1964 Gibson Firebird VII

A rare, all-original Firebird VII! The Firebird VII was the top-of-the-line Firebird model featuring the classic Mahogany neck-through "reverse" body design, bound Ebony fretboard with block inlays, Gold hardware, long Maestro vibrato and a trio of Firebird mini-humbucker pickups. This example is in great condition with no breaks or repairs and shows normal cosmetic wear including finish checking, dings and fading on the gold hardware. The original frets are on the lower side, but the guitar still plays well and the medium-slim profile neck feels excellent in the hands. A fantastic sounding instrument with the trio of Firebird mini-humbuckers providing a wide range of sounds and delivering a signature tone combining the chime of single-coils with the fatness and punch of a traditional PAF humbucker. An incredible holy-grail Gibson electric! Includes original hardshell case.

"The history of the solid body electric guitar is riddled with instances of competitive plagiarism, some cases more blatant than others. Gibson copied a D-28 from Martin to design their Advanced Jumbo. Fender borrowed (quite literally) Bigsby’s Merle Travis guitar, and weeks later the Broadcaster was born. In the case of the Firebird, Gibson set their sights on the Jazzmaster without a semblance of restraint. Shameless? Maybe. But the result was an exceptional model all its own.

The Firebird was designed by prolific coachbuilder Ray Dietrich, famous for his automotive work with brands such as Studebaker, Lincoln, and Packard. While Dietrich may have been a strange choice for Gibson, experts maintain that the Firebird was by far his most lap-friendly design. The true pièce de résistance of this new creation was its model-specific new pickup. Not to be confused with a mini humbucker, the Firebird pickup was an entirely different animal. While similar in dimension, the new design featured Fender-style magnetic polepieces instead of Gibson’s standard bar magnet beneath the coils. This brightened and focused the Firebird’s amplified response to a level previously untouched by any of Gibson’s solid body offerings. Imagine the cutting bite of a Tele bridge pickup combined with the subtle buoyancy of a PAF. Exciting stuff.

This particular Firebird has remained in 100% original condition, with no breaks, repairs, or other foolery. It comes housed in its original hardshell case. While this one could be considered a museum piece, its outstanding playability and heavenly tone have made it a favorite for those lucky enough to give it a strum."