Gibson Firebird Platypus Edition with 1965 Specifications
Gibson has launched the Firebird Platypus, paying homage to a rare version of the vintage Firebird that was produced only in 1965 and has become a sought-after collector's instrument. Confirming speculation on musicians' forums that arose after one of the prototype photos was leaked on the web last December, the new model honours the design of the original, with the exception of the standard (non-reverse) headstock with conventional tuners, which represents perhaps the most significant design difference compared to the original 1963 series.
Thanks to this modification, the Platypus got its nickname – the head's traditional orientation resembled the shape of the bill of the Australian egg-laying mammal, the platypus. "We had discontinued the Firebird at Gibson USA for a few years, and when we brought it back, we wanted to do it in a way that we've never done before – at least not since 1965. That's the year you would see the Reverse body with the Non-Reverse neck. To me, that's my favourite incarnation of the Firebird because you've got the tuners on the top side," says Gibson vice president Mat Koehler.
The body with typical lines inspired by the rear "fins" of old racing cars is made of mahogany, as is the neck with a more subtle Slim Taper profile. Compared to the 1963 neck-through version, the neck is glued to the body via a set-in system, but the top of the body has an enhanced central section, like the vintage classics, referring to the neck-through design. The rosewood fingerboard carries 22 medium jumbo frets, acrylic position markers and a 43mm wide Graph Tech nut.
As already mentioned, the guitar is equipped with classic Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners, unlike its predecessor, which has banjo tuners, and the strings are anchored in an aluminium stop-bar type tailpiece with a solid Nashville tune-o-matic bridge made of identical material. The hardware has a chrome finish, as do the frames and metal pickup covers.
There is a pair of Firebird mini humbuckers, made according to an old recipe and fitted with Alnico 5 magnets, giving the sound nice melodic highs, clear bass and musical mids. The guitar is fitted with the brand's traditional three-position Switchcraft toggle switch, two volume controls, and two tone controls.
The new Firebird Platypus is available in Tobacco Sunburst, Vintage Cherry, Ebony and, exclusively on Gibson.com or Gibson Garage, Cherry Sunburst. The official price is just under 2500 dollars including hard case and other accessories.
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