Gibson Custom Shop Firebird V Heather Poly 1997
Gibson Custom Firebird, Heather Poly, made in USA 1997. Wow: just, wow. The Firebird is Gibson's coolest shape in my books, and this probably the coolest one we've ever had through the shop. Back in the late 90s, Gibson's Japan distributor Yamano used to order limited runs of guitars in exclusive finishes, and this is one of those examples. The finish has a confusing name, Heather Poly; it's a gloss nitro top over a muted pink-purple, not too far from Fender's burgundy mist metallic. There's plenty of natural wear on the clock, and it looks extraordinary. This guitar has had a bit of a past: it lived as an upside-down left handed player for a while, and has some filled holes from a former pickguard and strap pins to prove it. The headline mod is the bridge pickup and related routing; a little unusual but understandable from a sound angle. The neck pickup is a stock Mini Humbucker, which delivers a clear, snappy punch with a great balance of grit and clarity. The bridge is hand signed and presumably hand wound, although the maker is a mystery. It sounds awesome: full and rich down low, superbly breathy and complex with a gooey smoothness through the mids and perfectly snarly and clear up top. It's a great sounding guitar, with a little more beef and composure than other FBV models we've had. I really like this one, it's a perfect crime in my reckoning. Ten points if you can find another one for sale anywhere on God's green Earth.
Model: Gibson Custom Shop Firebird V
Made: USA, 1997, Nashville Custom Shop
Serial: 93087720
Finish: Heather Poly, gloss nitro
Body: mahogany
Neck: 9-ply mahogany/walnut neck-through construction, rosewood fretboard, slim taper profile, 24.75" scale, 12" radius
Weight: 3.805kg
Mods: bridge pickup replaced, body routed to accommodate full size humbucker, strap pins replaced, additional pickguard added and removed, nut replaced, tailpiece replaced
Pickups: Gibson Mini Humbucker (neck), signed unknown brand PAF-style humbucker (bridge)
Accessories: original Gibson hard case, no docs
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dents and scuffs on the end, dimples on both edges, a chip up the top, fade marks around the tuners and some checking lines around the neck join on the back and some scuffs and dimples on the front. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, just some dimples, scuffs and checking lines on the back. Note there is checking lines around the nut on both sides of the neck, but the neck has not been broken or repaired. The back has chips and dimples in the elbow area and around the control cavity, dimples along the back and top edges and widespread checking and minor scuffs around the whole body. The sides have dimples on the top horn, dents and chips in the elbow area, dimples and a pair of filled holes on the back edge, a dent and some scratches near the knobs and a dent and some scuffs on the bottom horn, as well as checking all over. The front has filled holes around the top horn from a previous guard, dimples in the elbow area and back edge, scuffs around the knobs and bridge and some play wear on the guard and horns, as well as widespread checking and light scuffs.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 7/10, minor wear only