Gibson Firebird III Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964)
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Item # 11010
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Gibson Firebird III Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 235563, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
Pssst! Want a GREAT playing and sounding '60s Firebird at a discount? Well here's a fabulous player's example of the most popular original "reverse" body model, a 1964 Firebird III. It has an all-to common headstock repair, but beyond that remains a great-feeling, excellent playing and sounding 'bird. A large proportion of original Firebirds have had some sort of headstock issue at some point; this one looks to have endured a pretty heavy break but been splendidly well repaired with some visible overspray to the area but no other ill effects.
When first issued this unique futuristic guitar line was sadly short-lived, introduced in late 1963 and discontinued after the mid-1965 NAMM show. These original pattern Firebirds are considered a Gibson classic combining liquid-sculpture sweeping lines and innovative through-body neck construction, but the limited production time meant they barely had a chance in the market before being replaced by the more conventional "non-reverse" versions. The originals have been a sought-after guitar since, re-issued, revamped but never really equaled in the Gibson pantheon.
The Firebird III was the mid-line model of the original 'birds, but has a full set of professional features. The bound, dot inlaid fingerboard is the defining element as much of the layout is otherwise shared with the next model up, the Firebird V. The neck is a bit bigger than the contemporary SG series with a relatively chunky feeling but a comfortable round-backed profile and faired-in heel. This one feels slimmer and a bit flatter than some '64s, but still fairly substantial.
Fittings include the two special Firebird mini-humbucking pickups in flat metal mounting rings, a short Vibrola tailpiece with "spoon" handle, solid stud-mounted compensated bar bridge and the unique "backwards" headstock with individual Kluson banjo tuners. All the hardware is nickel plated. The pickguard covers the lower body horn and carries the selector switch; it is decorated with a nifty Firebird emblem which on this guitar has been repainted in the original outline.
Practically everything about the original Firebirds was unique; the long laminated neck-through-body centerpiece with "wings" glued to the sides, the fluid body shape with the longer lower cutaway horn and that headstock with the tuner buttons hidden from the front with the low E farthest from the nut. These hardly had a chance to catch on with players before being drastically revamped. A threatened lawsuit from Fender is often cited as the reason, but more likely the complex design simply proved uneconomical to produce. The elaborate sculpting of the body and headstock and the eccentric neck-through construction make for a beautiful instrument, but one that proved difficult for Gibson to build on a cost-effective basis.
Despite use with a number of major bands of the day (including the Rolling Stones. Four Seasons, Merseybeats and briefly the Lovin' Spoonful) these beautiful birds flew off into oblivion way too quickly. It's estimated that about 2000 of the original "Reverse" Firebird III were produced between late '63 and mid '65; many have suffered cracks in the headstock area and/or been played heavily or modified. This all-original 'bird is a survivor; despite the repair this is a great feeling guitar with a unique and powerful sound.
Overall length is 45 in. (114.3 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar shows some general wear, and as noted a fairly major but well-done headstock repair. Overall it remains nicely original except for that unfortunately typical issue. The break was to the headstock itself, it looks like mostly through the B string tuner not the thinner more vulnerable throat of the neck. The truss rod was not affected and still works fine. There was some lacquer overspray to the neck and of course the headstock, there is a subtle darker shading to the affected area but nothing too intrusive.
Apart from this local repair work the otherwise original finish shows some minor broad checking and typical small chips and dings, mostly on the edges. A couple of deeper finish chips on the exposed body corners are about the heaviest wear, along with one deep circular dink in the center of the lower top. There is some light buckle wear on the back into but not through the lacquer. Overall this 'bird's finish shows its age but is better preserved than many.
There is surprisingly little of the typical pickguard shrinkage, with no cracks at the screwholes. The engraved and painted bird emblem on the pickguard has been completely re-painted; this is a fairly neat job but obviously hand done and the color is a brighter red than the original. The nickel plating shows typical wear but remains largely intact, with some typical rubbed-away spots from contact with players' hands. Inside the control cavity the pots and wiring appear original except for one odd oversize cap; we could change this out but the guitar sounds so good we closed it up and left it as is!
The guitar is complete down to the original vibrato arm, including the oft-missing nylon bushings. The fingerboard has been neatly trued and refretted with very appropriate wire and a new nut; the work is top-notch making this an excellent player with the typical snarly Firebird sound. It includes the original yellow-lined black rectangular original case, which remains cleaner than many. "Apart from that, She's perfectly all right"; discounting the headstock repair this is definitely one of the nicer and most player friendly Reverse Firebirds we have had, a great gigging example of this super stylish Gibson classic. Excellent - Condition.
