Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $5,599

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

Experience the thrill of playing a classic with the Gibson Firebird III. Expertly crafted in the Gibson Custom Shop, this electric guitar is a faithful recreation of the '64 original, showcasing a blend of vintage looks and modern playability. The guitar's body is made of a unique mahogany/walnut blend, ensuring a resonating sound quality. Topping it off are two mini-humbucker pickups, providing a rich tonal spectrum that will make your riffs and solos truly sing. Available in a range of vibrant colors, the Firebird III is a feast for both the ears and the eyes.

Key Features: - Custom Shop '64 Firebird III - Mahogany/walnut body - Rosewood fretboard - Two mini-humbucker pickups - Available in multiple colors including TV Yellow, Silver Mist Poly, Polaris White, Pelham Blue, Kerry Green, Inverness Green, Heather Poly, Golden Mist Poly, Faded Cherry, Frost Blue, Ember Red, Cardinal Red, Ebony, and Vintage Sunburst

Normans Rare Guitars

Normans Rare Guitars

1964 Gibson Firebird III | Guitar of the Day

Video thumbnail for 1964 Gibson Firebird III | Guitar of the Day by Normans Rare Guitars

1964 Gibson Firebird III | Guitar of the Day

Normans Rare Guitars

Normans Rare Guitars

Video thumbnail for 1964 Gibson Firebird III played by Joey Landreth by Carter Vintage Guitars

1964 Gibson Firebird III played by Joey Landreth

Carter Vintage Guitars

Carter Vintage Guitars

Video thumbnail for 1964 Gibson Firebird III played by Hudson Davis by Carter Vintage Guitars

1964 Gibson Firebird III played by Hudson Davis

Carter Vintage Guitars

Carter Vintage Guitars

Video thumbnail for 1964 Gibson Firebird III from John Osborne! by Emerald City Guitars

1964 Gibson Firebird III from John Osborne!

Emerald City Guitars

Emerald City Guitars

Video thumbnail for 1964 Gibson Firebird III # 174082 | The Music Emporium by The Music Emporium

1964 Gibson Firebird III # 174082 | The Music Emporium

The Music Emporium

The Music Emporium

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson Firebird III.

Features and functionality

  • The Firebird's tuners are highly praised and considered by some as superior to standard tuners found on other guitars.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The Firebird's 25.5 scale length combined with its unique pickups delivers a distinct twang on low strings, ideal for capturing Phil Manzanera's sound.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners with smaller hands may struggle with muting, particularly on models with the adjustable brass nut.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • A strap with built-in strap locks is recommended to counteract the guitar's neck-heavy nature when playing standing up.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Vintage Bench Test: 1964 Gibson Firebird III

guitar.com

The 1964 Gibson Firebird III exudes vintage charm with its striking Cardinal Red finish and unique features. Celebrated for its sustained tones and versatile sound, it shines in clean and mildly overdriven settings, adept at indie jangle and country picking. However, its design poses challenges; the vibrato can be unreliable, and reverse Firebirds lack ergonomic comfort, requiring a bridge replacement for proper intonation. While the Firebird III is visually impactful and sonically intriguing, practical issues may deter everyday use. Despite these quirks, its rarity and well-preserved condition make it a coveted piece for collectors.

Classic Gear: ‘Non-Reverse’ Gibson Firebird III | GuitarPlayer

guitarplayer.com

The Gibson Firebird III's "non-reverse" model offers a classic twist on its "reverse" predecessor with changes like a glued-in neck and P-90 pickups. Its unique style and appeal make it a hit among players like Noel Gallagher and Warren Haynes. However, the original wiring limits its three-pickup potential, offering only three switch positions. While it lacks the radical design of the reverse models, it remains a groovy, stylish choice for some, though this might not satisfy those seeking the traditional dual-pickup versatility. A vintage gem, but with practical limitations.

Classic Gear: the rise and fall of Gibson's Firebird III | Guitar World

guitarworld.com

The Gibson Firebird III, launched in the early '60s, is a daring blend of automotive-inspired design and musical craftsmanship. While its angular, car-like aesthetics and innovative through-neck construction set it apart, the Firebird's original design was met with mixed reception and production challenges. Despite being a unique offering with bespoke mini humbuckers and standout finishes, its "wacky" design and complex build made it a tough sell for traditionalists and a difficult guitar to manufacture. The non-reverse redesign improved playability but didn't fully revive its popularity, leading to its discontinuation in 1970.

