1965 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse – Sunburst

The Altitude Summary

This 1965 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse in Sunburst is a genuine mid-sixties example of one of Gibson's most distinctive and collectible solidbody designs. The guitar is in very good condition for a 60-year-old instrument, with honest age-related wear throughout, extensive finish checking, surface scratches, dings, and the kind of natural patina that only decades of real life can produce. The neck has been professionally refretted, so the playability is excellent and ready for regular use without compromise.

All electronics appear to be original, including the harness, pickups, and knobs - the harness has been cleaned up but nothing appears to have been replaced. Hardware is all original as well except for the tuning machines, they appear to be vintage kluson-style tuners, unmarked; however, the original banjo-style tuning machines and ferrules are included in the original case.  The case is a bit beaten up with Doug Leonard sprayed onto the front in stencil and has replaced/extra latches, but still maintains its marigold interior. 

Aside from a proper refret (includes original nut) and the tuning machines, the only apparent modification to this guitar is a small section of material removed from the body near the selector switch, along with a corresponding hole in the pickguard.  The center pickup of this instrument is only usable in conjunction with the bridge (position 2 on the selector) and gives a quack sound - so our assumption is that there was a small switch installed to either activate the neck pickup or to activate the bridge pickup.  One other notable point about this guitar is that there is a round scratch in the finish on the backside of the neck to headstock joint.  This scratch looks suspect of a potential headstock repair, but after close inspection and UV inspection (see photos), there was no repair and the scratch just happens to be in a ironic position.

At six decades old, this Firebird III presents exactly the way a well-cared-for player's instrument should: worn where it was held, checked where it aged, and still very much alive. Serial number 500037.

Sixty Years of Honest Wear

The Sunburst finish on this Firebird has aged beautifully into a warm, tobacco-amber palette with the kind of deep finish checking that vintage collectors and players prize. The lacquer has crazed and crackled naturally across the body, neck, and headstock; there is no forced aging here, just six decades of temperature shifts, humidity cycles, and real use. Dings and surface marks are present throughout and consistent with a guitar that was played, not shelved. The back of the mahogany body shows wear patterns from years of contact, and the control plate carries natural patina and tarnish. None of this wear is structural. The wood is solid, the neck joint is tight, and the instrument has aged with integrity.

Three P90's, Original Electronics

The Firebird III Non-Reverse carries three original Gibson P90 pickups, the same tan-grommet units that were installed in at the Kalamazoo factory in 1965. Gibson P-90s occupy a legendary sonic space: raw, articulate, and full of vintage single-coil character, with more midrange punch and warmth than a Fender-style single coil while retaining exceptional clarity and dynamic response. The neck pickup delivers open, rounded cleans with a vocal midrange and woody depth, while the bridge pickup brings sharper attack, growl, and presence without losing the unmistakable P-90 texture. Pickups measure in at: Bridge 8.02, Middle 7.83, and Neck 7.93.  The original wiring harness appears to have been cleaned up and maintained but remains completely intact. The original knobs are still in place. For a vintage purist or a collector who values originality, this is exactly what should be seen under the hood.

A Professional Refret on a Sixties Neck

The refret is the only significant modification on this guitar, and it's the right one. A professional refret breathes new life into a vintage instrument without altering its character, and the work on this Firebird is clean and well-executed. The frets are level, seated properly, and ready for years of additional play. The rosewood fretboard is in good shape with dot inlays intact and no significant wear beyond what you'd expect from a guitar of this era. The mahogany neck itself feels solid and stable; the set-neck construction Gibson used on the Non-Reverse Firebirds gives these guitars excellent sustain and resonance, and this example is no exception.

The Non-Reverse Firebird: Gibson's Bold Departure

The Non-Reverse Firebird III occupies a fascinating place in Gibson history. Introduced in 1965 after the original reverse-body Firebirds drew legal pressure from Fender, the Non-Reverse redesign flipped the body orientation and replaced the neck-through construction with a traditional set-neck joint. The result was a more conventional Gibson in some ways, glued mahogany neck, mahogany body, familiar construction;  but the offset Firebird silhouette, maestro vibrola, banjo-style tuners, and P90 pickups kept it visually and sonically distinct from anything else in the catalog. Production numbers were relatively low, and the Non-Reverse models are increasingly sought after by collectors and players who appreciate their unique voice and uncommon aesthetics. A clean, original-electronics example like this one from the first year of Non-Reverse production is a rare find.

Key Features

• 1965 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse
• Serial number 500037
• Sunburst finish with extensive natural finish checking and age-appropriate wear
• Mahogany body and set-neck mahogany neck
• Rosewood fretboard with dot inlays
• Three original 1965 Gibson P90 single coil pickups
• All original electronics; wiring harness, pots, knobs, and capacitors
• All original hardware, except for tuning machines (originals in case)
  
• Original Maestro Vibrola & TPBR-851 Compensated Bridge with original short bar
• Professionally refretted; frets are level, clean, and play-ready; original nut included
• Very good condition for age; honest vintage wear, no structural issues
• Weight: 7.18 lb
• Includes: Original case, marigold interior