The Gibson Firebird

What does a car designer know about designing electric guitars? Collectors of  vintage gibson guitars already know the answer. Plenty. In the 1960’s, Gibson put that fact to good use.

Gibson electric guitars had made a name for themselves in the 50’s with the Telecaster, Stratocaster,

and the Les Paul. And one might have assumed that they would ride the crest of their success for a long time to come. But during the 50’s, the  popularity of Gibson electric guitars started to decline. And by the 60’s, Gibson electric guitars had a reputation of being higher priced and less innovative than Fender’s electric guitars.  The colors, shapes and multiple pickups characteristic of Fender’s main stream electric guitars were favored by well-known guitarists of the time. Clearly, Gibson electric guitars were in need of a competitive edge. And car designer Ray Deitrich was hired by Gibson president, Ted McCarty, to do just that.

So again, the question, “What does a car designer know about designing electric guitars?”  Actually, car designs of the times offered a wealth of inspiration. The sleek lines of the car tailfins of the 50’s inspired the now revered, “Firebird”.

Known as “reverse” electric guitars, the original Firebirds were designed “backwards” with the right-hand treble horn of the body longer than the other. However, the unusual reverse-body design unique to Gibson electric guitars was not a marketing success. And in 1965-1969, Gibson introduced “non-reverse” models.

So what was it that made the Firebird so instrumental in Gibson’s return to favor?

The Firebird had a number of unique features that made it a stand-out. For starters, it was the first of the solid-body Gibson electric guitars to use neck-through construction. Those who know vintage guitars know that the Firebird’s neck extended to the base of the body. Five ply mahogany reinforced by four narrow strips of walnut gave the neck added strength. “Banjo” tuning keys, reverse headstock and mini-humbucking pickups enhanced the early Firebirds. Some models from ’65 featured the single-coil P-90 pickup.

The Firebird line was introduced to the market in mid 1963. Four models – each unique in pickup and tailpiece configurations went on sale. While the Les Paul line had distinguished its models as “Junior, Special, Standard and Custom”, the Firebird Series used roman numerals “I, III, V and VII” . Interestingly, during Gibson’s efforts to reclaim some of the market it had lost to Fender – Fender actually threatened to bring a lawsuit against Gibson with claims that the Firebird headstock copied that of the Stratocaster, and that the body violated Fender’s design patents.  No suit followed, but disappointing sales led Gibson to drop the “non reverse” models, and in 1972, to reissue their original “Reverse” body design.

Collectors of vintage guitars and fans of Gibson electric guitars appreciate the fact that a long list of notable players have chosen the Gibson Firebird.  Eric Clapton has extensively used a Firebird I. Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones used both  reverse and  non-reverse Firebirds. And Aerosmith’s, Joe Perry, has used many Gibson electric guitars through the years, including Firebirds.

Through the years of both Reverse, or Non-Reverse designs, the Firebird continued to impress. Today, whether it’s a I, III, V or VII,  the Gibson Firebird is still flying high in popularity with collectors of vintage guitars