1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS Review. The Gibson Firebird is a legendary part of rock history, being Gibson’s first solid-body guitar to feature neck-through construction. With its reverse headstock, mini-humbucker pickups, and planetary geared “banjo style” tuning keys, it quickly gained the admiration of guitarists everywhere for its distinctive tone and groove.
Though the reverse-bodied Firebirds were more sought-after, Gibson also produced a non-reverse version that proved much more popular with blues musicians. These non-reverse Firebirds featured a slightly more conventional body shape and could be found at lower prices on the vintage market.
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1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS review
Mahogany/Walnut Neck
The Mahogany/Walnut Neck on the 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS is an exquisite piece of woodwork you’re sure to enjoy playing on. Additionally, this instrument is perfect for guitarists seeking to add some character and depth to their guitar tone.
Walnut wood provides some of the brighter treble tones in guitars. It also produces a warm and full sound similar to mahogany or rosewood.
When selecting walnut for your musical instrument, there are a variety of species to choose from. Popular options include black walnut, English walnut, and claro walnut. Both black walnut and English walnut offer great options; however, the claro walnut provides more warmth and power to your tone.
This wood can produce a warm, rich tone with an emphasis on the low end and excellent sustain. Additionally, it adds clarity to both upper and lower frequencies as well.
This 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro Vibrola Heavy Aged model pays homage to the early 60s Firebird aesthetic with its mahogany and walnut ply through-body neck, majolica style tuners, a nylon nut, and Long Maestro Vibrola tailpiece.
This guitar’s neck is constructed from a robust material that will stand up to plenty of abuse. Additionally, its flexibility and bendability make it an ideal choice for both beginners and experts alike.
This model boasts Medium Jumbo frets that are the ideal size for those who need to press strings with ease and feel them as well. You’ll find this neck to be very user-friendly, providing a range of sounds from bass to middle to high.
Alnico V Pickups
Alnico magnets are a popular choice among pickup manufacturers due to their warm, clear tone. These magnets can be used to produce an array of sounds – from bluesy and smooth to funky and crunchy.
Ceramic pickups generally produce a more balanced sound than their ceramic counterparts, which may be ideal for rock players. Furthermore, they can be used to produce an updated modern sound which many guitarists prefer.
Alnico pickups tend to be less powerful than ceramic ones, making them harder to use in high-gain settings where you need to exert extra effort for optimal gain and boost.
However, their warmth and crispiness can be offset by their slightly warmer/colder sound compared to ceramic pickups. As such, they make excellent choices for jazz musicians, blues musicians, and soft rock performers alike.
On the 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS, we have two Alnico V pickups that create a classic rock sound with plenty of character and balance. Handwired CTS electronics and a Switchcraft three-way selector allow you to get exactly the tone you desire.
These pickups use Alnico V magnets in place of traditional single coils, enabling Gibson to create a more powerful pickup that was not possible with standard single coil technology – giving off an older-school sound.
This marked a radical departure from the traditional humbucker design that Gibson had been using for years. This resulted in an incredibly unique pickup that became popular with musicians such as Eric Clapton, Johnny Winter, and Gatemouth Brown.
Maestro Vibrola
The 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS is an outstanding Gibson Custom Shop instrument. It boasts a vintage sunburst finish and mahogany body, along with a mini-humbucker pickup and a Vibrola tailpiece for versatility in music genres. This combination makes the guitar ideal for many different artists.
The Maestro vibrato system on the 65 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro provides smooth and sophisticated vibrato effects. It is similar to Sideways vibrato on some SG models, yet more user-friendly and stable. Furthermore, it’s quieter than some GS models’ Sideways vibrato.
Many are worried about the Maestro vibrato system on this guitar, fearing it could make it easy for it to go out of tune. However, if you take good care of the instrument, lubricate it, and set it up properly, then all should be well.
This guitar features a lightweight build and an extremely comfortable feel in your hands. Furthermore, its responsiveness and ease of playability make it the ideal choice for beginners.
For players seeking an enjoyable guitar that won’t break the bank, this model is an ideal option. It is also versatile enough to accommodate various music genres such as surf rock, country, and rockabilly.
The Gibson SG has become a beloved guitar for many musicians, especially Rock Legends such as Angus Young, Tony Iommi, and Derek Trucks who have made this instrument their primary instrument.
CTS Electronics
The ’63 Firebird was a revolutionary design that revolutionized guitar bodies and headstocks. When released in 1963, its daring look captured guitarists around the world. However, while it quickly became Gibson’s best-selling guitar model for years to come, production problems with its headstock and neck area made it difficult and costly to manufacture.
In 1965, the Non-Reverse model of the guitar emerged with a traditional glued-in neck on an offset body for less money. Though lacking its signature flair, this more conventional construction offers several attractive advantages such as its sculpted look and more comfortable playing position than reverse-bodied models.
One of the key features of this instrument is the Maestro Vibrola, which adds tremolo capabilities to the already impressive Firebird III sound. This enhances playability and tone while bringing this iconic design into focus.
Another feature worth noting is the authentic ’65 Slim C profile, making this guitar incredibly comfortable to play. Additionally, its ease of bend makes chord strumming a breeze too!
