Gibson Firebird I Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966)
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Item # 12873
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Gibson Firebird I Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 700514, Frost Blue re- finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This is a seriously re-worked but especially attractive example of one of Gibson's less heralded 1960s classics, a "non-reverse" Firebird I. These were lower-priced, simplified versions of the earlier "reverse" body Firebird series guitars. Introduced in at the summer NAMM show in 1965, the new Firebirds were available through the late 1960s in dwindling quantities, but never really caught on with pro players at the time.
This example of the basic model Firebird I has been very nicely professionally refinished in a very good rendition of Frost Blue, one of the rarer of the special custom colors offered only on this line. The great majority were originally finished in the sunburst and original solid-color examples are quite rare. Gibson lore holds that most dealers simply ignored the Firebird color chart brochure Gibson helpfully provided, as they were more interested in selling stock models off the wall. "If you've got a red one, they want a blue one" was the complaint, and whatever the truth, the solid color guitars are exponentially rarer than the standard sunburst models.
The nicely done powder blue refinish spotlights the fluidly sculpted Honduras mahogany and one-piece glued-in mahogany neck. The rosewood fingerboard is unbound and dot inlaid and was the same for all models. The non-reverse I is distinguished by offering two plastic-covered P-90 pickups instead of the mini-humbuckers used on earlier models, giving it a somewhat raunchier sound.
This 'bird originally mounted Gibson's "short" Vibrola unit, but that has been removed and the holes finished over so it is set up simply with a modern Pigtail stud-mounted adjustable tailpiece/bridge. Originally these Firebirds were fitted with a fairly cheap slider switch for pickup selection that often broke; this has an original lever switch as was substituted at Gibson in 1966. The pickups are mounted through the pickguard so are height adjustable, another change from the earlier 1965 models. The tuners are older Grover Rotomatics with the screw flange trimmed off to fit, replacing the original cheap strip tuners.
The visible pot codes date to the 5-something week of 1965 (all are at least partially soldered over) the serial number 700,000 is a series used by Gibson in 1966-7. The knobs are the older capped early '60s style pieces, usually replaced by "Witch Hat" style in 1966-7 but they are missing the metal caps. The nut width is the 1965 and later 1 1/2" shared by all second generation Firebirds, narrower and slimmer than earlier "reverse" Firebird necks but overall not as insubstantial-feeling as many super-skinny period SG necks.
This is a great looking, great-sounding guitar, with powerful P-90 pickups that really growl when cranked. While the "non-reverse" Firebirds often used to be discounted in Gibson history, they have found a growing cadre of enthusiasts in the 21st century, enough for Gibson to finally re-issue the model recently. They remain distinctive guitars unlike any other in look or feel and excellent players instruments. Extremely light, fast playing, and super stylish, this Firebird I is no longer all original but is a fine player's example of this oft-underappreciated Gibson model, a super striking instrument in its Frost Blue livery and an unrepentant rocker's guitar.
Overall length is 43 3/8 in. (110.2 cm.), 13 7/16 in. (34.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This is a GREAT looking 'bird overall, not wholly original but quite playable and great sounding, a fantastic stage guitar. The Frost Blue finish looks several decades old and has aged very well, showing some minor wear with a few nicks and dings and some light scuffing. The headstock has some small edge chips; the serial number is finished over but readable on very close inspection. There is no evidence of any headstock or break; it does appear that there was a long crack through the control cavity long ago that is thoroughly sealed and is only visible as a discreet line in the finish.
The hardware is a mixed bag; original fixtures include the P-90 pickups, black plastic pickup covers, the pots and most of the wiring, the knobs (missing their metal caps) and the pickguard. This last remains in excellent shape with less shrinkage than most and a fine strong color to the bird logo; many of these pickguards have shrunken up far worse than this one has! The Bridge is a modern adjustable Pigtail unit, the tuners are old modified Grovers, the truss rod cover is a repro, and of course the vibrato is gone. The jack is later and some wiring has been redone. The two remaining strap buttons are original but the useless one on the upper body was deleted and the hole finished over.
The original frets have been crowned down a bit and show very minor wear. Overall a this is really a great looking, playing and sounding Firebird, a real showpiece of a "Gigger" in an oversize 1970s bass case that is not a perfect fit but offers decent protection. Overall Restored to Excellent Condition.
