Mod™ Collection Firebird Platypus, High Five

Are 10 strings better than six? Sometimes, more really is more. Celebrating five years of the Gibson Mod ™ Collection program, this is arguably both the most eye-catching and ear-catching of our fantastic High Five Collection. A 10-string twist on the mighty Firebird ™ Platypus, like its High Five siblings—an Epiphone USA Coronet, a Gibson Les Paul™ Junior Double Cut, a Gibson Les Paul Standard 50s, and a Gibson Custom Explorer™ Custom—this guitar comes sprayed in an exclusive new color-shifting heavy flake sparkle finish. It also features modifications and customizations you can’t carry out at home with just a soldering iron and a screwdriver. The Mod Collection team decided to follow the eight and 12-string Firebirds they’ve created in the past with this 10-string iteration, which started life as a standard Gibson Firebird Platypus. Curious about the name? The Firebird Platypus pays tribute to a rare transitional Gibson Firebird from 1965, which paired the classic Ray Dietrich-designed reverse Firebird body style with a flat, non-reverse headstock some people think resembles the bill of a famous Australian semiaquatic mammal. Maybe in a certain light. If you squint. Underwater. How did the Mod Collection team convert it from a six to a 10-string design? In addition to the four extra tuning machines added to the six-and-four peghead, the nut and bridge were modified to accommodate four extra strings. Look closely, and you’ll see that the low E, A, D and G strings here are octave pairs. On a traditional 12-string electric guitar, the high E and B are typically paired with unison strings. Here, without those unison pairs, there’s less of the woozy chorus effect created by small fluctuations in pitch that characterizes the traditional 12-string sound, leaving more emphasis on the octaves and freeing up the high E and B for more traditional lead playing, solos, and string bending. It’s a cool hybrid approach that will surely prove to be a wellspring for musical inspiration—just stomp on a distortion pedal for some seriously massive octave riff tones. In addition, a custom gold-plated pickguard replaces the stock three-ply white unit, and matching gold Top Hat knobs replace the regular black parts with their silver inserts. Powered by a set of vintage-style Firebird humbuckers™ with Alnico 5 magnets, this Firebird Platypus 10-String is a rare bird indeed, offering an array of sounds you won’t find anywhere else combined with a spectacular, head-turning appearance and a hardshell case to keep it safe and sound on the road. Do not sleep on this remarkable one-of-one guitar. All Gibson instruments go through rigorous QC, but every once in a while, a guitar with outstanding playability and tone doesn’t quite meet the strict cosmetic standards at our craftories. As part of our ongoing commitment to sustainability, these instruments are sent to the Mod Collection team to use as a blank canvas—and let their imaginations run riot. With a fresh batch of Gibson Mod Collection guitars dropping every week, act fast to get your hands on these one-of-a-kind guitars with unique hardware and electronics customizations, and the wildest finishes in Music City. Gibson Mod Collection products may have minor cosmetic defects which are listed in the Warranty Evaluation for each product. These defects are AS-IS and are not covered under the Gibson Mod Collection's Limited Warranty.