2003 Gibson Firebird V Vintage Sun Burst (DSFRVSCH1) Electric Guitar w/ Hard Case SN3438

PRE-OWNED

Super Fast Same Day Shipping

2003 Model in Overall Great Condition. A few small cosmetic "blems" too small to photograph. All Cosmetic, Nothing Major. Just Set up with 10's, Fretboard Conditioned, Frets Polished. Plays and Sounds Fantastic!! Includes Gibson Hard Case and Original Paperwork.

Created by legendary automotive designer (and visionary) Ray Dietrich, the 1963 Firebirds literally reversed conventional concepts for guitar bodies and headstocks. You can bet heads turned when any guitar player took to the stage with one of these unusual instruments strapped on. Players like Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter and Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) found their combination of looks and sound to be perfect for their needs (though, of course, Clapton played many Gibsons through the years). The Firebird V was the more affordable "brother" to the top-of-the-line Firebird VII, but with two mini-humbuckers and chrome hardware. Still eye-catching though.

Gibson Firebird V at a Glance:
Mahogany neck-through body "inverse" design with Vintage Sunburst finish
Two high output ceramic magnet, chrome-plated mini-humbuckers
Nine-ply mahogany and walnut neck with rosewood fingerboard and pearloid trapezoid inlays

And They Called Gibson "Conservative". . .
Nobody is lukewarm when it comes to the Gibson Firebirds. The company had already made a bold statement in 1958 with the introduction of the odd-shaped, totally "modernistic" Flying V, Explorer and the elusive Moderne (which may or may not have ever been produced beyond a few prototypes, depending upon who you ask). Then, in 1963 came the Firebird, which was created by Ray Dietrich, who was actually an automotive designer (and some say the inventor of the "tail fin"). With its upside down look, it was clearly not mainstream. This was Gibson saying, essentially, there's nothing conservative about our company.

The Move to Minis!
The majority of Gibson guitars came with humbucking pickups, as seen on most Les Pauls. Since the Firebird was so far off the beaten path already, the decision was made to use the company's mini-humbuckers, which were later used on the Les Paul Deluxe. These pickups produce a sound with a bit more bite and sizzle than your average 'bucker, and it worked to great advantage on the Firebird, particularly with the solid chrome plated pickup covers, which matched all the other hardware on the guitar. Beyond that, the controls were pure Gibson, with two volume and two tone controls along with a three-way pickup selector switch.

Between the Body and the Headstock
That's right, that's where you put the neck. Critics joked that it should have been put on the other end of the body, keeping in line with the reverse body style. Because of the way it attaches to the mahogany body and because there is no upper bout, the neck looks disproportionately long, but the scale is still Gibson's normal 24 3/4-inches. Of course, the long headstock with the inline tuners (which are tuned from the rear, rather like a banjo) were quite unusual for the company. Unlike the rest of the instrument, the Firebird V has a rather traditional rosewood fingerboard with pearloid trapezoid inlays. This is fitted over a unique neck with nine-ply mahogany and walnut on cherry.

Firebird V features:
Color: Vintage Sunburst
Body: Mahogany
Neck: Nine play mahogany and walnut over cherry
Fingerboard: Rosewood with pearloid trapezoid inlays
No. of frets: 22
Pickups: Two chrome plated mini-humbuckers
Controls: Two each volume and tone with three way pickup selector switch
Machine heads: Chrome plated Firebird
Hardware: Chrome plated
Case: Brown and Pink Hardshell.