The Gibson Firebird V

There is no mistaking a Firebird V—with its unique "reversed" zig-zag body design and equally distinct headstock, it is simply one of the most recognizable of all guitar profiles. First introduced in 1963, the Gibson Firebird was the brainchild of legendary automotive designer and visionary Ray Dietrich (Lincoln, Packard), enlisted by Gibson to bolster the guitar lines of the early '60s and help solidify the company's eminent rank among solidbody electric guitar manufacturers. Dietrich's unconventional design was based loosely on both the legendary automobile tailfins of the 1950s and the Gibson Explorer, which had been introduced several years earlier. Like it was in 1963, today's Firebird V is still a benchmark of innovation, functionality, and style, and continues to symbolize Gibson's relentless drive to achieve creative excellence. Each Firebird V consists of a multiple-ply mahogany and walnut neck-through body, with mahogany wings, designed for strength and stability. A 22-fret rosewood fingerboard sit atop a solid mahogany neck, which is a hybrid between the standard '50s rounded contour and the '60s slim-taper profile. Two high-output ceramic mini-humbuckers retain Gibson's celebrated humbucker performance and singing tone, producing a bright and aggressive output that delivers perfect vintage punch. The Firebird V is available in Classic White and Vintage Sunburst finishes.

Vintage Sunburst

Finishes

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The Gibson Logo

The most innovative and revolutionary stringed instruments of all time have bared the name Gibson—the Les Paul, the ES-335, the Explorer, the Flying V, the SG, the Firebird. The list goes on and on. There is no mistaking the classic Gibson logo, pressed into the Firebird's curvy truss rod cover using a gold stamp. It is the most recognizable logo in all of music, representing more than a century of originality and excellence. There is simply no equal.

Angled Headstock

The Firebird's distinct headstock stays true to Gibson's industry-changing way of thinking. Like every Gibson headstock, the angled Firebird headstock is carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck. The angle is carefully set to 14 degrees—instead of the traditional 17 degrees—to accommodate the headstock's radical contour and to keep pressure on the strings. The headstock's form insures straight string pull, which, when combined with the increased string pressure, means there is no loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, equaling better sustain. Banjo-styled tuners provide the necessary clearance between tuner buttons, allowing for comfortable access and uncomplicated tuning. This process takes craftsmanship, time, and effort, but the rewards are certainly worth the effort.

Adjustable Truss Rod

The adjustable truss rod is a Gibson innovation that revolutionized the guitar. Before this ground-breaking discovery in the early 1920s, the truss rod was used only to strengthen and stabilize the neck. By making it adjustable, the truss rod now allows a guitar to be set up using a variety of string gauges, as well as string heights. This easily accommodates any style of playing, and allows a limitless range of set-up options. And by placing it at the base of the headstock, the adjustable nut is easily accessible, even while the strings are still on the guitar.

The Firebird V Neck Profile

No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The more traditional '50s neck profile is the thicker, more rounded contour, emulating the neck shapes of Gibson's iconic models of the late 1950s. The '60s neck profile is considered the more modern, slim-tapered contour most commonly associated with the Gibson models of the early 1960s. The neck on Gibson's Firebird V has the best of both worlds—it is a hybrid between the '50s rounded contour and the '60s slim-taper profile. As with all Gibson necks, it is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. Once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest—including the final sanding—is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.

22-Fret Rosewood Fingerboard

Rosewood has always graced the fingerboards of the world's finest stringed instruments, including today's Firebird V. The fingerboard on the Gibson Firebird V is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on the planet. The wood is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the factories to be fitted onto the neck of the Firebird V. The resilience of this dense and durable wood makes each fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates 'dead' or 'choked out' notes, common occurrences on fingerboards with lesser radiuses.

Nickel and Silver Alloy Fret Wire

The fret wire on the Gibson models is a combination nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver) specifically designed for long life and superior wear. Gibson's traditional 'medium/jumbo' fret wire is first shaped by hand, then cut to an exact 12-inch radius. After hand pressing it into the fingerboard, a machine press finishes the job to eliminate the gap between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard.

Classic Trapezoid Inlays

The classic trapezoid inlay is one of the most distinguishable features of many traditional Gibson models, including the Firebird. A figured, swirl acrylic gives these inlays that classic 'pearl' look. They are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers.

Neck-Through-Body Construction and Solid Mahogany Body

The Firebird V's multiple-wood-ply construction is as structurally and aesthetically innovative as any Gibson feature. The neck and center piece of the body are constructed from solid mahogany, as are the two wings that are glued on to each side to form the Firebird's distinct outline. Gluing all the pieces together insures maximum 'wood-to-wood' contact, and allows the neck and body to function as a single unit. This neck-through-body construction results in better tone and unsurpassed sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks. The regimen involved in selecting the Firebird V's wood and the formula to dry it out is closely controlled. First, the wood is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the factories. These onsite inspectors also insure that the plain maple comes from corporations adhering to the forest-saving standards of the Rainforest Alliance, of which Gibson is a proud member and sponsor. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This insures all woods are dried to a level of 'equilibrium,' where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also improves the woods' machinability and finishing properties, and adherence to glue. Consistent moisture content means that a Gibson guitar will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.

Gibson High-Output, Ceramic Mini Humbuckers

The introduction of the mini humbucker in the late-1960s served a growing need—the demand for a P-90-sized pickup with no hum. Gibson's world-class engineers set about creating a smaller, more compact humbucker to fit into the slot of a P-90. With its smaller size, narrow magnetic field, and unique design combination, the mini humbucker produces a bright and focused output, while still retaining Gibson's famous humbucker performance. The mini humbucker was first made available in several Gibson-made Epiphone models of the late 1960s, and the Les Paul Deluxe in the early 1970s. Today, it is best known as the pickup in the Gibson Firebird, and is a vintage replica of the original mini humbucker with bar Alnico II magnets. The Gibson mini humbucker is authentic in every detail, from its cream-colored plastic mounting and coated enamel wire, to its maple spacers and vintage braided lead wire. The tone is unmistakable Gibson. And,

Tune-O-Matic Bridge

The Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954. At the time, it was a true revelation in intonation, and set a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. It is combined with a separate 'stopbar' tailpiece, essentially a modified version of the earlier wraparound bridge. To this day, the Tune-o-matic remains the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed.

Nitrocellulose Finish

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