Gibson Firebird V Alpine White 2005

With its unmistakable reverse body, the Gibson Firebird V is one of the most striking electric guitars ever made, and in this crisp Alpine White finish it looks every bit as dramatic as it sounds. Built in 2005, it is a guitar that stands apart from anything else in Gibson's catalogue and rewards the player who wants something with real character. This particular example also carries a wonderful piece of Dutch rock history: it once belonged to David Hollestelle and toured with Herman Brood & His Wild Romance.

The Firebird was born in 1963, when Gibson brought in car designer Ray Dietrich to shake up their line, and the result was unlike anything the company had done before: a sleek, reversed body built around neck-through-body construction, with a sense of style and strength borrowed from the automotive world. It quickly found its way into the hands of players like Johnny Winter, Brian Jones and Eric Clapton, and its voice has been part of rock history ever since.

That neck-through design is the heart of what makes a Firebird special. A multi-piece mahogany and walnut centre runs the full length of the guitar, with mahogany wings on either side, giving it enormous sustain and a tight, focused response. The banjo-style tuners and reverse headstock complete a look that is pure Firebird.

Tonally it is defined by its pair of Firebird mini-humbuckers, which sit somewhere between a full humbucker and a single coil: clear, cutting and full of bite, with a glassy top end and plenty of growl when you push them. It handles classic rock, blues and raw, attitude-filled lead work beautifully, and it feels alive in a way few other guitars do.

This 2005 example is in very good condition and has clearly seen plenty of playing. The body shows various dings and scratches, some finish wear and a few areas of hairline finish cracking, along with some buckle wear on the back and a knock on the body corner next to the toggle switch. The neck, by contrast, still looks fairly clean, while the headstock has been completely refinished. All that playing has paid off, though: the guitar has really opened up and is seriously, almost ridiculously resonant. It comes complete with its hardshell case, owner's manual and TFOA Passport.

This guitar has been carefully inspected for condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.