The Guitar Player's Resource
When Guitar Designers Decided to Fly Backwards. Picture Allen Collins stepping into that spotlight during 'Freebird's' legendary guitar showcase, fingers dancing across frets with the kind of Southern grace that made Lynyrd Skynyrd immortal - that's the exact guitar DNA you're dealing with here.
Most guitar makers follow established blueprints. Gibson's 1963 Firebird team looked at those blueprints, crumpled them up, and asked a radical question: "What if we built everything in reverse?" The result redefined what a solidbody electric could be - and sound like.
You've probably heard about neck-through construction in boutique instruments costing more than your car, but Gibson was pioneering this approach when JFK was still president. That nine-ply mahogany/walnut laminated neck doesn't just attach to the body - it becomes the body, running from headstock to tailpiece in one continuous piece. The tonal benefits? Sustain for days and harmonic richness that'll make you question everything you thought you knew about Gibson guitars.
Here's where the Firebird gets interesting: those mini humbuckers aren't just scaled-down versions of regular PAFs. They're completely different animals, delivering what Gibson calls "brighter and tighter" voice - think of them as the sonic sweet spot between single-coils and full-size humbuckers. That neck-position Rhythm pickup sparkles with clarity perfect for complex chord work, while the bridge Lead pickup bites with focused aggression that cuts through any mix without getting muddy.
The reverse headstock isn't just visual drama either - it affects string tension and tuning stability in subtle but meaningful ways. Combined with those Grover Mini Rotomatics and that slim taper neck profile, you've got an instrument that responds to your every musical thought with lightning precision.
Whether you choose classic Tobacco Sunburst or that gorgeous Cherry finish, this nitrocellulose-coated beauty represents Gibson's willingness to challenge convention. The white three-ply pickguard and chrome hardware complete the aesthetic, but the real magic happens when you plug in and discover why players like Allen Collins made the Firebird their weapon of choice for soaring Southern rock anthems.
Body Material: Mahogany
Finish Gloss: Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Material: 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Profile Slim Taper, Neck Through Body Construction
Scale Length: 24.75" / 628.65mm
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 12"
Number Of Frets: 22 Frets Medium Jumbo
Nut Material: Graph Tech
Nut Width 1.69" / 43.05mm
End of Board Width: 2.26" / 57.4mm
Inlays: Acrylic Trapezoid
Hardware Finish: Chrome
Bridge: Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece: Aluminum Stopbar
Tuning Machines: Grover Mini Rotomatics
Pickguard: White 3-ply
Control Knobs: Black Top Hats with Silver Reflector
Switch Tip: Cream
Electronics:
Neck Pickup: Firebird Mini Humbucker Rhythm
Bridge Pickup: Firebird Mini Humbucker Lead
Controls: 2 Volumes, 2 Tones & Toggle Switch
