Gibson introduces the Skunk Baxter Firebird, featuring artist approved specs and three mini-humbucker pickups.
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The mini-humbuckers serve as sonic and visual centerpieces for the guitar, designed by Gibson Guitars’ head luthier Jim Decola to be the hottest mini-humbucking pickups from the brand.
The Skunk Baxter Firebird follows the reverse-body look of the original Firebird, featuring a neck-through-body construction that gives the guitar its distinctive look and sustain. The central block and wings of the body is carved from mahogany, following traditional wood combination.
The neck is made of a combination of walnut and mahogany, topped by a rosewood fretboard. It has a radius of 12″, a Corian nut with a width of 1.695″ and white binding. Acrylic block inlays are used as fret markers.
Giving the guitar Skunk Baxter approved tones is a trio of Mini-humbuckers. The brand describes them as being hot while retaining the sweet and dynamic tone of Gibson’s original ’57 humbuckers. A full complement of controls will let you create a variety of voices, with independent on/off switches and modern split-coil switching for all three pickups. The Skunk Baxter Firebird is said to be the most versatile instrument to carry the label.
Tuning stability is ensured by the guitar’s Tune-o-matic bridge, Lyre vibrato tailpiece, and Steinberger gearless tuners. Baxter and Gibson opted for black plastics to complement the guitar’s high-gloss Copper Metallic finish.
The official press release says, “With one of the most jaw-dropping resumes in music, Skunk Baxter knows about tone. After playing bass in Jimi Hendrix’s pre-Experience band, Baxter became a founding member of Steely Dan, then joined hit-makers the Doobie Brothers in 1974. He’s worked with Bryan Adams, Rod Stewart, Linda Ronstadt, Ringo Starr, and several others–and if that isn’t enough, has also worked as a high-security-clearance consultant in Ballistic Missile Defense for the U.S. government, and been named a Senior Fellow and Member of the Board of Regents at the Potomac Institute for Policy Studies. His weapon of choice? A Gibson Firebird, of course–and with that kind of background, you just know that his Firebird is going to be something special.”
The new Gibson Skunk Baxter Firebird is currently being sold online with a price tag of $1,999.
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