Gibson Firebird V with Zebrawood Wings

July 26, 2007 by Jo Minor 


Want to turn heads at your next gig? This Gibson Firebird V electric guitar has exotic zebra wood wings, along with all the legendary Gibson quality and know-how. The stripes on this axe, along with the radically different shape are sure to get you noticed. But what about the sound?

The mahogany and walnut neck gives the guitar a full, warm sound, while the zebra wood adds bright tones. The neck is attached in a neck-through-body design, and has excellent sustain. All in all, it delivers the tone you expect, at a Gibson-style list price of $2789.00.

Solid body electric guitars came on the scene in the 50’s, with the two leading guitar manufacturers vying for first place in sales and popularity. Fender came out with the simply designed Telecaster first, but Gibson introduced the Les Paul soon thereafter. Both of these designs are still very popular after so many years. As Fender created new styles, such as the Telecaster, so did Gibson.

A couple of modernistic guitars introduced by Gibson in the 50’s were the Flying V and the Explorer. Neither of these body styles caught on because people just were not ready for guitars that looked so different. Gibson decided to hire a car designer named Ray Dietrich to create a new electric guitar that would appeal to the guitar buying public.

Dietrich started with a basic Explorer design and changed it so that it resembled the rounded lines of car tailfins from the 50’s. His design seemed a little bit backward because its right-hand horn was made longer than the other. If you look through vintage guitars now, you will see these early Firebird guitars called “reverse.”

A creative and lasting part of Dietrich’s design was the innovation of the neck-through-body. It was the first of its kind. This is why the sides are called wings. They are attached to the part of the neck that runs to the end of the body like wings on a butterfly. Or on a bird (a Firebird!) to be more exact. The headstock was reversed from previous designs, too. Gibson chose to use mini-humbuckers for pickups on the Firebird.

Gibson’s close competitor, Fender, complained that the design was copied after their Jazzmasters. In response, Gibson changed the design. In effect, they flipped the body shape around so that the newer ones were called “non-reverse.” Oddly, the Firebird never took off in sales during the sixties and did not compete well with the Fenders. In reality, the Fender Jazzmaster, along with its sisters, the Jaguar and the Mustang, did not sell well either! Perhaps the world was just not quite ready for these angular beauties.

Now, the original Firebirds, both reverse and non-reverse, are cherished by vintage guitar collectors. Reissues have appeared off and on in the last couple of decades. Usually they have been of the reverse shape, and this Gibson Firebird V with zebra wood wings is no exception.

Advantages: You can expect great sound and high quality craftsmanship with the Gibson Firebird V with Zebra Wood wings. Plus, the unique good looks are sure to make you stand out in a crowd. There is a limited run of only 400 of these fine guitars, so it is bound to become a collector’s item. The neck is somewhat wider and flatter than other modern guitars. And even though they are “mini” humbuckers, the pickups really rock!

Disadvantages: This electric guitar is a bit pricey for many people, but it is bound to be a collectible in the years to come, and will not depreciate in value if you take good care of it. (And you’d better!)

Specs:

  • Nine-ply neck-through-body construction made of mahogany and walnut
  • Neck color, mahogany on classic white
  • Neck profile: 1960 slim taper
  • Rosewood fingerboard
  • 22.75 inch scale length
  • 22 frets
  • Peghead pitch: 14 degrees
  • 1.695 inch nut width
  • Antique trapezoid inlays
  • Antique fingerboard binding
  • Wings of the body made of zebra wood with satin finish
  • Black pickguard with Firebird insignia
  • Chrome plated hardware
  • Tune-o-matic bridge
  • Black Top Hat control knobs with chrome inserts
  • Firebird tuners
  • High output ceramic mini-humbuckers at the neck and at the bridge
  • Two volume control knobs
  • Two tone control knobs
  • Three-way pickup selector switch
  • Brite Wires strings in .010 to .046
  • Black reptile pattern hardshell case with white plush interior
  • Silver “Gibson USA” logo silkscreened on case.

For a site that tells all about the history of the Gibson Firebird, check this one out. Full of pictures and other info, it will tell you anything you might need to know about Firebirds of the past.

Buy Cheap Online: Gibson Firebird V with Zebra Wood

Filed under: General
Tagged:

Comments

Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!