Vintage Firebird vibe, modern reliability, real Gibson tone
This Epiphone “Inspired by Gibson Custom” 1963 Firebird V is what happens when Gibson Custom level specs collide with a price that does not wreck your gear budget. It looks wild, feels broken in, and hits with that focused, cutting Firebird sound that has been on classic records for decades.
Epiphone and Gibson Custom teamed up to recreate the original Ray Dietrich Firebird design, and they did not phone it in. You get a 9 ply mahogany and walnut neck through body with solid mahogany wings, real Gibson USA Firebird mini humbuckers, proper Maestro Vibrola, and Kluson banjo tuners. It is the Firebird you have always wanted, without the Custom Shop bill.
Neck through Firebird construction for endless sustain
The heart of this guitar is that 9 ply mahogany and walnut neck that runs straight through the body. Real talk: that construction is a huge part of why Firebirds feel so alive. Notes bloom, chords ring longer, and the whole guitar vibrates against your ribcage in a way bolt on designs just do not.
Mahogany body wings keep the tone warm and rich, while the stiff multi ply neck adds snap and clarity. The gloss Frost Blue finish shows off the lines, but it also feels smooth against your picking arm so you do not get stuck on stage lights or sweat. Single ply cream binding on the fretboard adds that old school Gibson elegance when you glance down mid solo.
Gibson USA Firebird mini humbuckers: bright, tight, and mean
The pickups are the real deal: Gibson USA Firebird mini humbuckers with Alnico 5 magnets. They sit in that sweet spot between single coil cut and humbucker punch. The bridge pickup has that snarling, wiry midrange you want for classic rock riffs, but it stays tight in the low end and never gets muddy when you stack gain.
The neck pickup is warm and vocal without turning to mush. It is killer for blues leads, slide, and big open chords that still have string separation. Flip to the middle position and you get that signature Firebird chime that sits right in a mix. Hand wired CTS pots, Mallory caps, and Switchcraft switch and jack keep the signal path clean so every nuance of your picking comes through.
Maestro Vibrola and banjo tuners: vintage swagger that works
One look at the redesigned Maestro Vibrola and you know this is not just another generic trem system. It is smooth under the hand, perfect for subtle vibrato and chord shimmers. Paired with the Epiphone ABR bridge and a properly cut Graph Tech nut, it stays stable if you use it musically instead of dive bombing.
Up top, the Kluson planetary “banjo style” tuners are pure Firebird attitude. They give you fine tuning feel with rock solid gear engagement, and the historic three strap button layout lets you find the balance point that feels right for your playing stance. This is the vintage hardware vibe, engineered to survive real gigs.
Comfortable playing feel with stage ready details
The 1963 Firebird neck profile fills your hand just enough to feel solid, but it is far from a baseball bat. The 12 inch radius Indian laurel fingerboard and 22 medium jumbo frets make bends feel buttery without fretting out, and the 24.75 inch scale length keeps the overall feel slinky even with 10s.
Mother of pearl trapezoid inlays, dual action truss rod, and a Graph Tech nut round out the playing experience. The 9.1 pound weight gives you sustain and authority without feeling like a boat anchor. It is a guitar you can play all night, whether you are on a club stage or in the studio chasing tones.
Moore Guitars setup, inspection, and case included
This Firebird V ships with an Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom hardshell case, so it is protected from day one. In our shop it gets the full Player Perfect setup: intonation dialed in, action set where it feels alive but buzz free, and electronics checked under real playing conditions.
We inspect every guitar three times and the photos you see are of this exact serial numbered instrument. Add free 2 to 3 day shipping, easy financing, trade in options, and our 14 Day Return Policy, and you are getting serious Firebird tone with zero gamble.
Questions about this guitar? Call (888) 794-8482 and talk to a real player on our team. No scripts, no pressure, just honest conversation about whether this Firebird fits what you are chasing.
