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Description

The Gibson Firebird Vintage is not just an electric guitar; it's a sonic statement piece. Born from the fusion of classic car aesthetics and groundbreaking musical innovation, this guitar has been a staple in iconic performances since its inception. Celebrated for its neck-through-body construction, the Firebird delivers unparalleled sustain and resonance, ensuring every note you play is a testament to tonal excellence.

The Firebird's design is a nod to its 1960s roots, featuring the unmistakable reverse styling that captivates both players and audiences alike. The dual mini humbuckers are the heart of this beast, delivering a punchy and dynamic range of tones that span from bright, bell-like highs to a complex midrange humbucker growl. And with the SlimTaper neck, you’ll find your fingers flying across the fretboard with ease, making those extended jam sessions feel effortless.

Crafted with a mahogany body and a 9-piece mahogany/walnut neck, the Firebird is as robust as it is beautiful. The Steinberger gearless tuners add a modern twist, offering stable tuning no matter how hard you rock out. Whether you're on stage or in the studio, the Gibson Firebird Vintage is your ticket to a new level of musical expression.

Key Features:

  • Classic reverse Firebird design
  • Neck-through-body construction for remarkable sustain
  • 9-piece mahogany/walnut neck with a SlimTaper profile
  • Dual mini humbuckers for versatile tonal range
  • Steinberger gearless tuners for precise tuning stability
  • Bound rosewood fretboard with detailed craftsmanship
Wildwood Guitars

Wildwood Guitars

Gibson USA Firebird • Wildwood Guitars

Video thumbnail for Gibson USA Firebird  •  Wildwood Guitars by Wildwood Guitars

Gibson USA Firebird • Wildwood Guitars

Wildwood Guitars

Wildwood Guitars

Reviews

Owner Insights

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

Value and pricing

  • The 2015 Gibson Firebird V with non-original bridge routing is considered a good deal at $1,300, especially given the current scarcity of new models.

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Features and functionality

  • The 2015 Firebird has a wider 1.795” nut width, which some players find less comfortable compared to standard Gibson necks.

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  • The Firebird VII uses three mini-humbuckers, identical to those on later Les Paul Deluxe models, lacking individual controls for the middle pickup.

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  • Firebirds are available with mini-humbuckers, full-size humbuckers, or P90s, each offering distinct tonal characteristics.

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Mods and upgrades

  • Adding a treble bleed circuit to the neck pot can enhance tonal versatility, making it sound like a "Tele on steroids."

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Comparisons

  • The 2015 Firebird's Steinberger tuners are preferred by some over traditional banjo tuners for better tuning stability.

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  • A modern SG's neck profile closely resembles the comfortable feel of the '64 Firebird VII's neck.

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  • Firebird's mini-humbuckers provide a brighter, cleaner tone compared to full-size humbuckers, making them suitable for funk and rhythm parts in mixes.

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User experience

  • The slim neck profile of the 2015 Firebird is contrasted with the thicker 50s style necks, catering to different playing preferences.

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  • Despite its aged appearance, the electronics remain original and functional, offering a unique tonal blend when using the middle pickup.

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  • Some players find the Firebird's body shape uncomfortable and experience neck-dive issues, particularly with non-reverse models.

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  • The Firebird's large size might not be ideal for players under 5'8", as it can feel awkward to handle.

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Build quality

  • The 1964 Firebird VII features a neck-through construction with V-shaped joints, making it a solid yet lightweight guitar at 8 lbs.

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  • Original gold hardware on the '64 Firebird VII has tarnished to silver, indicating typical aging issues with vintage gear.

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Setup and maintenance

  • The original frets exhibit minimal wear, mostly on the first four frets, suggesting limited full-neck use.

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Use cases and applications

  • Despite being associated with rock, Firebirds have been effectively used in funk, as evidenced by their use in Motown recordings.

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Add

5.0 out of 5

Based on 4 Reviews and 21 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
mercutiotwitch86

Good for a classic rock tone.

Alone, this guitar provides a nice, clean, vintage sound, due to the "firebird" pickups. Add a overdrive pedal or a tubescreamer, then you're talking a rock tone that'll blow your mind!

steve_snider

Love this thing. It's a rock n roll monster. Plays great and cuts through like a mutha.

