New Gibson Model

velorush

velorush

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I was today years old when I learned the non-reverse Firebird headstock was known as a "Platypus" headstock. I have to confess I haven't been around many non-reverse Firebirds, but I've never been introduced to that term in relation to a guitar.

In my inbox today (and Music Zoo had a bunch on Reverb in this morning's feed), the Firebird Platypus.

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In short, it's a conventional reverse Firebird body with a non-reverse headstock.

This actually makes sense to me as the construction of the non-reverse headstock (single layer) might lead to a lighter headstock which might, in turn, result in at least *less* headstock dive.

But "Platypus?" There are some words that just don't feel good to say. "Lugubrious," "ointment," "Kardashian," are some examples, and on contemplation, I'm thinking maybe Platypus (with the exception of Perry, of course!) might fit in that group, especially in co-consideration with a guitar. Or maybe it's just me.

I'd have gone with the design being described as the Firebird's "beak."

Anyone else find this interesting? OTOH, for close to $2,500 one could pick up a gently used Kauer Banshee. 

 
I've never heard of the 'platypus' moniker being used with Gibson Firebirds before, but there is a supposed brief period of 'transition' Firebirds with a mix of features being made in the summer of 1965 (scroll down to the section with the photo of the guy wearing a striped rugby shirt to read more, the article is more than just about custom colors):

Vintage Guitars Info Gibson custom color finishes on Gibson vintage guitars

I kinda like this 'platypus' design, hopefully it's cheaper to buy than a neck-thru version.

 
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it not a neck thru build. It just a set neck so it a Firebird Studio with mini humbuckers. It a costing cutting model. The neck thru is what made the FB different. 

 
bruce919 said:
it not a neck thru build. It just a set neck so it a Firebird Studio with mini humbuckers. It a costing cutting model. The neck thru is what made the FB different. 
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You're absolutely right! Talk about missing the forest for the trees! This is entirely a reverse Firebird with a non-reverse body!

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I was so focused on the headstock (the marketed "innovation") I missed what might be considered the most important detail - what makes a Firebird a Firebird.

Great catch (or rather, grasp of the obvious)!

 
I've never heard of this Platypus business either.   But IMO, it's just Enshitification at work.
No neck thru, no multi later body, no dual layer headstock. 

I've read that the machine that made the Firebird banjo tuners was destroyed during the Nashville flood.  I believe this was the only tuner they made in house.  
You may remember for a few years after the flood G-USA made FBs had Steinberger tuners for awhile.  I see the 2019-20 G-USA  FB models have a reversed Platypus/Trini Lopez/FB single layer headstock with mini Grovers.  Someone out there is making the old style banjo tuner, as I see the Historic models Firebirds are equipped with them.

Heck, now that I've typed all this up, I realize this is all old news by this point! 😆 I will give them this though, this new model looks 1000% better than the goofy FB Studio models, so it's got that going for it.  Slap some cool sparkly metallic car colors on these, and I bet they'll sell a bajillion of them.   Just saw the list price on these. Oof. Back to what I said about Enshitification. 

This Hackubus Hot Take is brought to you today by the letter F.

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bruce919 said:
it not a neck thru build. It just a set neck so it a Firebird Studio with mini humbuckers. It a costing cutting model. The neck thru is what made the FB different. 
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I noticed the set neck construction right away, and that suits me just fine.  I'm not a fan of neck-thru guitars, they're a PITA at a minimum if neck problems show up.  Not having that is just one less thing to worry about.

Edited to add:  As long as a set neck version is cheaper than a neck-thru version, I'll be happy.

 
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Comparison invited to this floor-sweep 1982 guitar made mostly from RD parts (including active circuitry). Reportedly around 100 made in Natural, Sunburst, and Cherry Sunburst. Marketed as the Firebird II. I owned this one for many years.

Firebird II.jpg

 
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I bought a 2016 non-reverse set neck Firebird on here and once I dropped vintage bird pickups into it, I freaking love it. The non reverse birds were always set neck. Mine sounds like a damn Firebird…which is what it is…I didn’t realize it has a p,stylus headstock..,now zi feel special..,

 
This guitar is Gibson personified, all wrapped up in a single model.

They took their 3rd most popular guitar shape (I would argue that the Les Paul and Explorer would be #1 and #2, respectively), removed one of the coolest parts of the functional design (the neck through construction) replacing it with the standard glue on neck construction, and removed the coolest parts of the aesthetic design (the flipped headstock with the banjo tuners) and replaced it with a headstock that no one likes.
When they were all done they added the stupidest fucking name anyone could think of, Platypus, a semiaquatic, egg-laying mammal. Or, in simpler terms, an animal that doesn't know what it's supposed to be.

I've had plenty of Gibson Firebirds.  The banjo tuners on the reverse headstock is not only cool AF, it is comfortable and natural in function.
This is, to quote myself (an opinionated and unappreciated wordsmith), a solution in search of a problem.  But they'll tell you that the old headstock was neck heavy and the tuners didn't work well and the machine that made them got destroyed by flood, because ThIs Is MuCh BeTtEr!
It's a way to sell you an inferior product that is easier for them to produce.

Prediction: The next video of guitars being lined up and run over by tractors will be the embarrassing destruction of the Platypus. 

 
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