Gibson · Firebird · 1963–1969 (reverse to mid-1965, then non-reverse)
Ted McCarty hired car designer Ray Dietrich to give Gibson something the Fender crowd would want, and in 1963 the Firebird arrived with the lines of a 1950s tailfin. The original is a reversed offset, with the larger bout below the neck rather than above it, a raised neck-through center, banjo-style tuners on a reverse headstock and mini-humbuckers. It came in four trims, the I, III, V and VII, with ten optional custom colors. It was also slow and costly to build, prone to headstock breaks, and Fender's lawyers grumbled about the shape. So in mid-1965 Gibson flipped it into the non-reverse, with a glued-in neck, ordinary tuners, P-90s on the cheaper models and a big white pickguard. Johnny Winter and his sunburst V are the reverse's best advertisement, while Brian Jones made a non-reverse VII his main stage guitar in 1966–67. The reverse is the collector piece. The non-reverse balances better on a strap and has finally earned some respect. On either, check the headstock and the original pickguard first.
Serials are impressed into the back of the headstock. The last reverse Firebird IIIs ran from about 289xxx to 324xxx, non-reverse models appear around 327xxx, and some non-reverse guitars carry 00xxxx numbers from a later 1967 series. A mix of nickel and chrome parts is normal on 1965–66 guitars.
Reverse Firebirds break at the headstock, so look hard for repairs. Non-reverse pickguards shrink and crack at the screws, late-1960s guitars can have sloppy fit and poor neck angles, and some V-12s have been crudely converted to six strings.
Buying guide
For a reverse Firebird, buy a 1964 from a US dealer, where capitolguitars' III asks $9,350 delivered and oliviasvintage's, titled original with all three hang tags, asks $22,185, about what the other sunburst reverse IIIs ask at $13,630–22,208 without any originality claim. About 21 are listed, and the $9,475–22,725 band spans non-reverse 1965–69 guitars at $8,177–10,523 and the sunburst reverse ones, while the refinished, rebuilt 1966 non-reverse asks $6,199 and original custom colors ask $62,185–75,046. Date it by the serial impressed on the back of the headstock, where the last reverse IIIs run about 289xxx to 324xxx and non-reverse guitars start around 327xxx, a reverse body with in-line tuners should be a 1965 transitional guitar, and a serial that doesn't fit the body style can mean a Custom Shop 1963 or 1965 reissue. Reverse Firebirds break at the headstock, so ask for close, angled photos behind the nut and of the cavities for another color, and skip the zero-feedback seller in Italy and the 94.1% seller.
$6,199.19delivered
The cheapest Firebird here at $6,199 delivered, a 1966 non-reverse III titled refinished and rebuilt in Pelham Blue, with a case. The refinish and rebuild make it a player, so ask what was rebuilt.
Gibson Vintage 1966 Non-Reverse Firebird III Re-Fin Re-Build Pelham Blue w Case
$9,349.99est. delivered
A 1964 Firebird III, from the reverse years, at $9,350 delivered from a US dealer, about $4,300 under any other reverse one here. Ask for the serial and close photos behind the nut, where reverse Firebirds break, before you pay.
Vintage 1964 Gibson Firebird III electric guitar with case
$8,177.33est. delivered
A 1965 non-reverse with P-90s from a US seller at $8,177 delivered, titled with an Omar Kent Dykes COA. Non-reverse Firebirds balance better on a strap, and this is the cheapest one here without a refinish or a feedback warning.
Vintage 1965 Gibson Firebird Non-Reverse P90 Omar Kent Dykes COA
$22,185.00est. delivered
A 1964 reverse III titled original and clean, with all three hang tags, at $22,185 delivered, about what untitled reverse IIIs ask. Ask for the serial and close headstock photos to back it up.
original 1964 Gibson Reverse Firebird III Sunburst CLEAN with all 3 HANG TAGS!!!
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 11, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$6,199.19delivered
$6,199.19 · free shipping
Buy It Now$6,199.19
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
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Good buy
Titled refinished and rebuilt, Pelham Blue, with case. In the US.
Seller: themusicfarm
100% positive
Used$9,349.99est. delivered
$8,999.99 + $350.00 shipping
Buy It Now$8,999.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
1964 Firebird III with case, no originality claim. In the US.
Seller: capitolguitars
99.6% positive
Used$8,177.33est. delivered
$7,999.00 + $178.33 shipping
Buy It Now$7,999.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
1965 non-reverse with P-90s, titled with an Omar Kent Dykes COA. In the US.
Seller: howlersvault
100% positive
Used$22,185.00est. delivered
$21,900.00 + $285.00 shipping
Buy It Now$21,900.00
Good buy
Titled original, with all three hang tags. In the US.
Seller: oliviasvintage
100% positive
Used$13,629.99est. delivered
$13,279.99 + $350.00 shipping
Buy It Now$13,279.99
Our take
1965 reverse III with case, no originality claim. In the US.
Seller: mmguitarbar
99.5% positive
Used$17,400.00est. delivered
$17,000.00 + $400.00 shipping
Buy It Now$17,000.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
1964 Firebird V with hard case. In the US.
Seller: h_l_e_e
99.2% positive
Used$75,046.05est. delivered
$74,995.00 + $51.05 shipping
Buy It Now$74,995.00
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Our take
1965 III in Silver Mist, a custom color, titled original. The top ask.
Seller: worldsbestguitarshop
100% positive
Used$10,304.00est. delivered
$9,520.00 + $784.00 shipping
Buy It Now$9,520.00
Check the seller
Zero feedback and $784 shipping. Ships from Italy.
Seller: patrcacuc_0
No feedback yet
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