Stunning Gibson 1965 Non Reverse Firebird III.
The last owner of this guitar had it from 1991 until we bought it from him.
It’s history is really unknown and was bought from Johnny Roadhouse in Manchester.

Pots all date to 1965 and Serial reads either 508358 or 508858.
The finish, which black lights fantastically well showing no repairs and only the usual dark areas where the lacquer has worn off on the back of the mid neck area.
A refin would be out of the question unless it was done 50 or so years ago and the truss access has zero evidence of past repairs as does the facia.
These were only made until 1969 and oddly the pick ups are Gibson branded 1972 P90’s.
The inside rout suggests it is factory with the blocks being removed for the three P90’s. I have seen both very clean single pool rout and exact to this example with the blocks removed as factory.
So really the story that goes with this stays with it ultimately.
Could it be a Firebird 2? The guard has the usual slight shrinkage but also fit’s the original guard holes, bar one where it has broken off by the touched up Bird logo plus the guard is factory route 3 P90.
The toggle which I have seen before raises questions also as there are no visible remaining screw holes from what would be originally the black switch.

The matching headstock would also indicate that this was Burgundy Sparkle thats has aged a lot, with the slight burst showing though on the front.
The camera flash shows some of the remaining evidence of the sparkle finish on the neck areas.

The knobs all black light as original, and the lightning bar and short vibrola are original.
I have put an original spec new set of Kluson 6 on a strip machine heads on as it had separate Schallers on when it came in.
Strap buttons non original and at some point one has been placed on the top edge which many did.
I’d say it’s had a refret at some point, all very clean and its hard to say as it’s been done very very well.
This plays and sounds incredible. At the moment it has no hard case but I am sourcing one.
As player grade vintage Gibson’s go this is as player grade as they get. It’s 75% original, questioning the pick ups and mentioned hard ware.

There is plenty of finish wear, natural play wear and ageing, rash, dings – minor on the front – and very light pitting on the fret board which I’m sure is Brazilian Rosewood which was used until ’66 in most cases.

This has bags of mojo and vibe.
If this were all original and collector grade then this would be in the region of 7K to 9K.

I’d advise viewing this and play it as it is a fantastic Vintage Gibson that has been played and loved all these years and with many more to come.

Please ask questions or tell me something that may enlighten me on it’s past history.

Although every guitar is checked at the point of buy in for condition we try to describe as accurately as possible and with the nature of every vintage, modern, used guitar you will always find blemishes held in certain lights that we have not solely pointed out.
These are usually very small lacquer marks or polish swirls and you have to expect a margin of very light marks that go undetected in usual lit environments.