Noel Gallagher’s 1967 Gibson Firebird III Non-Reverse

Brand: Gibson

Model: Firebird

Noel started using this guitar in the late 1994, around the release of the music video for the song Cigarettes & Alcohol. Officially, the first time he was ever seen performing with it was in late August 1994, at Oasis’ first TV appearance on Top Of The Pops.

This was quite likely one of the first guitars Noel bought himself after his royalty money started coming in. Just a few weeks prior, Johnny Marr had to send him the 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom, as Noel didn’t have a guitar to play after his first Les Paul (also given to him by Marr) was damaged.

Noel pictured playing the guitar in the *Cigarettes & Alcohol* music video, late 1994.

Specs, History

According to the guitar’s current owner (more on this later), before Noel Gallagher, the guitar belonged to Paul Weller. This is the same guitar that can be seen in the music video for his song Hung Up, released in March 1994 (photo below). Noel and Paul reportedly met in 1994, so the timeline for this story checks out, at least chronologically.

Noel Gallagher's Gibson Firebird guitar seen in the March 1994 music video for Paul Weller's song Hung Up. — The guitar as seen in the March 1994 music video for Paul Weller’s song *Hung Up*.

At that point, the guitar looked almost exactly the same as when Noel got it, except for the original tremolo bridge, which was still intact. After Noel acquired the guitar, the tremolo was removed and replaced with a Schaller roller bridge and a stop tailpiece.

A recent photo of the guitar showing the Schaller bridge, and the holes that were left over from the original tremolo bridge. Photo credit: GodsOwnGuitars.com

Then, sometime between the Cigarettes & Alcohol video and the Whatever video—filmed in December 1994—the guitar was modified again. Noel had the original pickups removed and installed a set of Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates (Billy Gibbons signature pickups) in their place. The original P90 pickups were stored and eventually installed on Noel’s 1978 Gibson Les Paul Custom.

In an April 2000 interview with Guitar World, Noel mentioned that he regretted installing the pickups in his Firebird and wished he had kept it stock. However, he also noted that because the pickups were so loud, the guitar became perfect for recording guitar solos.

For the solos, I play a customized Firebird through Marshall stacks, to get that sustain. I’ve got a guy in England, Bill Puplett, who makes pickups for us. I brought him these Seymour Duncans that were the loudest fookin’ things I’d ever heard. I said to him, “Make me ones just like these, only louder.” I’ve got them in my Les Paul, and they’re great. I regret having put them in my Firebird, though – I shouldn’t have fooked with the guitar, man. I was gonna get some fitted into my Riviera, but that would just be too mental.
Noel Gallagher – Guitar World – April 2000

Noel on set for the video shoot of Whatever, with the 1967 Gibson Firebird seen on the right. — Noel on set for the video shoot of Whatever, with the 1967 Gibson Firebird seen on the right, with the new set of pickups installed in it.

Usage

Noel used this guitar frequently in 1994 and 1995, both for live performances and in the studio. According to information from the guitar’s current owner, it was used on Some Might Say and Morning Glory from Oasis’ 1995 album, (What’s the Story) Morning Glory?. It was also present in the studio during the Be Here Now sessions, though it’s unclear which tracks it was used on.

As Noel said himself, Firebird was his main guitar for recording solos, so who knows on how many songs he ended up using it.

Sale

In August 1999, Noel decided to part ways with the guitar, selling it along with some of his other gear at New Kings Road Vintage Guitar Emporium – a renowned guitar shop located in London, England. It was purchased by guitar collector Dave Brewis (of Rock Star Guitar), who later sold it in March 2002 to its current owner, God’s Own Guitars.