Gibson Firebird V

Gibson Firebird V

There is no mistaking a Firebird V—with its unique "reversed" zig-zag body design and equally distinct headstock, it is simply one of the most recognizable of all guitar profiles. First introduced in 1963, the Gibson Firebird was the brainchild of legendary automotive designer and visionary Ray Dietrich (Lincoln, Packard), enlisted by Gibson to bolster the guitar lines of the early '60s and help solidify the company's eminent rank among solidbody electric guitar manufacturers. Dietrich's unconventional design was based loosely on both the legendary automobile tailfins of the 1950s and the Gibson Explorer, which had been introduced several years earlier.

The Firebird V's multiple-wood-ply construction is as structurally and aesthetically innovative as any Gibson feature. The neck and center piece of the body are constructed from solid mahogany, as are the two wings that are glued on to each side to form the Firebird's distinct outline. Gluing all the pieces together insures maximum 'wood-to-wood' contact, and allows the neck and body to function as a single unit. This neck-through-body construction results in better tone and unsurpassed sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.

The Firebird's distinct headstock stays true to Gibson's industry-changing way of thinking. Like every Gibson headstock, the angled Firebird headstock is carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck. The angle is carefully set to 14 degrees—instead of the traditional 17 degrees—to accommodate the headstock's radical contour and to keep pressure on the strings. The headstock's form insures straight string pull, which, when combined with the increased string pressure, means there is no loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, equaling better sustain.

Banjo-styled tuners provide the necessary clearance between tuner buttons, allowing for comfortable access and uncomplicated tuning. This process takes craftsmanship, time, and effort, but the rewards are certainly worth the effort. The neck on Gibson's Firebird V has the best of both worlds—it is a hybrid between Gibson's '50s rounded contour and the '60s slim-taper profile.

The introduction of the mini humbucker in the late-1960s served a growing need—the demand for a P-90-sized pickup with no hum. Gibson's world-class engineers set about creating a smaller, more compact humbucker to fit into the slot of a P-90. With its smaller size, narrow magnetic field, and unique design combination, the mini humbucker produces a bright and focused output, while still retaining Gibson's famous humbucker performance.

The mini humbucker was first made available in several Gibson-made Epiphone models of the late 1960s, and the Les Paul Deluxe in the early 1970s. Today, it is best known as the pickup in the Gibson Firebird, and is a vintage replica of the original mini humbucker with bar Alnico II magnets. The Gibson mini humbucker is authentic in every detail, from its cream-colored plastic mounting and coated enamel wire, to its maple spacers and vintage braided lead wire. The tone is unmistakable Gibson.