Paul McCartney playing a Gibson Firebird

[IMMusicRulz]

Taken during the recording sessions for Ram, Macca owned a Firebird and used it for some of the tracks on that album.

It is a custom non reverse left handed Firebird that Gibson made for Paul in the late 60s.
I'm wondering if anyone knows more about it's involvement in Paul's music. Paul also owns his vintage Epiphone Casino that he used on so many great Beatles albums, his lefty Telecaster and a left handed Gold Top 1959 Les Paul.
Paul's guitarist, Jimmy McCulloch, who died of an overdose in 1979, also used a Firebird, as shown in his wonderful solo:


I hope that people enjoy this post about Macca. Macca makes the world go round...

 

[Shango66]

I read that Paul played the tasty solo on Maybe I'm amazed on the FB.

 

[Masmus]

I love that it looks like a left handed Gibson non reverse with a left handed Bigsby, but if you look close it seems to have a right handed trusrod cover so the Gibson logo is upside down.

 

[Brendan]

A lefty non-reverse Gibson Firebird showed up for sale in Portland OR about 20 years ago. $5500 at the time. Paul's is only the second one I have ever seen.

 

[itstooloudMike]

I had a Medallion Firebird exactly like the one Jimmy McCulloch is playing in the video above. I’m such a dumba$$ for ever letting that one go.

 

[drmordo]

I'm not sure if there is any guitar cooler than a non-reverse Firebird.

 

[archetype]

ad that Paul played the tasty solo on Maybe I'm amazed on the FB.

IIRC he did.

 

[wabashslim]

I'm not sure if there is any guitar cooler than a non-reverse Firebird.

There is - the reverse Firebird. The real Firebird. The only guitar worthy of the name Firebird. McCartney is not playing a Firebird, McCullough is. I once had an Epiphone vaguely shaped & named a "Firebird", totally phoney. A "Phirebird". Kept it less than a month.
The "reverse Firebird" isn't even that - if they took a real Firebird body and turned it upside down it would be slightly more worthy of the name, but as it is it looks more like a 9th-grader's first freehand wood shop project...I'd give it a C-.

 

[drmordo]

There is - the reverse Firebird. The real Firebird. The only guitar worthy of the name Firebird. McCartney is not playing a Firebird, McCullough is. I once had an Epiphone vaguely shaped & named a "Firebird", totally phoney. A "Phirebird". Kept it less than a month.
The "reverse Firebird" isn't even that - if they took a real Firebird body and turned it upside down it would be slightly more worthy of the name, but as it is it looks more like a 9th-grader's first freehand wood shop project...I'd give it a C-.

We will have to agree to disagree on that. I wouldn't own a reverse, but I'd love to find a nice non-reverse.

 

[Masmus]

I own a 64 reverse and a 66 non reverse, they are two very different guitars but the non reverse is something truly special

 

[SnidelyWhiplash]

I think the non reverse FBs are downright fugly, but some
great players, Steve Winwood, for one, has made great
music with them.

 

[Papanate]

Taken during the recording sessions for Ram, Macca owned a Firebird and used it for some of the tracks on that album.

View attachment 990558

It is a custom non reverse left handed Firebird that Gibson made for Paul in the late 60s.

Why didn't Gibson put the log right side up?

 

[StrangerNY]

Why didn't Gibson put the log right side up?

That damn dodgy Gibson QC again.

- D

 

[SChoirFan]

Looks like Jimmy moved the strap button to the back of the heel. Probably helped with the neck dive those Banjo Tuner equipped Firebirds were known for.