Made in collaboration with Gibson Custom, now with a rosewood fretboard and a new Vintage Gloss finish

Epiphone and Gibson Custom have teamed up once again to create the updated Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird I Reissue an authentic replica of the guitar designed by legendary automotive designer Ray Dietrich. When it was launched in 1963, the Firebird was Gibsons first neck-through-body model, and it went on to be used by players in a wide range of genres, including blues legend Johnny Winter, Keith Richards and Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music, to name a few.

The updated Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird I Reissue delivers vintage Firebird specifications at an accessible price, including a 9-ply neck-through-body made of mahogany and walnut with mahogany body wings to either side of the neck. This construction method results in the tuners, pickup, and bridge all being anchored into the same pieces of wood for exceptional resonance, sustain, and tonal transfer between them. The neck features a SlimTaper Rounded C profile with soft fretboard edges for a comfortable, played-in feel. The rosewood fretboard is adorned with mother-of-pearl dot inlays and equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets. Even the side dot position markers are the same size as on vintage Firebirds and placed in historically accurate locations. Kluson planetary geared banjo tuners anchor the strings at the headstock and further add to the historic Firebird look, while a Wraparound Lightning Bar bridge holds things down at the other end and further reinforces the outstanding sustain. While in keeping with the vintage 1963 Firebird Is stripped-down specifications, the electronics are also premium and include a Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker pickup with Alnico 5 magnets. It is hand-wired to a pair of CTS potentiometers, a Mallory tone capacitor, and a Switchcraft 1/4 output jack, giving this remarkable recreation not only the look but the sound of a classic Firebird I. The new Vintage Gloss finish adds to the vintage appeal. An Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom hardshell case is also included.

Features

• 9-Ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through-Body Construction
• Mahogany Body Wings
• Kluson Planetary Geared “Banjo” Tuners
• Rosewood Fretboard with Mother-of-Pearl Dot Inlays
• Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets
• Hardshell Case with Inspired by Gibson Custom Logo

Specifications

Body

• Body Style:Firebird
• Body Shape:Firebird
• Body Material:Mahogany (Wings)
• Body Finish:Vintage Gloss

Neck

• Profile:1963 Firebird
• Scale Length:628.65 mm / 24.75 in
• Fingerboard Material:Rosewood
• Fingerboard Radius:304.8 mm / 12 in
• Neck Material:9-ply Mahogany/Walnut
• Fret Count:22
• Frets:Medium Jumbo
• Nut Material:Graph Tech
• Nut Width:43.0 mm / 1.692 in
• Inlays:Mother of Pearl Dot
• Joint:Neck-Through-Body Construction

Hardware

• Finish:Nickel
• Bridge:Wraparound Lightning Bar
• Tuning Machines:Kluson “Banjo-style” Planetary
• Pickguard:3-ply White; Firebird Logo Hotstamp in Red
• Truss Rod:Dual Action
• Truss Rod Cover:Single Ply Black with Epiphone Logo in Gold
• Control Knobs:Black Top Hat with Reflector
• Control Covers:Black with Silver Inspired by Gibson Custom Logo Hotstamp
• Strap Buttons:3 – Bottom, Shoulder, and Neck Heel – Historic Firebird Strap Button Placement Locations
• Mounting Rings:Nickel
• Pickup Covers:Nickel

Electronics

• Bridge Pickup:Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets
• Controls:Master Volume, Master Tone, Hand-wired with CTS Potentiometers and a Mallory Capacitor
• Output Jack:1/4″ Switchcraft

Miscellaneous

• Strings Gauge:.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
• Case:Inspired by Gibson Custom Hardshell