Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird I Reissue Cherry w/Case

When Gibson tapped automotive designer Ray Dietrich to create the Firebird in 1963, the result was unlike anything else in the catalog: a neck-through-body construction, a reverse body shape with bold angular lines, and those distinctive banjo-style tuners. The Firebird I was the stripped-down version — one pickup, a wraparound bridge, and nothing else to get in the way.

Epiphone's Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird I Reissue stays true to that minimalist blueprint. The 9-ply mahogany and walnut neck-through-body construction is the real deal, with mahogany body wings on either side. Because the tuners, pickup, and bridge all anchor into the same continuous neck piece, the resonance and sustain are noticeably different from a bolt-on or even a standard set-neck guitar. The neck features a SlimTaper Rounded C profile with a rosewood fretboard, mother-of-pearl dot inlays, and 22 medium jumbo frets. Kluson planetary banjo-style tuners at the headstock and a Wraparound Lightning Bar bridge at the body end keep things historically accurate.

One pickup does the work here: a USA-made Gibson Firebird mini humbucker with Alnico 5 magnets, hand-wired to CTS potentiometers, a Mallory capacitor, and a Switchcraft output jack. Master volume and master tone keep the controls as simple as the rest of the guitar. The Vintage Gloss finish and nickel hardware complete the vintage look, and it ships in an Inspired by Gibson Custom hardshell case.

Specs:

Body: 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through with Mahogany Body Wings
Body Shape: Firebird
Body Finish: Vintage Gloss
Neck Profile: 1963 Firebird (SlimTaper Rounded C)
Neck Finish: Satin Urethane
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 12"
Scale Length: 24.75"
Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo
Nut: Graph Tech, 1.69" width
Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot
Headstock: Firebird Reverse
Bridge Pickup: Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker (Alnico 5)
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone; Hand-wired with CTS Potentiometers and Mallory Capacitor
Output Jack: Switchcraft 1/4"
Bridge: Wraparound Lightning Bar
Hardware Finish: Nickel
Tuners: Kluson Banjo-style Planetary
Pickguard: 3-ply White with Firebird Logo
Strap Buttons: 3 — Bottom, Shoulder, and Neck Heel (Historic Firebird Placement)
Truss Rod: Dual Action
Truss Rod Cover: Single Ply Black with Epiphone Logo in Gold
Strings: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046
Case: Inspired by Gibson Custom Hardshell