The 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS offers historical accuracy with modern playability, making it a great choice for guitarists of all styles and skill levels. This guitar truly stands the test of time with its incredible look and feel that will make any owner proud to own such an important piece of history in their collection. Complete with Vintage Sunburst Finish, Mahogany/Walnut Neck, and Alnico V Pickups, this guitar makes an excellent addition to anyone looking for an incredible instrument to own and play!
Vintage Sunburst Finish
This 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS electric guitar features the Vintage Sunburst finish, one of many Gibson Custom Shop innovations inspired by 1960s American automobile tailfins and curves. You’ll want to show it off wherever life takes you – this guitar will surely turn heads wherever it goes!
Launched in 1963, Gibson’s Firebird guitar stood out with its backward headstock and softened Explorer’s body style. Comparable to Fender SGs and ES-335s, this rare instrument remains highly sought-after by guitar collectors today – for good reason!
This instrument’s foundation is a solid Grade-A mahogany body with a nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Vintage Sunburst. The quarter-sawn Grade-A mahogany neck has been carved to an iconic 1960s profile and securely attached. A PLEK-cut Corian nut provides a smooth playing feel and precise intonation adjustments for easy playing every time.
Vintage Firebird guitars have a timeless aesthetic, and this particular model is in excellent condition. While there is some wear from years of use and some minor dings and dents to the finish, this instrument has been well taken care of and still plays like new!
This neck has had two frets replaced, but it appears these were done with high-quality machines. The tuners and bridge are period-correct patent numbers, while a long lyre trem replaces the original maestro vibrato unit.
The ’65 Firebird III Maestro VOS guitar is an eye-catching instrument with a tone that few guitars can match, making it the ideal addition to any collection. Be the talk of the town when you bring out this stunning instrument for your next gig or recording session!
Why is it called the Non Reverse Firebird?
The initial Firebird is a reversed-body shape, as it is reversed from the common guitar models like Fender. The non-reverse models look like the backside is used as the front.
When Gibson President Ted McCarty commissioned legendary car designer Ray Dietrich to design a solid-body electric guitar, the result was truly unique. Inspired by mid-50s tailfins, this departure from traditional rectangular shapes and offset bodies popularised by Fender was truly revolutionary.
Gibson enjoyed considerable success during the 1950s with its Les Paul and SG models, but by the 1960s Fender had gained ground on them in terms of popularity. This was largely due to Fender’s superior color choices and multiple pickup options which were often endorsed by prominent guitarists.
In 1965, Gibson replaced its unconventional reverse-body Firebird designs with non-reverse models. These instruments featured a neck-through-body construction and standard tuning machines on the bass side of the headstock for a more traditional guitar look and feel.
The non-reverse Firebird was a more affordable and visually pleasing option than its reverse-body counterpart, as it forgoes rear-projecting banjo tuners in favor of traditional upper-side tuning buttons with string length behind the nut. Furthermore, these models still featured a flat body with an unbevelled headstock for added style.
A non-reverse Firebird provides plenty of tonal versatility, thanks to Gibson USA’s revolutionary Tapped P-90 pickups and hot-rodded electronics that unlock its full sonic potential. The middle setting alone can produce funk, while the upper and lower settings offer a variety of rock and blues tones. While the non-reverse model requires some getting used to, once you do you won’t regret it!
The Gibson Firebird: A Classic Design Revisited
The Gibson Firebird is an iconic electric guitar model that has captured the hearts of musicians and collectors alike since its inception in the 1960s. In this review, we will take a closer look at one particular version of the Firebird, the 1965 Non-Reverse Firebird III Maestro VOS.
The Firebird III Maestro VOS is a faithful recreation of 1965 original, complete with its unique features and distinctive sound. The guitar’s body is made of solid mahogany with a neck-through design and a rosewood fingerboard. The guitar features two mini humbucking pickups, a tune-o-matic bridge, and a Maestro Vibrola tremolo system.
The Non-Reverse Firebird design is a departure from the classic Firebird shape, which has undergone several revisions over the years. The Reverse Firebird, which was introduced in 1963, features a distinctive body shape with a longer lower horn and a shorter upper horn. The Non-Reverse Firebird, which was introduced in 1965, features a more traditional body shape with a longer upper horn and a shorter lower horn.
The Firebird design has influenced many other guitar models, including the Firebird VII and the Firebird X. The Firebird VII, introduced in 1963, features three mini humbucking pickups and a Vibrola tremolo system. The Firebird X, introduced in 2010, features advanced digital technology and a futuristic design.
The Firebird has also been associated with several notable musicians over the years. One of the most famous Firebird players was Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, who played a Firebird VII on many of the band’s early recordings. Other notable Firebird players include Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, and Joe Perry of Aerosmith.
In conclusion, the Gibson Firebird is a classic design that has stood the test of time. Whether you prefer the Reverse or Non-Reverse Firebird, or one of the many Firebird-shaped guitars that have been inspired by the original, the Firebird is a guitar that is sure to turn heads and capture the imagination of guitar players and collectors alike.
