“We wanted to do it in a way that we’ve never done before”: Gibson revives the Firebird Platypus
Gibson has introduced the Firebird Platypus, a tribute to the rare transitional Firebird designs from 1965.
The Firebird Platypus brings back a “Non-Reverse” headstock design, which flipped the headstock of earlier Firebird models. Unlike the original Reverse Firebird headstock, which had a two-layered design with a holly veneer, the “Non-Reverse headstock was flat, “like the bill of a platypus”, in Gibson’s words.
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“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,” says Mat Koehler, Vice President of Product at Gibson. “That’s the year you would see the Reverse body with the Non-Reverse neck.”
Credit: Gibson
The updated Firebird Platypus is a modern twist on that iconic design, featuring a mahogany body with a glued-in set neck similar in appearance to the traditional neck-through Reverse Firebirds. It also boasts a fast-playing SlimTaper neck profile and a rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets, making it perfect for smooth and precise play.
The Platypus-style headstock has been modified to offer a straight string pull for improved tuning stability and comes with Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners. The guitar also features a Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and an aluminium Stop Bar tailpiece, ensuring excellent sustain and intonation. The Platypus also channels classic Firebird tones, with two Firebird mini-humbucker pickups with Alnico 5 magnets. These pickups deliver bell-like chimes when played clean and vibrant rock and blues tones when pushed.
Credit: Gibson
With individual volume and tone controls, players can fine-tune their sound for any style. The guitar also includes a legendary hot-stamped Firebird graphic on the pickguard and comes with a Gibson hardshell case.
The Gibson Firebird Platypus blends classic features with modern enhancements, with “the ‘best of’ Firebird features, aesthetics, sound, and playability”, according to Jim DeCola, Gibson Master Luthier.
The Firebird Platypus is available now in Tobacco Sunburst, Ebony, Vintage Cherry and Cherry Sunburst, priced at $2,499. Learn more at Gibson.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
