Where the Firestar truly sets itself apart is in its expanded sonic architecture. The addition of both a body-mounted piezo disc AND a headstock-mounted piezo disc, and the onboard Pickup LesLee circuit opens up a range of textures that defies categorization. This is the heart of the Deimel philosophy: creative utility meets masterful execution.

With a few flicks of slider switches, the Firestar unlocks some of the most inspiring and unusual tonal combinations we’ve ever experienced in an electric guitar. The Pickup LesLee circuit, in particular, is a revelation—offering lush, pulsing, Leslie-style modulation that evokes the dimensional swirl of a Hammond B3. Controllable via thumbwheels on the upper bout, its Speed and Intensity dials allow you to go from subtle shimmer to full-on sonic kaleidoscope. It’s mesmerizing... and hard to turn off.

To the opposite side, three additional sliders engage the body and headstock piezos, respectively, along with a Kill/Alive switch that's wired directly to the push button below it. Layering the piezos with drive or fuzz yields richly textured harmonic feedback and resonant bloom. The push-button kill switch rounds out the control set—your shortcut to staccato mayhem à la Tom Morello. Volume and Tone controls on the lower bout (the Tone control is a push/pull to activate Mono/Stereo function for the LesLee) are accompanied by a Blendpot for both pickups. When the piezos are activated, the Volume pot blends between magnetic and piezo sound when turning down the volume from 10 to approx. 7-8.

If you’ve spent time with high-end builds from the likes of Huber, Ronin, or Koll, the Firestar will feel instantly familiar: the neck profile, fretwork, and setup are simply superb. The overall fit and finish are exceptional, and the components—Mastery hardware, Gotoh tuners, CTS and Bourns electronics—are all top-tier.

Despite our vast and eclectic electric guitar inventory, Deimels occupy a category of their own: visionary, wildly creative, and uncompromising in craft. If you can imagine it, Deimel can build it—and the Firestar No. 257 is proof of just how far that imagination can go.