Got this as my main piece for live performance and couldn't be happier. Plays great, hangs well, sounds unlike anything else. All around great guitar

manolarra

Rock, Blues

Rock, blues is not excessively powerful like the Les Paul, nor as shrill as the SG, it's a good middle ground.

This review has been translated automatically into English. See original
andrewshier

Gibson Firebird - Vintage Sunburst

Her name is Chloe. She is a dirty little #$%# and is used in most of my hard rock , grungy tunes!

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Chris Shiflett uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Chris Shiflett

Guitarist

Foo Fighters

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Verified via reverb.com

Chris Shiflett is associated with a Gibson Firebird Vintage, as detailed on Reverb.com. Originally, the guitar was white, and his guitar tech installed a humbucker in the bridge. This modified version is visible in the "Stacked Actors" live performance at Wembley. Eventually, Shiflett restored the original Firebird pickup, repainted it Pelham Blue, similar to Dave Grohl's Trini Lopez and DG-335 models, and later sold it on Reverb.

See how Pat Smear uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Pat Smear

Guitarist

Nirvana

...
Verified via YouTube

in the germs performances in decline of western civilization, pat is playing a gibson firebird.

See how Ronnie Wood uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Ronnie Wood

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

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Verified via YouTube

In this backstage interview with Ronnie Wood during the Rolling Stones' 2003 Licks tour, he mentions at 1:00 his "good old-fashioned Firebird." His is a classic sunburst model with a white pick-guard.

See how Derek Trucks uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Derek Trucks

Guitarist

The Allman Brothers Band

...
Verified via YouTube

At 0:05, Derek Trucks of The Allman Brothers, The Derek Trucks Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, and Frogwings is seen playing a Gibson Firebird Vintage Electric Guitar for the Tedeschi Trucks Band song 'Come see about me' live.

See how Mike Campbell uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Mike Campbell

Guitarist

Fleetwood Mac

...
Verified via YouTube

'64 Firebird VII. Campbell specifies in his memoir Heartbreaker that it is, in fact, a VII. This is what he uses for 'Running Down a Dream.'" says Mike Campbell's guitar tech about the Gibson Firebird Vintage Electric Guitar. Pictured here is a sort of reissue Firebird V.

See how Daniel Johns uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Daniel Johns

Singer, Guitarist

Silverchair

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Verified via Photo

He occasionally used his black and white gibson firebird from 1994 to 1996. During the pre and early Frogstomp era whilst he didn't use it very commonly. There are old photos with it and it does feature heavily in the music video for Israel’s Son https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k2d6iwOSAfQ&feature=youtu.be

See how Dave Baksh uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Dave Baksh

Guitarist

Sum 41

...
Verified via Photo

Perform on FUSE tv

See how Jordan Cook uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Jordan Cook

Singer, Guitarist

Reignwolf

...
Verified via YouTube

Can be seen throughout the video. Also mentioned in the following article as being this guitar http://pancakesandwhiskey.com/2020/05/02/reignwolf-cabinfever/

See how Allen Collins uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Allen Collins

Guitarist

Lynyrd Skynyrd

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Verified via Scribd
Color/Finish: Sunburst

At 1:21 of this live performance of "Freebird", you can see Allen playing a Gibson Firebird. Allen used this guitar as his primary model for most of Skynyrd's Ronnie-era, and at one point owned up to 4 different Firebirds.

See how Roland Orzabal uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Roland Orzabal

Singer, Guitarist

Tears for Fears

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Verified via YouTube

Als this badass guitar was used in the early eighties by Roland (see it in action staring at 31:31)

See how Brian Baker uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Brian Baker

Guitarist, Bassist

Bad Religion

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Verified via YouTube

In the official video for "Punk Rock Song" at the 0:33 mark, Brian Baker of Bad Religion is seen playing a white Gibson Firebird Vintage.

See how Charly García uses Gibson Firebird Vintage

Charly García

Singer, Guitarist

Serú Girán

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Verified via YouTube

Charly se cuelga la guitarra a los 0:55 y la deja pronto.

Used With

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

Community setups

Show yours
alexjb

alexjb

Gear IQ 352

bryankielty

bryankielty

Gear IQ 86

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