The Firebird was Gibson's response to the Fender Jazzmaster

Now Gibson USA introduces the 50th Anniversary Firebird, a glorious gold-on-gold tribute to the revolutionary original Bird. The 50th Anniversary Firebird is crafted with all the hallmarks that made the original Firebird unique, gibson firebird pickups
 including the through-neck construction, versatile contemporary Firebird mini-humbucking pickups, and reversed six-a-side headstock with banjo tuners (upgraded to Steinberger gearless tuners on this guitar). Perhaps the most notable feature of the Firebird, apart from the radical shape, is that it was the first Gibson model to feature neck-through-body construction, with side wings glued to a multi-ply laminate neck running the length of the guitar, from the headstock to the end pin - a design that tends to produce a very solid, stable instrument with enhanced sustain. These great leads seem to be played on a Gibson Firebird with mini-humbuckers. It's a great sound and it's interesting that so much of the album seems to have been built around it.