1976 Gibson Firebird Bicentennial Natural "first run"
Here we have another super cool and rare "first run" Gibson Firebird Bicentennial from 1976 with no breaks or repairs in great condition!!
This one is 3.5kg and also falls into the early serial number range with 1976 pot code dates. It is completely original without repairs or refinishes, including the amazing sounding nicely balanced pickups (N: 6.01k, B: 6.12k), 1976 pots (1377640), electronics with untouched solder, plastics, knobs, tuners etc etc.
The chunky neck fits perfectly in your hand, feels smooth and is easy to play with the well-preserved original frets and beautiful RW fretboard. The all-through 2 piece mahogany construction resonates like crazy and rings even without amplification. The finish has faded a little more so it has got this beautiful mild natural hue over it.
Straight into my Marshall 18WATT, this beast soars like wildfire. When played gently you'll hear bells and harmonics and so much clarity, it's mesmerizing!
The Bird comes in the original Gibson Limited Edition rectangular hard shell case with purple plush lining and center-side high pocket. Despite the collector's appeal, this is an outstanding live guitar as well and you will love it either way.
The Bicentennial Firebird was released by Gibson in 1976 for the 200th anniversary of the USA and was the first official reissue of the Reverse Firebird in over 10 years, based on the minimalist Firebird III. Gibson Bicentennial Firebird guitars used two different designs for the neck and the bridge pickups. The neck pickup was the standard 1965-1969 design and the bridge pickup was a unique Bill Lawrence “sidewinder” design utilizing two mini hum size bobbins positioned 90 degrees from the original angle. Windings face upward to top of pickup. This pickup had a single thick ceramic bar magnet slipped between bobbins also 90 degrees from normal bar magnet position. Bottom plate is stamped with pat number. Furthermore it came with dot inlays and no neck binding on a big C-shape 2-piece Mahogany neck, ABR bridge and stop tailpiece, gold hardware and a bi-color firebird embossed pickguard.
There were 2,847 Gibson Firebird Bicentennials made between 1976 and 1979. In total 1,277 were finished in ebony black, 1,254 in natural, 199 in tobacco sunburst and 117 in white. In 1976 only 268 were made in Natural and only a very small number survived without cracks breaks or repairs. We currently have 2!.