibson Firebrand "the Paul Deluxe"
mahogany body, set neck, ebony fretboard, tune o matic and stop tail, grover tuners. Standard gibson humbuckers

I play hard rock alternative. This guitar sings on any amp I play it on It has become my favorite guitar I have owned and played other Gibsons and for me this one is the best. tone is very rich and crisp flawless!

Bought it off ebay so it took a little work to set it up the way I like but now it is amazing. the finish is nice, sort of a tobacco burst not sure if it's original. The headstock has been broken but the rapair looks awesome! only noticeable if I point it out. hard to hide a big repair like that on a black neck great job. and has not affected the way the guitar feels or sounds.

I can leave this guitar in its case carry it around for days and when I take it out and plug it in , It is still perfectly in tune... This is the first Gibson I have ever owned that I didn't have to fine tune every few songs. I would have no problem playing out with this guitar and not having a backup. It gets through every set I have played with it. solid as a rock!

never had to deal with Gibson directly

I have been playing for quite a few years and have had many guitars.. never have I come across one so perfect for me. If I can find another one I will snatch it up in a second. If this guitar was stolen I would hunt down the culpret and ask him to take my Les Paul studio instead! When I bought this guitar I Was looking for a backup.. the price was right and it was a Gibson so I said, what the hell... Little did I know that it would take first place in my collection. The only thing I didn't like at first was the location of the pickup toggle... now I'm used to it and it's not so bad.

My Firebrand "The Paul" Deluxe was made august 81 for the 82 year. It has the original humbuckers, knobs tuning keys, and battle scars!
Unfortunately, the guy who owned it originally thought it would be great to have a WHAMMY! bar. To do this he routered out the body about 3/4" between the bridge and tail piece. So now I am going to refinish the guitar back to original and try to get a piece of wood to match up to the grains of the body. Shopuld be interesting.

This guitar takes a hell of a beating and keeps on going. I play fast metal/punk and this guitar hadles the best of it. Very little noise through the Boss MT-3 and Peavey Supreme Transtube 4x12 cranked to 11.

Currently the guitar has no sustain with the stupid el cheapo whammy system, but the action is INCREDIBLE! I need to get it finished and professionally set up to make it good again.

It is everthing I want in a guitar, I would use it all the time without a backup,(unless I had anouther one!)

Called gibson for information on the stain used on the wood, the guy had no idea, very little literature, but was very nice if that means anything.

a ten

I have a '79 FB "The paul". I've owned a lot of guitars over the past 35 years. This is the best guitar I've ever played. The pickup switch takes some getting use to if your use to regular Les Pauls, but the action is supperior.

Rock, Blues, Pop. It does it all. It can be sweet, or it can be harsh.

Supperior action.

I've had this guitar in a hardshell fiberglass case since birth. You can load it in a van and drive it across country. When you pull it out, don't bother tuning. It's still in tune. No static or humming. The neck is indestructable.

This rating software needs and eleven.

The guy that had this guitar before me changed the bridge pickup to a Dimarzio PAF Pro. This guitar plays and sounds better than all of the other guitars i own.(Fender 70s reissue with lace sensors,Fender Powerhouse,Gibson LP Special,1981 Aria Pro 2 Cardinal)The only guitar that i have found that could beat in any way is the ES-335....

My style: Alt rock/Metal/Hard rock
Amp:Marshall JCM 800 clean with Boss MT-2.(Soon to me Peavey Triple XXX)
This guitar can go from bright to deep and heavy very easily.

I just got it repainted by a car painter. It looks really good now. Sparkly forest green...

This thing is a rock.

I've been playing for almost 6 years.
If it was stolen i would find the idiot that stole it and bash his brains in with my Powerhouse strat.....(it's kinda beat up)
As i said before this is the 2nd best guitar i've ever played... (the es-335 wins 1st)
GO BUY ONE OF THESE ON EBAY!!!

1982 Firebrand-U.S. made - two humbuckers 2volume 2tone knobs and 3way switch. ebony fretboard. The color is a deep black with very little scratches. Looks just like a Les Paul just lighter and thinner. Tune-O-Matic bridge with gibson tuners. It came with a hard shell case.

I play doom metal and some death and it seems to fit with my marshall halfstack real well, works well on my Mesa/Boogie also. High gain doesn't seem to be a problem and clean sounds are nice and crystal clear. the pickups make some noise, but not alot, you have to expect that with super gain distortions. It doesnt really make alot of distinct sounds, but i like to stick to just one anyways. it plays wonderful and doesn't give me any problems at all. Les Paul sound at half the price, and it's just cool, cause it says Firebrand "The Paul" makes ya feel like a man

i bought it used but the finish only has some scratches in it, the strings were adjusted nicely and the pickups just needed a little adjustment. i saw no flaws or anything, it's just an all around good guitar.

This guitar is like a piece of iron(without the weight), seems sturdy enough to tour with and will have to be. I always carry a backup guitar, but this will be my main one.

never dealt with them

It's good to have a nice playing guitar that not everyone seems to have. Les pauls are everywhere and it's "cool" to have one. Rich kids have them just for that reason. I'm not rich and i'm glad that i could find a guitar that didn't cost me an arm and a leg to get that rich sound