This is a seriously re-worked but especially attractive example of one of Gibson's less heralded 1960s classics, a "non-reverse" Firebird I. These were lower-priced, simplified versions of the earlier "reverse" body Firebird series guitars. Introduced in at the summer NAMM show in 1965, the new Firebirds were available through the late 1960s in dwindling quantities, but never really caught on with pro players at the time.
This example of the basic model Firebird I has been very nicely professionally refinished in a very good rendition of Frost Blue, one of the rarer of the special custom colors offered only on this line. The great majority were originally finished in the sunburst and original solid-color examples are quite rare. Gibson lore holds that most dealers simply ignored the Firebird color chart brochure Gibson helpfully provided, as they were more interested in selling stock models off the wall. "If you've got a red one, they want a blue one" was the complaint, and whatever the truth, the solid color guitars are exponentially rarer than the standard sunburst models.
The nicely done powder blue refinish spotlights the fluidly sculpted Honduras mahogany and one-piece glued-in mahogany neck. The rosewood fingerboard is unbound and dot inlaid and was the same for all models. The non-reverse I is distinguished by offering two plastic-covered P-90 pickups instead of the mini-humbuckers used on earlier models, giving it a somewhat raunchier sound.
This 'bird originally mounted Gibson's "short" Vibrola unit, but that has been removed and the holes finished over so it is set up simply with a modern Pigtail stud-mounted adjustable tailpiece/bridge. Originally these Firebirds were fitted with a fairly cheap slider switch for pickup selection that often broke; this has an original lever switch as was substituted at Gibson in 1966. The pickups are mounted through the pickguard so are height adjustable, another change from the earlier 1965 models. The tuners are older Grover Rotomatics with the screw flange trimmed off to fit, replacing the original cheap strip tuners.
The visible pot codes date to the 5-something week of 1965 (all are at least partially soldered over) the serial number 700,000 is a series used by Gibson in 1966-7. The knobs are the older capped early '60s style pieces, usually replaced by "Witch Hat" style in 1966-7 but they are missing the metal caps. The nut width is the 1965 and later 1 1/2" shared by all second generation Firebirds, narrower and slimmer than earlier "reverse" Firebird necks but overall not as insubstantial-feeling as many super-skinny period SG necks.
This is a great looking, great-sounding guitar, with powerful P-90 pickups that really growl when cranked. While the "non-reverse" Firebirds often used to be discounted in Gibson history, they have found a growing cadre of enthusiasts in the 21st century, enough for Gibson to finally re-issue the model recently. They remain distinctive guitars unlike any other in look or feel and excellent players instruments. Extremely light, fast playing, and super stylish, this Firebird I is no longer all original but is a fine player's example of this oft-underappreciated Gibson model, a super striking instrument in its Frost Blue livery and an unrepentant rocker's guitar.
Overall length is 43 3/8 in. (110.2 cm.), 13 7/16 in. (34.1 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This is a GREAT looking 'bird overall, not wholly original but quite playable and great sounding, a fantastic stage guitar. The Frost Blue finish looks several decades old and has aged very well, showing some minor wear with a few nicks and dings and some light scuffing. The headstock has some small edge chips; the serial number is finished over but readable on very close inspection. There is no evidence of any headstock or break; it does appear that there was a long crack through the control cavity long ago that is thoroughly sealed and is only visible as a discreet line in the finish.
The hardware is a mixed bag; original fixtures include the P-90 pickups, black plastic pickup covers, the pots and most of the wiring, the knobs (missing their metal caps) and the pickguard. This last remains in excellent shape with less shrinkage than most and a fine strong color to the bird logo; many of these pickguards have shrunken up far worse than this one has! The Bridge is a modern adjustable Pigtail unit, the tuners are old modified Grovers, the truss rod cover is a repro, and of course the vibrato is gone. The jack is later and some wiring has been redone. The two remaining strap buttons are original but the useless one on the upper body was deleted and the hole finished over.
The original frets have been crowned down a bit and show very minor wear. Overall a this is really a great looking, playing and sounding Firebird, a real showpiece of a "Gigger" in an oversize 1970s bass case that is not a perfect fit but offers decent protection. Overall Restored to Excellent Condition.