Pssst! Want a GREAT playing and sounding '60s Firebird at a discount? Well here's a fabulous player's example of the most popular original "reverse" body model, a 1964 Firebird III. It has an all-to common headstock repair, but beyond that remains a great-feeling, excellent playing and sounding 'bird. A large proportion of original Firebirds have had some sort of headstock issue at some point; this one looks to have endured a pretty heavy break but been splendidly well repaired with some visible overspray to the area but no other ill effects.
When first issued this unique futuristic guitar line was sadly short-lived, introduced in late 1963 and discontinued after the mid-1965 NAMM show. These original pattern Firebirds are considered a Gibson classic combining liquid-sculpture sweeping lines and innovative through-body neck construction, but the limited production time meant they barely had a chance in the market before being replaced by the more conventional "non-reverse" versions. The originals have been a sought-after guitar since, re-issued, revamped but never really equaled in the Gibson pantheon.
The Firebird III was the mid-line model of the original 'birds, but has a full set of professional features. The bound, dot inlaid fingerboard is the defining element as much of the layout is otherwise shared with the next model up, the Firebird V. The neck is a bit bigger than the contemporary SG series with a relatively chunky feeling but a comfortable round-backed profile and faired-in heel. This one feels slimmer and a bit flatter than some '64s, but still fairly substantial.
Fittings include the two special Firebird mini-humbucking pickups in flat metal mounting rings, a short Vibrola tailpiece with "spoon" handle, solid stud-mounted compensated bar bridge and the unique "backwards" headstock with individual Kluson banjo tuners. All the hardware is nickel plated. The pickguard covers the lower body horn and carries the selector switch; it is decorated with a nifty Firebird emblem which on this guitar has been repainted in the original outline.
Practically everything about the original Firebirds was unique; the long laminated neck-through-body centerpiece with "wings" glued to the sides, the fluid body shape with the longer lower cutaway horn and that headstock with the tuner buttons hidden from the front with the low E farthest from the nut. These hardly had a chance to catch on with players before being drastically revamped. A threatened lawsuit from Fender is often cited as the reason, but more likely the complex design simply proved uneconomical to produce. The elaborate sculpting of the body and headstock and the eccentric neck-through construction make for a beautiful instrument, but one that proved difficult for Gibson to build on a cost-effective basis.
Despite use with a number of major bands of the day (including the Rolling Stones. Four Seasons, Merseybeats and briefly the Lovin' Spoonful) these beautiful birds flew off into oblivion way too quickly. It's estimated that about 2000 of the original "Reverse" Firebird III were produced between late '63 and mid '65; many have suffered cracks in the headstock area and/or been played heavily or modified. This all-original 'bird is a survivor; despite the repair this is a great feeling guitar with a unique and powerful sound.
Overall length is 45 in. (114.3 cm.), 13 1/2 in. (34.3 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar shows some general wear, and as noted a fairly major but well-done headstock repair. Overall it remains nicely original except for that unfortunately typical issue. The break was to the headstock itself, it looks like mostly through the B string tuner not the thinner more vulnerable throat of the neck. The truss rod was not affected and still works fine. There was some lacquer overspray to the neck and of course the headstock, there is a subtle darker shading to the affected area but nothing too intrusive.
Apart from this local repair work the otherwise original finish shows some minor broad checking and typical small chips and dings, mostly on the edges. A couple of deeper finish chips on the exposed body corners are about the heaviest wear, along with one deep circular dink in the center of the lower top. There is some light buckle wear on the back into but not through the lacquer. Overall this 'bird's finish shows its age but is better preserved than many.
There is surprisingly little of the typical pickguard shrinkage, with no cracks at the screwholes. The engraved and painted bird emblem on the pickguard has been completely re-painted; this is a fairly neat job but obviously hand done and the color is a brighter red than the original. The nickel plating shows typical wear but remains largely intact, with some typical rubbed-away spots from contact with players' hands. Inside the control cavity the pots and wiring appear original except for one odd oversize cap; we could change this out but the guitar sounds so good we closed it up and left it as is!
The guitar is complete down to the original vibrato arm, including the oft-missing nylon bushings. The fingerboard has been neatly trued and refretted with very appropriate wire and a new nut; the work is top-notch making this an excellent player with the typical snarly Firebird sound. It includes the original yellow-lined black rectangular original case, which remains cleaner than many. "Apart from that, She's perfectly all right"; discounting the headstock repair this is definitely one of the nicer and most player friendly Reverse Firebirds we have had, a great gigging example of this super stylish Gibson classic. Excellent - Condition.