Left-Handed Models of the Gibson 'Firebird'

[?] Subscribe To This Site

Left-Handed Models of the Gibson 'Firebird'

Is the 'Firebird' still manufactured? I'd like to get a left-handed model, but I was told that Gibson doesn't make them anymore.

Comments for
Left-Handed Models of the Gibson 'Firebird'

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Mar 09, 2009
Rating

lefty gibson firebird
by: Anonymous

gibson never made a left handed firebird. I wanted one too but after doing some research found out gibson never ever made a lefty version.
My advice is if you really, really want one that bad and can cough up about 5 grand gibsons custom shop might make one for you. You'd have one and probably the only one on the planet.

May 13, 2009
Rating

Dillion Firebird Lefty
by: paul

I have a Dillion Firebird lefty that I am interested in selling. It's quite a fine guitar, and WAY cheaper than a Gibber. I have a large collection of lefties and I'm starting to shed them. email paul@handsomeproductions.com if this is of interest.

May 31, 2009
Rating

lefty firebird replica
by: Anonymous

check out gaskell guitars...they are an austrailian guitar manufacturer that makes only left handed guitars...they have a firebird and an explorer...which are both close to impossible to find until now....also dean is now making a lefty 79z which is an explorer copy, but has that cool v shaped dean headstock. I hope this was helpful.

Jun 09, 2009
Rating

Lefty Firebirds
by: Kursk

Gibson actually did make left handed versions of the reverse Firebird.They have showed up from time to time on vintage forums, or lefty specialty websites.Only a handful are known to exist..less then 20?

Jul 06, 2009
Rating

the rare bird
by: Anonymous

Gibson did make a handful of left hand Firebirds. I'm the proud owner of one..and perhaps, the only one... a '64, reverse headstock. You can see a picture of it in a book about lefthanded guitars and players. The book is called Uncommon Sound.

Feb 02, 2010
Rating

Left handed Firebird guitar
by: Spock

Gaskell Guitars as far as I know is the only company that makes left handed Firebirds http://www.gaskellguitars.com

Mar 27, 2010
Rating

Yes! Gibson did make Lefty Firebirds
by: Ace of Nashua

This month's edition of Guitar Aficionado magazine (Jeff Bridges on the cover)has a number of letters to the editor from people who have owned them. Unfortunately, they made very few - as they did most lefties back in the 50's and 60's - and there may not have been more than 20 or so manufactured. As such, they are very rare and very expensive. But, more than that, they seem to be next to impossible to find. I've been searching on the internet forever and I've only come across one or two actual photos of them.

I'm sure that, one day, some lucky guy is going to find one in the attic of his great grandmother's house or at some barn sale in Michigan! Like the great Unicorn, that may be the only time we'll ever see one!

Mar 29, 2010
Rating

Left handed firebird guitars
by: Anonymous

there is one for sale (which has had a repair doen to it) for $27,500.00 through Southpaw guitars in Texas. Gib$on only made FOUR left handed Firebirds in 47 years. Why support a company that thinks so little of lefty guitarists? That "record" is like spitting on lefty guitarists. And they want $27500 for a crappy beat up one today - not only do they DISRESPECT you but they want to charge you a FORTUNE as well! think about it...

Apr 13, 2010
Rating

Left handed guitars were rare in the 60's
by: bear

My wife had a Firebird she later sold to Johnny Winter.....it had the neatest tuners that came through the back of the headstock....played it upside down left handed for a while, but later learned to string it lefty...had to take the control knobs off to keep from bumping the volume....LOL...what a great sound from those mini humbuckers....saw Pete Townsend destroy one on stage in Tampa in 1968 doing his "destruction" act....really pissed me off, as I was pretty much a starving musician....one of the great guitars....wouldn't mind having a lefty version, but my first house was only $27,400.00....the price is a little too steep for me....

May 31, 2010
Rating

They do exist
by: Anonymous

I am the original owner of a 1968 Gibson firebird. post your email address and I will be happy to send you a pic!

May 31, 2010
Rating

Pics of a 1968 Left-handed Firebird
by: Tony A

I am the original owner of a 1968 Gibson Factory Custom made
Firebird. The Guitar Cost $199.50 and there was a $50 charge to custom make it. Took Gibson 6+ Months to do. If you post your emails, I will send pics.

May 31, 2010
Rating

Left handed Gib$on Firebirds
by: Gaskell Guitars

Tony A - email me some pics. I am the designer and owner of Gaskell Guitars in Australia. www.gaskellguitars.com

We make a production left handed Firebird style guitar, the only ones that do these days as far as we know. Never seen a "real" Gibbo lefty Firebird. onlylefthandguitars@yahoo.com.au

(This is my Admin email address, not a customer/sales email address.)

Jun 01, 2010
Rating

Email for lefty firebird
by: Anonymous

Tony, my email is intcon@tampabay.rr.com....thanks...

Jun 13, 2010
Rating

After over 30 yrs of looking I found one a few years ago.
by: fitterbkw

Hi,
I have one. A 1966 lefty firebird non reverse. I got it from a vintage store in Portland oregon. They got it from a guy who had it in his attic for many years. It has checking all over it because of the extreme heat swings in the attic. the funny thing is my lefty 70s Les Paul Gold Top, and the Firebird are second bananas to my 69 lefty fender mustang. Don't even ask me how much money I put into that guitar to make it stage worthy. If you want to see photos look here. http://s360.photobucket.com/home/fitterbkw

Thanks, fitterbkw

P.S. That is the original case, guitar cord, and gibson guitar buyers pamlet from 1966.