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Billie Joe Armstrong uses Gibson Firebird III

Billie Joe Armstrong

Singer, Guitarist

Green Day

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo on billie joe's instagram, you can see billie playing this guitar.

See how Gary Moore uses Gibson Firebird III

Gary Moore

Guitarist, Singer

Thin Lizzy

...
Verified via Google

Gary Moore is pictured with his red Gibson Firebird III, as shown in a Google image search.

See how Stephen Malkmus uses Gibson Firebird III

Stephen Malkmus

Guitarist, Singer

Pavement

...
Verified via Premier Guitar

According to an article by Luke Ottenhof in Premier Guitar titled "Meet the Hard Quartet, the New Malkmus-Led Supergroup," Stephen Malkmus uses a Vintage Gibson Firebird as part of his guitar setup for The Hard Quartet.

See how Mike Campbell uses Gibson Firebird III

Mike Campbell

Guitarist

Fleetwood Mac

...
Verified via Photo

Campbell used this guitar for "The Gorge" concert with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and the concert happened in 2010.

See how Warren Haynes uses Gibson Firebird III

Warren Haynes

Guitarist

The Allman Brothers Band

...
Verified via YouTube

Around 7:00 in the vide, Brian Farmer points out Warren's three Gibson Firebirds.

According to this article from Gibson "Solo artist, leader of Gov’t Mule, guitar wizard for the Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh and Friends and the Dead, Haynes is the MVP of modern rock. And while Haynes is best known for the burly tone of his Gibson Les Paul Standards, including the Warren Haynes Les Paul Standard built by the Gibson Custom Shop, he’s also a Firebird man." Just below the quote it mentions the 1964 specifically.

See how Steve Jones uses Gibson Firebird III

Steve Jones

Guitarist

Sex Pistols

...
Verified via Photo

Steve played a sunburst Firebird III on 14 January 1978 at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. During the course of the concert his Les Paul wouldn’t stay in tune so he reverted to the Firebird as a backup.

See how Jason Isbell uses Gibson Firebird III

Jason Isbell

Guitarist, Singer

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

...
Verified via Photo

On Jason's official Instagram, you can see him playing a red Gibson Firebird III. This guitar has dot inlays and a maestro style bridge which leads me to believe it is a III.

See how Johnny Winter uses Gibson Firebird III

Johnny Winter

Singer, Guitarist

Johnny & Edgar Winter

...
Verified via YouTube

Johnny Winter is seen in this source video playing the Gibson 1964 Firebird III.

@toby0914 also found this secondary video and article about Johnny's use of the Firebird III. At 3:08 in the video Johnny talks about his Firebird saying "I really liked it because it looked so different, and when I tried playing it, it played great, and sounded really cool. So I got a whole bunch of them, I got six or eight firebird they're all different colors...they're all different colors."

See how Gem Archer uses Gibson Firebird III

Gem Archer

Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Archer shows his Firebirds, and the Firebird III is visible on the left side.

See how Richard Fortus uses Gibson Firebird III

Richard Fortus

Guitarist

Guns N' Roses

...
Verified via Richardfortus

According to Fortus' website, Fortus uses the 1963 Gibson Firebird III.

See how Link Wray uses Gibson Firebird III

Link Wray

Singer, Guitarist

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, he pose with the Firebird in his hand. It's unknown if he used it to record some albums or if he played it on live gigs.

See how Steve Clark uses Gibson Firebird III

Steve Clark

Guitarist

Def Leppard

...
Verified via Steveclarkguitar

Steve Clark used a limited production 1976 Gibson Firebird, as seen in photo 8 on Steveclarkguitar's "Steve's Hysteria Tour Guitars" page. This model features a Kahler #2200B tremolo and a distinctive red, white, and blue Firebird logo with stars and a "76" on the scratch plate, distinguishing it from vintage Firebird III designs. Notably, this guitar lacks fingerboard binding and has "Limited Edition" stamped on the back of the headstock, with a serial number starting with "00" if produced in 1976.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson Firebird III, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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    austinmw
    austinmw

    Gear IQ 5227