An Exceptionally Fine First Year Firebird III Reverse.

1963 Gibson Firebird III "Reverse"

One of just 272 of the first year Firebird lll model, this guitar weighs just 7.90 lbs. and has a nice, fat nut width of 1 11/16 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Neck-through-body construction with two-piece mahogany center section and two glued-on wings. Two-piece mahogany neck with a medium profile and bound rosewood fretboard with 22 original jumbo frets and inlaid pearl dot position markers. Headstock with later black plastic truss-rod cover. Individual Kluson Banjo-style tuners with rearwards metal tulip-shaped buttons. Serial number “143197” impressed into the back of the headstock. Two "patent number" mini-humbuckers (built without adjustable pole-pieces) with outputs of 6.27k and 7.08k, each with a black rectangular label on the underside with "Patent No. / 2,737,842" in gold. Three-layer white over black plastic pickguard with eight screws. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch. The pots are dated "137 63 36" (CTS September 1963). Gold plastic bell-shaped knobs with metal tops. Combination bar bridge/tailpiece with pre-set ridges and two adjustable intonation screws. Factory Gibson short Vibrola tailpiece with flat arm. All parts nickel-plated. This is one of the very earliest examples with a two-piece full length neck and a convex heel which blends into the body. This is one of the earliest examples with no 'Firebird' emblem on the pickguard. There is some very fine finish checking on the body and a few small surface marks on the edges. There is a small area of playing wear on the bass-side of the back of the neck just behind the 3rd and 4th frets. The black plastic truss-rod cover is not original and also one of the strap buttons has been replaced. Otherwise this fifty year old Firebird lll 'Reverse' is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. Housed in the original four-latch rectangular black hardshell case with yellow plush lining (8.75).

"Announced in Spring 1963, the original Firebird series was conceived as an attempt to produce less conventional electrics likely to appeal to Fender players. Four different models, identified by odd Roman numerals, were marketed simultaneously...The four models produced between 1963 and 1965 (a.k.a. the 'reverse' Firebirds) share the same body specifications and differ only in fretboard style, electronics and hardware...The original Firebird electrics are primarily characterized by: a neck-through-body construction; a reverse body shape with extended lower horn; a reverse peghead with the treble E tuner nearest to the nut; banjo-style tuners with rearwards buttons; and they are all equipped with mini-humbuckers built without adjustable polepieces. According to factory records, the earliest production models were registered in October 1963 with serial numbers in the 131,000s… For all practical purposes, the Firebird III was the equivalent of the Special found in the SG/Les Paul family. Compared to the FB I, the model is characterized by: a bound rosewood fingerboard; two pickups; individual volume and tone controls for each pickup; a 3-way toggle switch for pickup selection; a (short) Vibrola tailpiece with flat metal lever. In spite of a Vibrola tailpiece, the FB III sports the same bar bridge with a pre-set ridge as the FB I. And because of its stud-anchoring this bridge cannot be replaced by a fully adjustable Tune-O-Matic bridge...The original Firebird series remained in production for less than two years" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, pp. 198-199).