P.S.S. It did not have the correct bridge. The one shown is wrong. I had 12th fret guitars put a aftermarket bridge on it so I could play it.

P.S.S.S. If you would like to see aright handed mirror image of my firebird look here. http://www.guitar-museum.com/guitar-38145-1966-GIBSON-FIREBIRD-III-VG-ALL-ORIGINAL-NON-REVERSE

Jun 14, 2010
Rating

1966 lefty firebird non reverse
by: Tony A

Want to sell the truss rod cover? Just kidding! Nice example. So far All i've seen is your 66, my 68 and the 64 mentioned previously. Pretty small club i'd say.

Jun 14, 2010
Rating

Southpaws firebird sold?
by: Anonymous

Hi,
Thanks Tony, can you send me some photos of your guitar to fitterbkw@centurytel.net? So as it stands right now theres the 64, 66, & your 68 plus the one for sale @ Southpaw Guitars for $ 27,000. By the way I just checked Southpaws website and the one they have for sale is not listed anymore. I wonder if they sold it?

Thanks, fitterbkw

P.S. Anonymous can I get a picture of your 64?

Oct 12, 2010
Rating

Left handed Gibson Firebirds
by: Gaskell Guitars

This comment list proves that Gibson made a few NON REVERSE body left handed Firebirds but not ONE reverse body Firebird has ever been made by Gibson.

If you want a reverse body Firebird style guitar then you will not get one from Gibson, nor from ESP who also make reverse body Firebird style guitars.

But you will get one from Gaskell Guitars. This is the only production lefty Firebird guitar you can get.

Elliot Easton owns two Gaskell versions.

http://www.gaskellguitars.com

Oct 12, 2010
Rating

1968 Left-Handed Gibson Firebird
by: Anonymous

If anyone is interested, Premier Guitar Magazine is featuring my 68 Left-Handed Firebird in their November Issue.

Nov 03, 2010
Rating

Tonys 68
by: fitterbkw

Tony,
Nice, I just saw it in Premier mag. fitterbkw

Nov 20, 2010
Rating

Firebird V One-Of-A-Kind
by: Anonymous

There was only one left-handed Firebird V made...
it was custom made for a member of The Rondels in 1964 as a graduation gift to himself because his buddy who worked ina small music store in South Dakota knew someone at the Gibson plant...the guitar doesn't even have a serial number because they only made one. I now have it in my collection.

Aug 31, 2011
Rating

reverse lefties DO exist - ive played one!
by: Anonymous

Your wrong gaskell - i know where there are TWO reverse lefty firebirds....
Both '64 models . One in london (sold by southpaw 5 years ago for $20,000 and one still for sale in denmark for 9000 euros ) .
Youre also not the only guy in the world making lefty firebirds as you claim . Kauer makes them ...

Sep 01, 2011
Rating

Gaskell Guitars
by: Anonymous

Any guitar builder can make a left handed Firebird if they want to and Kauer looks to be one of those (Hand made in the USA) but no company in the world makes PRODUCTION left handed reverse body Firebird guitars other than Gaskell Guitars. Gaskell keeps stock. You can buy them in shops and if in the USA from the Gaskell distributor there.

Interesting about the '64 Gibsons - just goes to show how much Gibson cares about their lefty clients - NOT MUCH. Why support that?

Sep 02, 2011
Rating

do some research....
by: Anonymous

Wrong again...
Tokai and dillion both make production lefty reverse firebirds and have done for years .

Sep 02, 2011
Rating

Tokai and Dillion
by: Anonymous

Tokai make a cheap copy: one piece slab body and bolt on neck. That is not a "Firebird" Firebirds have 3 piece body and set in or neck through join. The Tokai "Firebird" is basically a reshaped Telecaster that looks like a Firebird. And they sound like arse.

Yes, Dillion make left handed Firebirds but they do not keep stock. Maybe they did years ago but not any more. You cannot go into a shop and buy a 2011 Dillion Firebird.

Done my research.

Sep 02, 2011
Rating

Here is the deal
by: Tony A

As an expert on left-handed Gibson Firebirds (just by the virtue of owning one and staying at a Holiday Inn Express), I can say that between the Tokai, Dillion and Gaskell, my choice is the Gaskell hands down.

Sep 03, 2011
Rating

wrong again gaskell
by: Anonymous

Tokai firebirds all have set necks - theyve never made a bolt on .
I can point you to at least three dealers - including southpaw - who have physical stock of lefty dillion reverse firebirds .
These are both accurate copies of the original firebirds - not resized and with different pickups (and even different woods) like gaskells .

Jan 11, 2012
Rating

Dillion are complete junk!
by: Lordmerciless

I had the Dillion Mosrite copy and it wouldn't stay in tune for shit! My lefty buddy bought the Dillion firebird "Phoenix" and had to spend $300 in getting it set up. He loves it now.

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Electric Guitar Questions

Recommended For You:

Learn to Play Guitar

Click here to learn how to play the guitar with Jamorama.

Join the discussions in our Electric Guitar Forums. Share your views and ask questions about electric guitars here.

Buy Electric Guitars Here:

Click here to buy an electric guitar or other musical instrument.

Get Your Free Ezine

Electric Guitars Guide is now on Facebook. Click the like button below and be among the first set of visitors to join us.

Left-Handed Models of the Gibson 'Firebird'

Comments for Left-Handed Models of the Gibson 'Firebird'

Learn to Play Guitar

Get Your Free Ezine

Comments for
Left-Handed Models of the Gibson 'Firebird'