 GIBSON | | Firebird: Reverse Models | | The Reverse Series Firebirds were designed by automotive stylist Ray Dietrich, and first released in 1963. They are called Reverse models, since the asymmetrical body shape is characterized by a longer/pronounced lower treble bout and an extended upper rear bout. Additionally, the headstocks resemble a backwards Fender design, with the tuners located on the right side of the headstock. | | FIREBIRD I | | - asymmetrical hourglass style mahogany body, layered white pickguard, 4 in. through-body mahogany neck, 22-fret Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, wrapover stop tailpiece, partial blackface reverse peghead with pearl logo inlay, 6-on-a-side banjo tuners, nickel hardware, covered mini-humbucker pickup, volume/tone control, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1963-65. |
| FIREBIRD II | | - reverse offset double cutaway maple body with a large backplate for access to electronics, figured maple top, bound body, three-piece maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, reverse headstock with black overlay and silkscreen/decal Gibson logo, six-on-the-other-side tuners, tune-o-matic bridge, TP-6 fine-tune tailpiece, white pickguard with red Firebird logo, two Series VI humbucker pickups, active electronics, four black barrel knobs (two v, two tone), three-way pickup switch, two mini switches (standard/active, brightness), jack mounted on face of body, chrome hardware, available in Antique Fireburst or Antique Sunburst finish, 24.75 in. scale, mfg. mid-1981-82. |
| FIREBIRD III | | - similar to Firebird I, except has bound fingerboard with dot inlays, tune-o-matic bridge/vibrato tailpiece, wrap-around bridge with raised integral saddles, 2 humbucker pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, 3-position switch, mfg. 1963-65. |
| FIREBIRD V | | - similar to Firebird I, except has bound fingerboard with trapezoid inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/vibrato with engraved cover, 2 humbucker pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, 3-position switch, mfg. 1963-65. |
| Firebird V Medallion Limited Edition | | - similar to original Firebird V model, except has medallion and "Gibson" is stamped on the pickup covers. 366 mfg. 1972-73 only. |
| FIREBIRD V (DSFR, REISSUE) | | - asymmetrical hourglass style mahogany body, white pickguard with engraved Firebird symbol, through-body nine-piece mahogany/walnut neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl trapezoid inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, partial blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, six-on-a-side banjo tuners, chrome hardware, 2 covered regular or ceramic mini-humbucker (current mfg.) pickups, four knobs (two v, two tone), three-way pickup switch, available in Cardinal Red (disc.), Desert Burst (disc.), Cherry (CH, disc.), Classic White (CW), Ebony (EB, disc.), Heritage Cherry (HC, disc.), or Vintage Sunburst finishes, mfg. 1990-present. |
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| FIREBIRD VII | | - asymmetrical hourglass-style mahogany body, layered white pickguard, through-body mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/vibrato tailpiece with engraved cover, partial blackface reverse peghead with pearl logo inlay, 6-on-a-side banjo tuners, gold hardware, 3 covered humbucker pickups, 2 volume/2 tone controls, 3-position switch, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1963-65. |
| FIREBIRD VII REISSUE (DSF7) | | - similar design as original Firebird VII, available in Blue Mist (BM, disc. 2004), Copper Metallic (C1, disc. 2004), Vintage Sunburst (VS, disc. 2004), Cherry (CH), or Red Metallic (R1) finish, mfg. 2002-08. |
| FIREBIRD VII (CUSTOM SHOP, DSF7) | | - reverse offset double cutaway body, set mahogany neck, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays, reverse-style headstock, six-on-the-other-side tuners, ABR-1 combination bridge/tailpiece, white pickguard with Firebird logo, three covered mini humbucker pickups, four knobs (two v, two tone), three-way pickup switch, gold hardware, available in Frost Blue or Sunburst finish, limited production from Gibson's Custom Shop, mfg. 1991-93. |
| FIREBIRD '76 BICENTENNIAL | | - similar to Firebird V, except has red/white/blue Firebird emblem on pickguard, pearl dot fingerboard inlay, 2 humbucker pickups, available in Black, Mahogany, Sunburst or White finishes, mfg. 1976 only. |
| FIREBIRD REISSUE | | - available in Ebony, Natural, Tobacco Sunburst (most common) or White (rare) finish, mfg. 1976-79. |
| FIREBIRD STUDIO (DSFS) | | - features reverse mahogany body two Alnico humbucking pickups (490R and 498T), similar controls as Firebird V, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid dot inlays, chrome or gold (2004-07) hardware, six-on-a-side mini-Grover tuners, available in Ebony (EB) or Cherry (CH, 2004-07) finish, mfg. 2004-08. |
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