"A Rare Bird" 1965 Firebird III With P90's

[VamboRool]

Good eye on the missing TRC. It came with a non-reverse TRC that had been trimmed to fit, only had one screw near the nut to hold it on. The TRC for Rev/NR Firebirds are the same, but flipped over, they are not interchangeable. Need to get one on it. I almost sent the guitar back due to the issues: lots of tuner holes in the back of the headstock, moved vibrato base and f-up TRC, but kept it because the price was reasonable and didn't think I'd find another P-90 FB very easily. Are you still in touch with your friend that got it from you? Did he keep the artist's case or was it ECG? Thanks again for the photo.

 

[AXE752]

As I mentioned, I am not absolutely sure that is the same guitar. I would have to find my old insurance records (which at the moment are buried in a tote and stored someplace--my wife and I sold our house and moved into an apartment and stored a bunch of stuff.) A couple things make me wonder what happened to it if it is the right one: 1) I believe that mine had the original tuners and I don't remember any extra holes and 2) mine had the original truss rod cover and screws ??

East Coast Guitars was the group (they may well be the same folks who exist on Reverb.com) I know they were based in Virginia. They may still have records of serial number and where that case went. The guy who bought it from me sold it directly to them for a few hundred more within a week or two.

I am on the road A LOT right now with my job, but I will make an effort to see if I have my insurance records handy when I'm home

No matter what, you have a very cool guitar there!:jim

 

[burstman59]

Is the wrap tailpiece original? I can't imagine a VII not coming with an ABR-1, but I guess anything is possible.

I was thinking the same thing. Although Steven Stills had a similar white Firebird VII at one time with the same stopbar bridge you would see on a I or III. but it had no vibrola still on it. Now could be someone had an ebony board installed on a III but I highly doubt it. What else is odd is there is some pickup swapping going on there as well. looks like a standard mini humbucker with pole pieces in the lead position.

 

[Wallace's]

New here, but as I continue to document these guitars, anyone with S/N or where one might exist, please let me know. Hence resurrecting this thread from the ashes...

@AXE752, cool that you use to own Barry's guitar. I have been trying to find it for several years. Any luck on who has it now?

Please also check out my archive page. Trying to get a complete list of these to help ID them for any future collectors.

1965 Gibson Firebird Reverse Archive

A site devoted to cataloging one of the most rare variants of the Gibson Firebird. The Reverse 1965 Transitional Model III/I. Factory P-90 equipped. If you have information about any of these or possibly have or know of one not shown below, please reach out. 1965GibsonFirebird@gmail.com

sites.google.com

 

[Steve Craw]

I had that style '65 for a while about thirty years ago. Sadly, it had been routed for three humbuckers and a mini toggle switch.

 

[VamboRool]

New here, but as I continue to document these guitars, anyone with S/N or where one might exist, please let me know. Hence resurrecting this thread from the ashes...

@AXE752, cool that you use to own Barry's guitar. I have been trying to find it for several years. Any luck on who has it now?

Please also check out my archive page. Trying to get a complete list of these to help ID them for any future collectors.

1965 Gibson Firebird Reverse Archive

A site devoted to cataloging one of the most rare variants of the Gibson Firebird. The Reverse 1965 Transitional Model III/I. Factory P-90 equipped. If you have information about any of these or possibly have or know of one not shown below, please reach out. 1965GibsonFirebird@gmail.com

sites.google.com

Sent you an e-mail, I still have the guitar. Nice job on your website!