2008 Gibson Firebird V, Sunburst

By Gibson
£1,345.00

This product is unavailable
Ask a Question
Want to Part Exchange?
Lovely players example of one of our favourite Gibson models in Vintage Sunburst finish from 2008. The Gibson USA Firebird Vs are excellent guitars and this one is no exception. The banjo tuners have been replaced with lightweight Steinberger Gearless tuners, the strap button has been moved to the upper neck heel and there is a stable, surface crack by the control cavity.

Gibson introduced the Firebird in its initial shape in 1963 with help from top automotive designer Ray Dietrich. Gibson boss Ted McCarty persuaded Dietrich out of retirement to design a guitar not limited by the usual traditions of guitar construction. The result, influenced unsurprisingly by 1950s car design the Firebird would also lean on a rounded, reversed version of the '50s designed Gibson Explorer. The autumn of 1963 would see the Firebird released with four models; the I, III,V and VII mirroring the Les Paul and SG line, which used the terms "Junior", "Special", "Standard" and "Custom”. The original reverse shape lasted until mid-1965 when Gibson flipped the shape after slow initial sales and complaints from Fender. This new non-reverse shape lasted in the catalog until 1969.

The guitar has had the original Kluson Banjo Tuners replaced with a set of the excellent, lightweight Steinberger tuners that not only maintain the tuner-less appearance of the iconic Firebird Headstock but help balance the Firebird on a strap. The original frets have been played and there is some light wear but the frets have plenty of height and play well. The original Firebird Mini-humbuckers sound fantastic with plenty of punch and push giving the incredible biting, sustaining tone that only a Reverse Firebird can provide.