Gibson was constantly tweaking the Firebird design during the 1960s, ... save for the platypus-bill-like headstock from which this forgotten design gets its name.

It takes its name from the bill-like visage of its headstock and was launched in 1965. ... For Gibson’s master luthier Jim DeCola, the humbuckers are central to the guitar’s resurrection.

Some time in 1945 — at a barbershop in Florida — Monroe came by what was then a 22 year old, used Gibson F-5 mandolin, signed by Lloyd Loar and dated July 9, 1923.