Epiphone and the Gibson Custom Shop have teamed up again to create the Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird I – an authentic replica of the guitar designed by legendary automotive designer Ray Dietrich. When it was launched in 1963, the Firebird™ was Gibson’s 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 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird I 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. Kluson® planetary geared “banjo” tuners anchor the strings at the headstock, while a Wraparound Lightning Bar bridge holds things down at the other end and ensures exceptional sustain. While in keeping with the vintage 1963 Firebird I’s stripped-down specifications, the electronics are also premium and include a Gibson USA Firebird mini humbucker™ pickup with Alnico 5 magnets, CTS® potentiometers, a Mallory™ capacitor, and a Switchcraft® 1/4” output jack, giving this remarkable recreation not only the look but the sound of a classic Firebird I.
An Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom hard-shell case is also included.
Body
Shape: Firebird
Body: 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through
Side: Mahogany Wings
Neck
Material: 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut
Profile: 1963 Firebird
Nut width: 43 mm
Fingerboard: Indian Laurel
Scale length: 628.65 mm
Number of frets: 22
Nut: Graph Tech
Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dot
Hardware
Bridge: Wraparound Lightning Bar
Knobs: Gold with Silver Reflector
Tuners: Kluson "Banjo-style" Planetary
Plating: Nickel
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone, Hand-wired with CTS Potentiometers
