Gibson Releases the Firebird X

Gibson today introduces the Gibson Firebird X, an evolution of the 1960s classic Gibson Firebird model, with modern technologies such as fourth-generation Robot tuners for automatic tuning, onboard effects based on computer plug-in technology, and wireless Bluetooth pedals.

In addition, the Gibson Firebird X is designed for compatibility with hardware and applications developed by third party companies. Gibson’s “Pure-Analog” Engine makes this possible in conjunction with an authorized App store, where vendors can sell Gibson-compliant applications.

As an added bonus, all registered owners of the Firebird X gain entry into the Firebird X Visionaries Club, an online community where members have access to software, patches, manuals and other supporting downloads. In addition, members can create and maintain personal profile pages; post and share Firebird X preset files, audio and video content; and communicate/interact with other Firebird X owners, artists and Gibson staff.

Tech Specs:

The Gibson Firebird X has a body (six pounds total) made from swamp ash; a thin, asymmetrical rock maple neck with a non-stick satin finish; and a maple finger board. Gibson has also developed the ProX case to protect the instrument.
Built-in effects capability designed to enable users to morph settings and switch into different effect. Presets recreate tones and generate new ones.
With a fourth generation of supporting hardware and software the Gibson Firebird X is self-tuning.
Designed to look like standard pickup selectors, the two “tog-pots” have control built into the rotatable toggle shaft to let users morph from unprocessed to processed sounds. A third “tog-pot” blends acoustic sounds from the piezo pickup, along with the electric pickups or only acoustic sounds. Optimized to sound like Gibson’s J-45 acoustic guitar, the basic acoustic guitar sound is virtually indistinguishable from an acoustic guitar’s electric output, the company assures.
Three mini-humbuckers with side-by-side coils and a hexaphonic piezo bridge pickup make the Firebird X an active guitar. The bridge piezo pickup includes hex outputs (each string can provide a separate output for computer or live performance setups), which allow everything from new sounds from “clean” distortion and synth-like timbres to surround possibilities.
The Firebird X internal battery is designed to last for over two hours of continuous use and, if needed, can be swapped out in seconds with a readily available camcorder battery.
Gibson partnered with CSR to develop an expression pedal and footswitch unit (included with purchase) for the Firebird X. Optimized for musical applications, the pedals and footswitch snap together for a secure mechanical and electrical connection designed to create a compact pedal board setup.
Although the heart of the distortion options within Firebird X use McDSP’s Chrome Tone plug-in, Gibson engineers included modulation, delay, and reverberation effects including new effects like “dynamic” delay and old favorites like spring reverb, analog chorus/delay, and a 10-second looper.
The Firebird X features Gibson’s “Pure-Analog” engine, which provides sounds and effects as well as analog sound. It is user-replaceable, and allows 3rd party developers to make use of the engine by allowing their software, sold in the Gibson app store, to run on the guitar’s engine.