Gibson Firebird III Solid Body Electric Guitar (1965)
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Gibson Firebird III Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1965), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 509998, sunburst lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
For a long time one of Gibson's less heralded 1960s classics, the second-try "non-reverse" Firebird models 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 in a big way.
This example of the midline-model Firebird III dates to the first production year 1965 and is finished in the standard sunburst, by far the most common livery. The body is fluidly sculpted Honduras mahogany with a one-piece glued-in neck, far simpler to build than the original laminate neck-through-body Firebird design. The rosewood fingerboard is unbound and dot inlaid, unlike earlier versions it is the same for all models.
The non-reverse III is distinguished by offering not two but three plastic-covered P-90 pickups, an unusual combination that Gibson had not used before on a solidbody instrument. They are wired in the typical Gibson 3-pickup layout, with the bridge and neck selected individually and the center switch position being the bridge and middle out of phase. With P-90's this gives a unique tone; sort of a "fat Strat" effect.
Typically for late 1965 this 'bird mounts chrome plated hardware, including Gibson's "short" Vibrola unit with a plastic-tipped handle and the stud-mounted solid bridge. These Firebirds were fitted with a fairly cheap slider switch for pickup selection that often broke; this one is intact. The tuners are plastic-button Kluson Deluxe in a single 6-unit strip that Gibson used on only a few models.
The visible pot codes date to the 39th week of 1965; the serial number starting with 509 is a series used repeatedly by Gibson in the 1960s but the features on the instrument suggest shipment in late 1965 or early 1966. The pickups are mounted directly to the body (not to the pickguard) and the knobs are the older capped early '60s style pieces, usually replaced by "Witch Hat" style in 1966-7. The nut width is the slimmer 1965 and later style shared by all second generation Firebirds, narrower than earlier "reverse" Firebird necks but as it approaches the body not as super-skinny as many period SG necks.
This is a great-sounding guitar, with powerful P-90 pickups that really growl when cranked in the single neck and bridge settings and fairly chunky out-of-phase middle. 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 III is a fine example of an oft-underappreciated Gibson model, 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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is a decently well-preserved 'bird for its 57+ years on the planet, remaining nicely original overall showing some typical wear and light restoration but no major damage or repair. There have NEVER been any headstock or control cavity cracks as are common with these 'birds. The all-original finish shows fairly heavy checking on the body and a collection of dings, dents and chips most heavily on the body edges. The fairly dark sunburst on the face shows minimal fading. The headstock edges have some typical small chips.
The pickups and wiring remain original except the volume pot for the bass pickup volume pot has been replaced with one dated 1973; the other three are coded 6539 dating to the second half of 1965. There are light compression rings on the headstock face around the tuner bushings indicating the tuners have been restored to the original strip Klusons from something else; there are no visible marks on the back of the headstock from this.
Internally there is some body wood somewhat crudely removed on the treble side of the pickup cavity, something we have seen before on these earlier-pattern non-reverse 'birds. As unlikely as it sounds this was often done at the factory on the first year models by assemblers struggling to fit the pickup/pickguard assembly to the guitar, which was a fidgety process at best. The original complex body routing in this area was ditched in 1966 in favor of a large "swimming pool" rout to cure this headache.
The pickguard shows a small shrinkage crack off the uppermost screw and some light pulls in several places but is otherwise intact. The often-faded bird emblem is relatively intact with some loss to the top area. Many of these pickguards have shrunken up far worse than this one has! The original frets show light wear and still have plenty of meat to them, and most importantly the neck angle on this guitar is much better than many of these, allowing the vibrato to function properly. Overall a GREAT playing and sounding Firebird, complete in its original "Picnic basket" HSC lined with plaid checked fabric. Overall Very Good + Condition.
For a long time one of Gibson's less heralded 1960s classics, the second-try "non-reverse" Firebird models 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 in a big way.
This example of the midline-model Firebird III dates to the first production year 1965 and is finished in the standard sunburst, by far the most common livery. The body is fluidly sculpted Honduras mahogany with a one-piece glued-in neck, far simpler to build than the original laminate neck-through-body Firebird design. The rosewood fingerboard is unbound and dot inlaid, unlike earlier versions it is the same for all models.
The non-reverse III is distinguished by offering not two but three plastic-covered P-90 pickups, an unusual combination that Gibson had not used before on a solidbody instrument. They are wired in the typical Gibson 3-pickup layout, with the bridge and neck selected individually and the center switch position being the bridge and middle out of phase. With P-90's this gives a unique tone; sort of a "fat Strat" effect.
Typically for late 1965 this 'bird mounts chrome plated hardware, including Gibson's "short" Vibrola unit with a plastic-tipped handle and the stud-mounted solid bridge. These Firebirds were fitted with a fairly cheap slider switch for pickup selection that often broke; this one is intact. The tuners are plastic-button Kluson Deluxe in a single 6-unit strip that Gibson used on only a few models.
The visible pot codes date to the 39th week of 1965; the serial number starting with 509 is a series used repeatedly by Gibson in the 1960s but the features on the instrument suggest shipment in late 1965 or early 1966. The pickups are mounted directly to the body (not to the pickguard) and the knobs are the older capped early '60s style pieces, usually replaced by "Witch Hat" style in 1966-7. The nut width is the slimmer 1965 and later style shared by all second generation Firebirds, narrower than earlier "reverse" Firebird necks but as it approaches the body not as super-skinny as many period SG necks.
This is a great-sounding guitar, with powerful P-90 pickups that really growl when cranked in the single neck and bridge settings and fairly chunky out-of-phase middle. 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 III is a fine example of an oft-underappreciated Gibson model, 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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is a decently well-preserved 'bird for its 57+ years on the planet, remaining nicely original overall showing some typical wear and light restoration but no major damage or repair. There have NEVER been any headstock or control cavity cracks as are common with these 'birds. The all-original finish shows fairly heavy checking on the body and a collection of dings, dents and chips most heavily on the body edges. The fairly dark sunburst on the face shows minimal fading. The headstock edges have some typical small chips.
The pickups and wiring remain original except the volume pot for the bass pickup volume pot has been replaced with one dated 1973; the other three are coded 6539 dating to the second half of 1965. There are light compression rings on the headstock face around the tuner bushings indicating the tuners have been restored to the original strip Klusons from something else; there are no visible marks on the back of the headstock from this.
Internally there is some body wood somewhat crudely removed on the treble side of the pickup cavity, something we have seen before on these earlier-pattern non-reverse 'birds. As unlikely as it sounds this was often done at the factory on the first year models by assemblers struggling to fit the pickup/pickguard assembly to the guitar, which was a fidgety process at best. The original complex body routing in this area was ditched in 1966 in favor of a large "swimming pool" rout to cure this headache.
The pickguard shows a small shrinkage crack off the uppermost screw and some light pulls in several places but is otherwise intact. The often-faded bird emblem is relatively intact with some loss to the top area. Many of these pickguards have shrunken up far worse than this one has! The original frets show light wear and still have plenty of meat to them, and most importantly the neck angle on this guitar is much better than many of these, allowing the vibrato to function properly. Overall a GREAT playing and sounding Firebird, complete in its original "Picnic basket" HSC lined with plaid checked fabric. Overall Very Good + Condition.