GIBSON produced the FIREBIRD between 1976 and 1979

GIBSON made the reverse body FIREBIRD I between 1963 and 1965. The Firebird body style was desgined by Ray Dietrich and was a radical take on the Gibson Explorer. The Firebird was the first Gibson model to use neck-through contruction - the laminated neck extends (under the pickups and bridge) to the end of the body. The Firebird I was the entry level model in the Firebird series (equivalent in status to a Les Paul Junior) - it had a reverse headstock with banjo style tuners, a single humbucking pickup, combination stud bridge/tailpiece bridge and no neck binding.

Production of the FIREBIRD III began in 1963 and ended in 1969. For their Les Paul and SG line, Gibson used the terms Junior, Special, Standard and Custom to indicate added features. For the Firebird Gibson used the Roman numerals I, III, V and VII - so the Firebird III was one up from the most basic model - the Firebird I. The Firebird III had two humbuckers, banjo tuners and a stud bridge & tailpiece or Gibson Vibrola. The through body neck had dot inlays and binding.

The Gibson Firebird Studio was introduced in 2004 and features the classic reverse body shape but with a conventional set neck (not-neck through)  and full-sized humbucking pickups. Gibson’s highly collectibel first-generation 1963 Firebird guitars (designed by Ray Dietrich) had the treble bout longer than the bass bout (the so-called revese body), neck-thru-body construction and mini-humbucking pickups. The Firebird Studio model maintains this vintage vibe with the reverse-body design, while its conventional set neck makee an affordable reverse-body Firebird.

Production of the reverse body FIREBIRD V began in 1963 and ended in 1965. For their Les Paul and SG line, Gibson used the terms Junior, Special, Standard and Custom to indicate added features. For the Firebird Gibson used the Roman numerals I, III, V and VII - so the Firebird V was the equivalent of the "Standard" Firebird.

The Firebird V had two humbuckers, bound rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlays, nickel plated hardware, banjo tuners and a tuno-matic bridge with Deluxe Gibson Vibrola tailpiece.

Production of the Firebird V Medallion Limited Edition began in 1972 and ended in 1973

Production of the reverse body FIREBIRD VII began in 1963 and ended in 1965. For their Les Paul and SG line, Gibson used the terms Junior, Special, Standard and Custom to indicate added features. For the Firebird Gibson used the Roman numerals I, III, V and VII - so the Firebird VII was the top of the Firebird range

The Firebird VII had three humbuckers, bound ebony fingerboard with block inlays, gold plated hardware, banjo tuners and a tuno-matic bridge with Deluxe Gibson Vibrola tailpiece.

Gibson reissued the FIREBIRD VII from 2002 - 2008 as part of the Designer Collection. It had a design similar to the original Firebird VII - including the reverse body and headstock. Pickups were high output ceramic mini-humbuckers

The Gibson "1965 Firebird VII Reissue" was also available at the same time as this model - but this was a Gibson Historic Designer / Custom Shop model and had different pickups, finishes and neck profile - even more closely matching the original.