Description
This 2000 Gibson Custom Shop '65 Firebird V Reissue in Ember Red reflects the mid-60s 'Reverse' neck-through build with mini-humbuckers and Lyre vibrola.
This rare colour example is in very good condition with very light wear to the frets and finish; there is light natural tarnish to some of the nickel plated parts but there is no corrosion. The neck profile is fairly full, leading to a fuller tone with good sustain, clarity and separation.
The original rectangular Gibson Custom branded hard shell case is included and contains the Certificate of Authenticity and trem arm.
Designed by automotive icon Ray Dietrich and launched in 1963, the new Firebird models (I, III, V and VII) appeared radically different from anything else on the market. However, Fender compared the offset waist design to their trademarked Jazzmaster and Jaguar models, and their legal staff came to a different conclusion. Along with slow sales and a high production cost, the legal threat led Gibson to modify the design to the 'Non Reverse' models with set necks in 1965. However, sales were still disappointing and the model was dropped in 1969.
When artists like Johnny Winter and Lynyrd Skynyrd began performing with original Firebirds, interest was rekindled.
Reissue models started appearing in 1972, then 1976 as a bicentennial reissue, 1990 as a regular production item and then 1999 as the Custom Shop version seen here. It is still available as a Custom Shop model and in several Epiphone models.
Materials and Construction
The original 'reverse' Firebird used 'neck through' construction, meaning that the neck and body are built as one piece - though it's actually a nine-layer mix of Mahogany and Walnut running the full length of the guitar. Extensions were then added to fill out the shape of the body, visible on the center ridges and thinner 'wings'. The fingerboard was then attached - Indian Rosewood for all models except the VII, which used Ebony. The fingerboards were bound on all models except the I.
Hardware used on the Firebird was also different. The headstock was fitted with Kluson 12:1 planetary gear banjo tuners, with the buttons exiting the back of the head rather than the side. On models except for the I which received wraparound bridge/tailpiece, a standard tune-o-matic bridge was paired with a Maestro Lyre vibrola unit.
The electronics are much like a standard Gibson setup with two pickups, individual volume and tone controls and a three-way selector switch and a top-mounted output jack. However, the pickup construction is unique to the Firebird. Rather than the Les Paul Deluxe's higher-output pickup with two coils with a row of adjustable polepieces in one, an iron slug in the other with a magnet underneath, the Firebird's lower-output pickup has two magnets in the center of the coils, a reflector plate and no adjustable polepieces. This leads to a bright, punchy sound.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Firebird V 65 Reissue
- Instrument Manufacturer: Gibson Custom Shop
- Instrument year: 2000
- Instrument Finish: Ember Red
- Instrument Class: Solidbody Electric Guitars
- Instrument serial number: 020105, dates to 2000 at Nashville TN
- Country of Origin: USA
- Instrument Condition: Very Good
- Right-handed
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 7.788 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 3.54 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 24.6 in
- Scale Length Metric: 625 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 1.721 in
- Nut Width Metric: 43.71 mm
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes
- Items in Case: COA, Trem Arm
- Case Type: Rectangular Hard Shell Gibson Custom Branded
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 191100
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |