Gibson Firebird

The Gibson Firebird is a 1963 first proposed electric guitar model of the U.S. musical-instrument company Gibson Guitar Corporation. Their outer form was designed by the U.S. automotive designer Raymond Dietrich. The designer gave the guitar model, the exceptional for the then prevailing taste forms of body and headstock as " reversed ": describes (English reverse). In addition, the Firebird was one of the first electric guitar models with neck (English: Neck -thru ). This first generation model was offered in four different versions equipped. In 1965 the Firebird was produced with " unreversed " body and headstock. Due to low sales figures, the production of this as a non- reverse ( " right way ") was abandoned in 1969 for the first time designated model already after a short time. Since the 1970s, Gibson has brought several new editions and further developments of the Firebird on the market up to the present.

• 2.1 Reverse Models
• 2.2 Non- reverse models

History

Prehistory

Since the early 1950s the company Gibson, an established since 1903 manufacturer of guitars and other plucked instruments, increasing competition had learned through the then novel Electric Guitars with full solid wood body ( Solid Body ). Main competitor in this field was the Californian manufacturer Fender Musical Instruments, particularly with its increasing popularity Telecaster models (since 1951) and Stratocaster (since 1954). Gibson introduced in 1953 first solid body electric guitar, the Gibson Les Paul, had in the first decade can not meet sales expectations placed on them after their introduction.

Already in 1958, Gibson had undertaken under the direction of CEO and developer Ted McCarty a further attempt to distinguish itself as a manufacturer of modern electric guitars and so compete against rival Fender. Under the leadership of the company McCarty had the Modernistic series developed, which initially consisted of the three electric guitar models Explorer, Flying V and modernity. However, their sweeping, straight body shapes with pointed corners were ahead of their time too far. From the first edition of Explorer and Flying V only a few copies were sold in the first years, and modernity was built by Gibson until about 20 years later in a small edition in series.

Development and market success of the Firebird

In 1963, Gibson made ​​another attempt to assert itself as a manufacturer of modern instruments on the electric guitar market. Ted McCarty instructed the Detroit car designer Ray Dietrich to design a new electric guitar model, the Firebird. Dietrich's design was based on that of the body of the Gibson Explorer, which he wore on the top plate of the instrument neuentworfenen " mirrored" said style. At the same time Dietrich gave the reverse design of the guitar through the outline more pronounced curves than the Explorer a more pleasing appearance than this. Gibson contributed to the design of the model a newly developed for this model by the continuous neck and newly developed pickups at. The vibrato system of the first Firebirds was the same as that developed in 1961 for the guitar model Gibson SG.

With the launch of the Firebird in the fall of 1963, the model was announced as " jazz guitar ", as it was assumed that the quantity considered as open to new, progressive forms of jazz guitarists would most likely interested in an instrument that did not expand on a traditional appearance. Similar to the previous Guitar Gibson models, the sales figures of the Firebird behind expectations remained. Production of the first generation of the reverse version of the Firebird was therefore reinstated in May 1965. In their place came shortly after the first non- reverse versions of the model with " the right way " shaped body and headstock and neck through body with glued instead. The production of these versions was temporarily abandoned due to lack of market success in 1969. Only in the following decades of Gibson newly launched model ranks of the Firebird could achieve greater sales success. The model has since then mostly played blues - rock and rock guitarists.

In addition to the Firebird Electric Guitars Gibson had developed two based on the same design principle electric bass models, which also came in 1963 under the model name Gibson Thunderbird on the market.

Firebird design shapes and models

Reverse Models

The reverse Firebird is a guitar with neck and a pair of right and left sides of these angeleimten body wings. The outline of the guitar is reminiscent of the Explorer with a longer lower " body horn ". Since guitars of that time, to avoid above all heaviness, at the top of the player leanings have a longer horn, it is called in the early Firebird models ( 1963 to mid-1965 ) from the reverse form. In addition to the continuous neck banjo tuners are worth mentioning, which were used in the reverse models.

The following models were offered:

• Firebird I: a pickup, one piece bridge, fingerboard with dot inlays
• Firebird III: two pickups, vibrato on one piece bridge, fingerboard with dot inlays
• Firebird V: two pickups, vibrato, Tune -o -Matic bridge and tailpiece with metal cover ( " lyre -bridge ") fingerboard with trapezoid inlays
• Firebird VII: three pickups, vibrato, Tune -o -Matic bridge and tailpiece with metal cover, fingerboard with block inlays, gold plated metal parts

Virtually all reverse models were equipped with mini - humbucking pickups with metal covers, only a few Firebird III models were fitted to the end of the production period with P-90 pickups. Known reverse Firebird players are Johnny Winter ( Firebird V), Brian Jones ( Firebird VII) and Eric Clapton during his time with Cream ( Firebird I).

Non- reverse models

As of mid- 1965, the Firebird was offered with a totally new concept and design. The continuous neck gave way to a set neck. The banjo tuners were replaced by guitar tuners ( six in a row ). The appearance resembled the back of the old reverse Firebird. These models introduced in 1965 are referred to as non- reverse. The mini humbuckers specially designed for the Firebird were replaced in some Firebird models in the new series by single-coil P -90 single-coil pickups ( single coil ).

The models of the non- reverse - number:

• Firebird I: two P -90 pickups, one piece bridge, vibrato
• Firebird III: three P-90 pickups, one piece bridge, vibrato
• Firebird V: two mini - humbuckers, vibrato, Tune -o -Matic bridge and tailpiece with metal cover ( " lyre -bridge " )
• Firebird VII: three mini - humbuckers, vibrato, Tune -o -Matic bridge and tailpiece with metal cover, gold-plated metal parts

All models had dot inlays in the fretboard.

Newer generations of Firebird

Production of the first generation of the Firebird was hired by Gibson in 1969. The Firebird reverse was from 1972 to 1979 reprinted and will be built again since 1990 of Gibson.