Gibson Firebird I Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964)
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Item # 12590
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Gibson Firebird I Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 191977, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a superb 1964 example the rare original "Reverse" body Gibson Firebird I. This is one of the rarer of the Firebird series, a starkly minimalist design originally issued with only a single bridge pickup and no vibrato system. In 1963-4 there were a number of student instruments available with both those features, and the fairly expensive Firebird I did not sell nearly as well as the mid-line III model, so is now much scarcer.
This entire unique instrument line was originally sadly short-lived, introduced in late 1963 and discontinued after the mid-1965 NAMM show. The original pattern Firebird is considered a Gibson classic with its futuristic sweeping lines and innovative through-body neck construction, but the limited production time meant they barely had a chance to get established 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 I has a particular association with Eric Clapton, who played one in the latter days of Cream and with Steven Stills.
The Firebird I was the lowest model of the original 'birds with a distinctive uncluttered, one of the sleekest guitars of the 1960s. The unbound, dot inlaid fingerboard is the defining element but the early models had one special Firebird mini-humbucking pickup in the treble position and Gibson's simple stop tail bridge. The neck is a bit bigger than the contemporary SG series with a comfortable round-backed profile and faired-in heel. This is topped by the unique "backwards" headstock with individual Kluson banjo tuners. All the (minimal) hardware is nickel plated. The pickguard covers the entire forward lower body horn, decorated with a nifty Firebird emblem.
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. They 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 especially the lower-priced Firebird I. The list price in 1964 was $215, plus another $46 for the only issued case; by contrast the single-pickup SG junior was only $165, with a $15 chipboard case available. That difference represented a lot of lawn-mowing money in 1964!
As a result only 497 "Reverse" Firebird I's were shipped in 1964, along with 80 in '63 and an unknown number in the first half of 1965. The FB I was modified by mid-year to carry two P-90 pickups, and after that June the new cheaper "non-reverse" models began to ship in much larger numbers. These listed at $189.50 but offered twin P-90s and a Gibson Vibrola as standard, features "the kids" wanted in the mid-60s. Of the approximately 1000 (maximum) Reverse FB I's ever built many have suffered cracks in the headstock area and/or been played heavily or modified. This all-original beautiful minimalist liquid sculpture guitar is a splendid survivor as well as a great playing instrument, not the most versatile of the 'birds with its single bridge pickup but a real screamer 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 only some light general wear overall and remains nicely original with no damage, repairs, or alterations. The finish shows only light lateral checking and some small chips and dings, with one deeper scratch to the top in the upper rear "wing". There is some light buckle wear on the lower back into but not through the finish. The long headstock has little in the way of the common dings and chips; overall this 'bird's finish is far better preserved than many.
The most common Firebird malady is absent -- the neck has NEVER been cracked or broken. There is some minor typical pickguard shrinkage, with the screws pulling a bit and cracks at the forward and rearmost tips, the latter re-attached visibly. The engraved and painted bird emblem on the pickguard has some of its red pigment but the outline is still strong. The nickel plating shows typical wear but remains largely intact, with some typical rubbed-away spots from contact on the tailpiece bolts. A small metal shim has been slipped in on the treble side between the bolt head and top of the stoptail to help the bridge stay level.
The guitar is all original and complete; there is still some factory polishing compound in the control cavity. The original large frets have been polished, they and the fingerboard have very little subsequent wear and this is an excellent player, with the typical snarly single-pickup Firebird sound. It includes the yellow-lined black rectangular original case, relatively clean as well with one latch broken. This is definitely one of the nicer Reverse Firebird I's we have seen, a great sounding and playing example of this super stylish minimalist Gibson classic. Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a superb 1964 example the rare original "Reverse" body Gibson Firebird I. This is one of the rarer of the Firebird series, a starkly minimalist design originally issued with only a single bridge pickup and no vibrato system. In 1963-4 there were a number of student instruments available with both those features, and the fairly expensive Firebird I did not sell nearly as well as the mid-line III model, so is now much scarcer.
This entire unique instrument line was originally sadly short-lived, introduced in late 1963 and discontinued after the mid-1965 NAMM show. The original pattern Firebird is considered a Gibson classic with its futuristic sweeping lines and innovative through-body neck construction, but the limited production time meant they barely had a chance to get established 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 I has a particular association with Eric Clapton, who played one in the latter days of Cream and with Steven Stills.
The Firebird I was the lowest model of the original 'birds with a distinctive uncluttered, one of the sleekest guitars of the 1960s. The unbound, dot inlaid fingerboard is the defining element but the early models had one special Firebird mini-humbucking pickup in the treble position and Gibson's simple stop tail bridge. The neck is a bit bigger than the contemporary SG series with a comfortable round-backed profile and faired-in heel. This is topped by the unique "backwards" headstock with individual Kluson banjo tuners. All the (minimal) hardware is nickel plated. The pickguard covers the entire forward lower body horn, decorated with a nifty Firebird emblem.
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. They 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 especially the lower-priced Firebird I. The list price in 1964 was $215, plus another $46 for the only issued case; by contrast the single-pickup SG junior was only $165, with a $15 chipboard case available. That difference represented a lot of lawn-mowing money in 1964!
As a result only 497 "Reverse" Firebird I's were shipped in 1964, along with 80 in '63 and an unknown number in the first half of 1965. The FB I was modified by mid-year to carry two P-90 pickups, and after that June the new cheaper "non-reverse" models began to ship in much larger numbers. These listed at $189.50 but offered twin P-90s and a Gibson Vibrola as standard, features "the kids" wanted in the mid-60s. Of the approximately 1000 (maximum) Reverse FB I's ever built many have suffered cracks in the headstock area and/or been played heavily or modified. This all-original beautiful minimalist liquid sculpture guitar is a splendid survivor as well as a great playing instrument, not the most versatile of the 'birds with its single bridge pickup but a real screamer 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 only some light general wear overall and remains nicely original with no damage, repairs, or alterations. The finish shows only light lateral checking and some small chips and dings, with one deeper scratch to the top in the upper rear "wing". There is some light buckle wear on the lower back into but not through the finish. The long headstock has little in the way of the common dings and chips; overall this 'bird's finish is far better preserved than many.
The most common Firebird malady is absent -- the neck has NEVER been cracked or broken. There is some minor typical pickguard shrinkage, with the screws pulling a bit and cracks at the forward and rearmost tips, the latter re-attached visibly. The engraved and painted bird emblem on the pickguard has some of its red pigment but the outline is still strong. The nickel plating shows typical wear but remains largely intact, with some typical rubbed-away spots from contact on the tailpiece bolts. A small metal shim has been slipped in on the treble side between the bolt head and top of the stoptail to help the bridge stay level.
The guitar is all original and complete; there is still some factory polishing compound in the control cavity. The original large frets have been polished, they and the fingerboard have very little subsequent wear and this is an excellent player, with the typical snarly single-pickup Firebird sound. It includes the yellow-lined black rectangular original case, relatively clean as well with one latch broken. This is definitely one of the nicer Reverse Firebird I's we have seen, a great sounding and playing example of this super stylish minimalist Gibson classic. Overall Excellent - Condition.