New Paul Gilbert Fireman

[Archangelyabbo]

http://www.ibanez.com/ElectricGuitars/model-FRM100

New on the Ibanez site...
Don't know what it is about it, but I like it.
I saw Mr. Big a few weeks ago, Paul only used this guitar and the Korina version.
There are some cool YouTube videos of him playing this guitar. I really like the Injector pickups.

I can't wait to check this out.

[Sancho]

It's the Chinese made affordable version of his signature model.
Should cost about a tenth of the Japanese original...

[Archangelyabbo]

I think they are going to list for $1200.
But yes the Chinese version.

[dangeroso]

Awesome!

I always liked this video:

[VA_siCkBoy]

Very cool! Thanks for the heads-up.

[batsbrew]

7 grand for the korina one.

[RedTiger]

Ibanez is just unfathomable sometimes. They make the oddest decisions, and this is one of them. The Chinese copy is fine, but why didn't they make a production Prestige version as well? I don't think they understand just who their market is with the PGM models. Gibson seems to understand their market better than Ibanez does at times.

Almost every Fireman from their limited run sold - which listed at $9333, street price of about $7000. The same probably holds true for the UV77RE which listed for $7999, street price of $6000.

I'm almost certain that a $2000 Prestige Fireman would sell well with the PGM collectors and guys who wanted a Fireman but didn't want to spend $7k on one. Half of their Prestige line already is in that price range. It makes good sense. But does Ibanez make one? Nope. They continue to promote their image as a guitar brand for the kiddies.

[CowTipton]

Originally Posted by RedTiger

They continue to promote their image as a guitar brand for the kiddies.

Are people really spending $1200 on guitars for their kiddies?

[scolfax]

Originally Posted by Archangelyabbo

I think they are going to list for $1200.
But yes the Chinese version.

I saw it for $899 on a website. Wasn't sure if that was retail or street.

^^^ Totally agree with one of the posts above about the $8k guitars, who is buying these things?!

[Matt Novak]

[img]/[img]

And this:

[img][/img]


Think I'll order myself one

[brianeharmonjr]

I've got one on order and have great hopes for it. Paul seems like he has been very involved with the development of this model and I don't think he'd be excited to put out a $900 turd. I've played quite a few of the nicer Chinese-made stuff and have been just as impressed as I've been with most of the Prestige models I've tried. The $7k model was a dream guitar that I'd never be able to justify or afford, and this one seems just my speed. I'll reserve final judgement until I have it in my hands, but I think they've hit the nail on the head and I'm very excited.

[RedTiger]

Originally Posted by Penosity

Are people really spending $1200 on guitars for their kiddies?

My point was; you know all those guys who are now in their 50s and 60s who grew up wanting to be like Jimmy Page and so they go out and by an R9? Subtract 20 years from their age and replace the R9 with a PGM 300.

I could be proven wrong about that, but I'm willing to bet that this market actually exists. My proof?

Originally Posted by scolfax

^^^ Totally agree with one of the posts above about the $8k guitars, who is buying these things?!

I know of at least one guy from Jemsite who bought a Fireman and a handful of guys who bought the Universe swirl reissue. The guitars are not sitting in warehouses collect dust, unwanted. These are the same people who buy brand new Jems for $2500 and some of the older ones for far more than that. But we get don't get a FujiGen-made production Fireman. Right.

If the FRM100 is done by the same people who do the Artcore guitars, it will probably be fantastic. I would love to have seen Japanese production Fireman.

[screamtone]

Man, I really want one of those. I wish it was korina sandwich-wood like the Epiphone V and Explorer, though.

[brawlaman]

Hey everyone - my first post here after lurking for a while. There was no way I was going to pay the sort of money it would cost for the Limited Ed Fireman but I liked it a lot (like PG and my first guitar was an '81 Iceman) so I got a local luthier here in New Zealand to make a replica. I'm at work and don't have pics but you can see some if go here: http://www.nzguitars.com/forum/viewt...+2011&start=30 and scroll down a post or 2. As you can see I went for humbuckers instead of the single coils (BKP Crawlers) and changed the position of the volume knob to suit my playing but otherwise tried to stay reasonably close to the original.

EDIT: Sorry - link fail! Should work now.

[Matt Novak]

^^^ the Fireman looks great! Are they comfortable to play?