1964 Gibson Firebird III

A rare custom color Cardinal Red '64 Firebird III in original condition other than a replaced switch tip. This Firebird plays great with a comfortable full "C" neck that's a cannon with a resonant connection to the body for ample sustain and acoustic presence. The pickups sound stunning with a perfect full-frequency balance in any position producing a present yet soft tone in the bridge position with an impressive full mid-range punch in the neck position with clear note separation for a rich and defined sound all around. Great overall condition with moderate playwear, light buckle rash, light checking, and dings on the edges. This is an incredible example of a '64 Firebird! Includes original hardshell case and the original switch tip.

Check out the feature from our luthier Tyler in the ECG Newsletter:

"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 was finished from the factory in a stunning "Cardinal Red," one of Gibson's most revered custom colors. The guitar has remained in 100% original condition, with no breaks, repairs, or other foolery. It comes housed in its original hardshell case. Custom color Firebirds are exceptionally rare, with the vast majority being held in long-term high-end collections. 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."