Epiphone and the Gibson™ Custom Shop have partnered once again to bring you the "Inspired by Gibson" 1963 Firebird V with Maestro Vibrola, an authentic replica of the guitar designed by legendary automotive designer Ray Dietrich. When it debuted in 1963, the Firebird™ was Gibson’s first neck-through-body model, and it went on to be used by players in a wide variety of genres, including blues legend Johnny Winter, The Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards and Brian Jones, Eric Clapton, and Roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera, to name just a few. This updated guitar brings vintage Firebird features to an accessible price point.
Retro-inspired features include a 9-ply mahogany and walnut neck-through-body design with mahogany "wings" on either side. This construction method anchors the tuners, pickups, and bridge in the same pieces of wood for exceptional resonance, sustain, and tonal transfer between them. The neck features a rounded C-profile SlimTaper™ with softened edges for a played-in, comfortable feel. The rosewood fretboard is adorned with pearloid trapezoid inlays and features 22 medium-jumbo frets. Even the side dots are the same size and in the same position as the original Firebirds. Kluson© "banjo-style" planetary tuners anchor the strings at the headstock and take the vintage Firebird style compliance even further, while an Epiphone ABR-1 bridge and an Epiphone-engraved Maestro™ Vibrola™ tailpiece hold them at the other end.
The electronics are also top-tier, featuring Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker™ pickups with Alnico 5 magnets, CTS© potentiometers, Mallory™ capacitors, as well as a Switchcraft© 3-way toggle switch and 1/4-inch output jack, giving this remarkable recreation not just the look, but also the sound of a classic Firebird V. An Epiphone "Inspired by Gibson" custom hardshell case is also included.
Body
Shape: Firebird
Material: Mahogany (with "wings")
Neck
Material: 9-ply mahogany and walnut (neck-through-body)
Profile: 1963 Firebird
Nut width: 43 mm (1.69 in)
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale length: 628.65 mm (24.75 in)
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Graph Tech
Inlay: Pearloid trapezoid
Hardware
Bridge: Epiphone ABR-1
Knobs: Black reflectors
Tailpiece: Maestro Vibrola
Tuners: Kluson, planetary, "banjo-style"
Plating: Nickel
Electronics
Neck pickup: Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker with Alnico 5 magnets
Bridge pickup: Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker with Alnico 5 magnets
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone (hand-wired with CTS potentiometers and Mallory capacitors)
Miscellaneous
Case included: "Inspired By Gibson" hardshell model
Retro-inspired features include a 9-ply mahogany and walnut neck-through-body design with mahogany "wings" on either side. This construction method anchors the tuners, pickups, and bridge in the same pieces of wood for exceptional resonance, sustain, and tonal transfer between them. The neck features a rounded C-profile SlimTaper™ with softened edges for a played-in, comfortable feel. The rosewood fretboard is adorned with pearloid trapezoid inlays and features 22 medium-jumbo frets. Even the side dots are the same size and in the same position as the original Firebirds. Kluson© "banjo-style" planetary tuners anchor the strings at the headstock and take the vintage Firebird style compliance even further, while an Epiphone ABR-1 bridge and an Epiphone-engraved Maestro™ Vibrola™ tailpiece hold them at the other end.
The electronics are also top-tier, featuring Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker™ pickups with Alnico 5 magnets, CTS© potentiometers, Mallory™ capacitors, as well as a Switchcraft© 3-way toggle switch and 1/4-inch output jack, giving this remarkable recreation not just the look, but also the sound of a classic Firebird V. An Epiphone "Inspired by Gibson" custom hardshell case is also included.
Specs
Body
Shape: Firebird
Material: Mahogany (with "wings")
Neck
Material: 9-ply mahogany and walnut (neck-through-body)
Profile: 1963 Firebird
Nut width: 43 mm (1.69 in)
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale length: 628.65 mm (24.75 in)
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Graph Tech
Inlay: Pearloid trapezoid
Hardware
Bridge: Epiphone ABR-1
Knobs: Black reflectors
Tailpiece: Maestro Vibrola
Tuners: Kluson, planetary, "banjo-style"
Plating: Nickel
Electronics
Neck pickup: Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker with Alnico 5 magnets
Bridge pickup: Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker with Alnico 5 magnets
Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone (hand-wired with CTS potentiometers and Mallory capacitors)
Miscellaneous
Case included: "Inspired By Gibson" hardshell model