New Guitar Day - NDC

Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 1279 Location: Blackpool, UK

So yesterday was my first NGD in about 3 years since I bought my Les Paul.

The pr0n is coming, but first a wee story.

3 things you should absolutely know about me:

1. I have never seen or played an Ibanez guitar that gave me any sort of gas...until the guitar I bought yesterday.

2. As a rule, I do not buy signature guitars. I learnt this the hard way.

3. If I can get out of buying something on impulse, I will. Again, I learnt this the hard way.

Ever since I first saw Paul Gilbert play a Fireman, I've had serious GAS pains for one. So much so, a little over a week ago, I placed an order for a local guitar builder to build one for me.

However, a Musical Instrument chain over here in the UK in the glorious city of Liverpool recently relocated giving them a LOAD of extra floor space, and stock to go with it. 3 weeks after opening I finally made the trip down.

I instantly noticed the crowd of people standing gawping at the Ibanez Fireman hanging from the wall, everyone seeming too shy to ask to try it...so I bit the bullet.

Moments later, after getting her in tune, I hit my first chord and that was all she wrote, she was coming home with me. Frankly, I had to have her, because otherwise she was going home with one of the "gawpers". Even the better half couldn't talk me out of it, lord knows she tried.

With that out of the way...pr0n time:

This guitar, is IN-FREAKIN-CREDIBLE. Seriously. The Dimarzio single coils are just ridiculous. They sound like Humbuckers when you want them to, and single coils when you don't. Mind you, they should be great. They are almost a 3rd of the cost of the whole guitar on their own!

The mahogany body is beautiful, and the trans-red finish is miles better in the flesh than on any picture I've seen. The body fits me like a glove. I've heard a lot of people say that the top horn gets in the way. I'm a big dude, so I don't have this problem. The neck is fatter and fits my hands better than any other Ibanez I've ever played, it's perfect. Reminds me a lot of my Les Paul, actually.

Needless to say, I'm a pretty happy bunny right now.

This guitar I'm sure is gonna get me labeled as a Gilbert sheep, but if I hadn't liked it this much, it would have gone back on the shelf to one of the guys drooling all over the floor staring at it.

OK, I'm gonna go jam.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, the custom build Fireman got cancelled. Shame, but I couldn't wait.

Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 1279 Location: Blackpool, UK

30 views?

Hey! Remember when people used to post here!?

Laughing

Joined: 21 Sep 2010 Posts: 447

pretty cool. ive never seen one quite like that before. sounds like it works great for you. congrats

Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 4253 Location: Derry, N Ireland

Congrats Mat!! In like the past 3 years or more that I have known you, this is the one guitar that you have always wanted!!

Im glad you got yourself hooked up!! P.S, selling a cheap slab of mahogany? Laughing

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:07 pm

I tried to stop him, I really did. Sad

Just kidding, I egged him on every step of the way. Laughing

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 7:47 pm

nice score mate

Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1189

Love that guitar!!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 7645 Location: Florida

very cool, enjoy that axe Cool

Joined: 19 Jan 2007 Posts: 3201 Location: UK

Always liked that body shape, i would love to pick one up if it came along with the right specs.

How does the neck compare to a dean neck ?

Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 1279 Location: Blackpool, UK

kingoflight wrote:

How does the neck compare to a dean neck ?

It's been a REALLY long time since I played a Dean, but I'll do my best. Smile

I have only played 3 Deans in my time...(ML FBD, 80s RI Caddy, Soltero). It's nearest to the Caddy, fatter and pretty wide. My FBD's neck IIRC was a little thinner than my Caddy. I'd say the Fireman is somewhere in between. The neck on the Soltero I played was awful for me. Far too small for my hands.

Joined: 30 Mar 2009 Posts: 4711 Location: Dayton, OH

I've always liked those, congrats!

Joined: 26 Feb 2007 Posts: 1751 Location: Ontario, Canada

That is one killer looking guitar, congrats on the new fiddle!

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 2:51 am

A lefty Iceman that plays righty.....had to say it Laughing

Very cool.

Joined: 25 Jan 2013 Posts: 29

Congratulations! Definitely diggin' that Ibanez - and that is rare!

Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 1279 Location: Blackpool, UK

what-a-cool-username wrote:

I tried to stop him, I really did. Sad

Just kidding, I egged him on every step of the way. Laughing

Just to clarify, Ryan is not the "better half" I referred to in the original post. Laughing

...He is however a VERY bad influence. Ha.

Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Posts: 2976 Location: UK

Wow, Matt that is a Titan! The colour is so nice. I really don't like Ibanez guitars because of the chopstick neck but I might have to try one of these out. It is beautiful, congratulations brother! Smile

Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 1279 Location: Blackpool, UK

Greg... wrote:

Wow, Matt that is a Titan! The colour is so nice. I really don't like Ibanez guitars because of the chopstick neck but I might have to try one of these out. It is beautiful, congratulations brother! Smile

Definitely try one, the neck is SO different from any other Ibby I've played.

Joined: 20 Nov 2006 Posts: 7418 Location: Backenforth, USA

I'd rock the s#%t outta that.