Gibson Firebird Platypus – Ebony

The Gibson Firebird Platypus combines reverse and non-reverse Firebird elements with modern upgrades. Features include a mahogany body, set-neck construction, SlimTaper profile, and distinctive platypus-shaped headstock. Authentic ’60s tone comes from Alnico V Firebird mini humbuckers with independent controls. Premium components include Grover Mini Rotomatics, Graph Tech nut, and Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge. The bound rosewood fingerboard with Trapezoid inlays and Firebird graphic pickguard complete this unique piece from Gibson.

From Gibson:

“In early 1965, the original Firebird design transitioned through several different iterations. One of the significant transitions that occurred flipped the headstock to the Non-Reverse shape. Unlike the original Reverse Firebird headstock design, which featured a two-layered headstock with a holly veneer, the new headstock was flat, like the bill of a platypus. The Platypus-style Firebird featured six-in-line tuners rather than the banjo-style tuners that were used on previous Firebird models.

The Firebird Platypus pays tribute to those rare transitional models. It features a mahogany body with a glued-in, set neck and the appearance of a traditional neck-through Reverse Firebird body. The mahogany neck has a fast-playing SlimTaper profile and a rosewood fretboard with a 12” radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, and acrylic trapezoid inlays and sports the Platypus-style headstock with a Graph Tech nut and Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners. The Platypus-style headstock has been slightly modified to provide straight string pull for less friction and improved tuning stability. The other ends of the strings are routed over a Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge for precise intonation and solidly anchored with an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece for outstanding sustain.”