Gibson Firebird V Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966)
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Item #7752
Gibson Firebird V Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 556788, sunburst lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
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 guitars. Introduced in summer 1965, these new Firebirds were available into the late 1960s in dwindling quantities, but were never really considered a sales success. This example of the fairly upscale Firebird V is finished in the standard 2-tone sunburst like most but is an exceptionally clean and near-perfect example.
The body is one-piece mahogany with a standard glued-in neck, far simpler to build than the earlier laminate neck-through-body Firebird design. The V features two of the special Firebird-specific mini-humbucking pickups and all chrome-plated hardware, including a Tune-O-Matic bridge and Gibson's "long" Vibrola unit with the lyre engraving on the face. This guitar also has an original standard Switchcraft toggle switch for pickup selection, much more functional than the cheap slider used on most non-reverse Firebirds.
The visible pot codes on this particular guitar date to the 52th week of 1965 and the serial number indicates 1966, so this is a fairly early example of this style 'bird -- one of only 342 shipped out that year. The knobs are the older gold metal-capped knobs that disappeared in 1967, while the tuners are fairly cheap Japanese openbacks mostly seen in the later '60s. The neck is narrower than earlier reverse Firebird necks, but not quite as insubstantial-feeling as period SG necks.
This is a great-sounding guitar, with two powerful firebird pickups that really growl when cranked. While the "non-reverse" Firebirds have often been discounted in Gibson history, they are very distinctive guitars unlike any other and are often excellent instruments. Extremely light, fast-playing, and very stylish, this super-striking, superbly clean Firebird V is an exceptionally 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.).
Super clean and 100% original with only some tiny finish dings and chips to keep it out of the near-mint column. This guitar has none of the common 50-year-old Firebird maladies -- no heavy finish checking, the pickguard nicely intact with minimal shrinking (the bird logo has some slight rub-always), and most important no headstock or jack area cracks. Absolutely one of the nicest Firebirds we have ever seen; a real gem and a fantastic player's or collector's guitar! Excellent + Condition.
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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 guitars. Introduced in summer 1965, these new Firebirds were available into the late 1960s in dwindling quantities, but were never really considered a sales success. This example of the fairly upscale Firebird V is finished in the standard 2-tone sunburst like most but is an exceptionally clean and near-perfect example.
The body is one-piece mahogany with a standard glued-in neck, far simpler to build than the earlier laminate neck-through-body Firebird design. The V features two of the special Firebird-specific mini-humbucking pickups and all chrome-plated hardware, including a Tune-O-Matic bridge and Gibson's "long" Vibrola unit with the lyre engraving on the face. This guitar also has an original standard Switchcraft toggle switch for pickup selection, much more functional than the cheap slider used on most non-reverse Firebirds.
The visible pot codes on this particular guitar date to the 52th week of 1965 and the serial number indicates 1966, so this is a fairly early example of this style 'bird -- one of only 342 shipped out that year. The knobs are the older gold metal-capped knobs that disappeared in 1967, while the tuners are fairly cheap Japanese openbacks mostly seen in the later '60s. The neck is narrower than earlier reverse Firebird necks, but not quite as insubstantial-feeling as period SG necks.
This is a great-sounding guitar, with two powerful firebird pickups that really growl when cranked. While the "non-reverse" Firebirds have often been discounted in Gibson history, they are very distinctive guitars unlike any other and are often excellent instruments. Extremely light, fast-playing, and very stylish, this super-striking, superbly clean Firebird V is an exceptionally 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.).
Super clean and 100% original with only some tiny finish dings and chips to keep it out of the near-mint column. This guitar has none of the common 50-year-old Firebird maladies -- no heavy finish checking, the pickguard nicely intact with minimal shrinking (the bird logo has some slight rub-always), and most important no headstock or jack area cracks. Absolutely one of the nicest Firebirds we have ever seen; a real gem and a fantastic player's or collector's guitar! Excellent + Condition.
