Gibson Custom Shop quality without the price tag? - Epiphone Inspired 1963 Firebird I & V 

Pricing is certainly inspired by Gibson

one of the coolest gibson specs for me is actually a nitro finish. in fact it's the only thing I'd considered a gibson for

Finally. A demo where the guy isn't trying to make the rest of us think we suck. This what the guitar would sound like if I played it. Well done. Thanks.

It's great that Gibson is making original Firebird pickups, but that price? I'm glad I have a standard Epiphone Firebird, and just bought a Firebird Plus pickup to put in the bridge.

Great playing!!

Sad I will not be getting one of these due to the insane price.

Laurel fretboard is a deal breaker for me.

$1700 and still rocking the Indian Laurel... yikes.

What’s crazy about this release is that the prior Epiphone Firebird was like $950CAD. We have the Olive Drab version here too for the same price. I saw the teasing for these models and thought the Frost Blue would be in that new “Inspired by Gibson” $1700CAD-$1800CAD area. This puts it above the ESP LTD Phoenix models and the LTD’s have arguably better specs nearly all-around.

Lack of nitro or rosewood doesn't really bother me. But for this price I think it would be nice if they could do final fretwork and setup at the Gibson US factory. If these were shipped to Nashville and then given a PLEK treatment I would call the cost fair, but I don't think an instrument of this price out of China should have anything short of phenomenal frets and shaping / cutting of the nut + final setup.

LMFAO at those prices! Especially with laurel fretboard.

I bought one it’s awesome

"Epiphone will always be Gibson's older brother, and its history is perhaps the most interesting of any guitar brand": Celebrating 150 years of Epiphone from luxury

I think that the 1963 firebird I model is extremely expensive, the 2020 inspired by gibson firebird is a great guitar with almost the same specs except for the gibson pickup (but there are two pickups in the cheaper model) and the headstock/tuners. The Price in the 1700$ model is more reasonable in comparison to the price of a "core" firebird with the same features, but still full of questionable things like indian laurel in the fretboard, i own the 2020 epiphone firebird, it plays great, but i would expect something better at this price point. I think that it would be better if they launched more colors of the 2020 model and a maestro vibrola option at a reasonable price point

Pretty guitar but that pricing is atrocious. Pass

Great Review!!! And plain and simple,because you play them with heat!!! I hate all those reviews,where the presentator plays smooth jazz Chords on a low level without any distortion...I want to hear a guitar screaming, cos that`s my Sound! SAnd now I have the right imagination how the F Bird V can Sound! So thanks for that! Keep going!

Ill stick with the previous version for 650. US. only difference is headstock and tuners..

Hey people to much bs being posted no truth all speculation assuming... here's the specs of a Epiphone 5 years ago and this model is now a collectors Epiphone in 2024 it the 2019 Epiphone exclusive deluxe limited run Sg Pro..read the specs it was built the same exact same way as the Kalamazoo Gibson 1961 Sg... there you have it....The Epiphone G-400 Exclusive Deluxe PRO Electric Guitar is modeled after the original 1960s classic "SG" (Solid Guitar) and features a AAA Flame Maple Veneer top, Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers with push/pull coil-splitting, and Wilkinson Vintage Classic Machine Heads. Classic 60s Era "Solid Guitar" The G-400 Deluxe PRO is inspired by the first generation of SGs made in the 1960s at the legendary Gibson and Epiphone factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan that produced the Les Paul and the Casino. The SG model was originally intended to replace the Les Paul, which temporarily went out of production from 1961-1968. The new G-400 Deluxe PRO is constructed using the same dimensions and build techniques as vintage SGs and features a AAA Flame Maple Veneer top with a Mahogany body and neck with a comfortable 1960's SlimTaper 'D' profile and a 24.75" scale length. The Pau Ferro fingerboard has single ply binding with pearloid Trapezoid inlays, 22 medium jumbo frets, a 12" radius, and an adjustable truss rod with a 'bell' cover. Alnico Classic PRO Humbuckers with Coil Splitting The G-400 Deluxe PRO is powered by Alnico Classic PRO humbuckers made with Alnico-V magnets, which produce a slightly higher output especially in the mid and highs. Each pickup has it own Volume and Tone control with full-size potentiometers along with Epiphone's rugged, all-metal, 3-way toggle pickup selector switch for long-lasting performance. Both pickups are also wired for coil-tapping. By pulling up the pickup's volume knob, the humbucker will switch become a "single-coil" pickup, allowing players an infinite variety of tones from single-coil bark to full humbucker bite. When winding humbuckers, Epiphone utilizes a double vacuum waxing process that ensures quiet operation free from microphonic hum. The pickup is first placed in the specialized wax vacuuming system before the cover is placed on the unit to ensure that the wax fully penetrates to the very center of the pickup and solidifies all parts. After the cover is placed on, it is again given a second vacuum wax bath until the unit is completely saturated with wax. Epiphone also uses high quality ABS plastic bobbins, 1010 Cold Rolled Steel pole shoes and pole screws, the finest magnet wire available. Solid Epiphone Hardware The G-400 Deluxe PRO features gold hardware on the Honeyburst, Trans Blue, and Trans Red color finishes and all G-400 Deluxe PROs come with a LockTone bridge and Stopbar tailpiece for incredible sustain as well as Wilkinson Vintage Classic Machine Heads with a 18:1 turning ratio.

The great legendary Epiphone 👍👍👍👍👍👍

No rosewood finger board, no nitro, $1300 and $1700? If it had rosewood and nitro maybe $1100. $1700 for epiphone?

Maybe it's just me, but I think those guitars sound horrible through that amp - very harsh and totally lacking warmth. The distortion sounds really ratty.

You think it's bad over there in the States, here in Australia ,the Firebird with the vibrola sets you back $3399. An Epiphone with a laurel fingerboard 😂😂😂. Its a fucking joke. Great playing btw mate 💪💪

Chicago blue would've been a nice touch instead of the frost blue. Prices are a little high. Ebony frets would've been nice. If you use Sweetwater, you can get the plek system for 300. So it's 2 grand now. But they're still worth it IMHO. All original Gibson psrts in a Epi body. Sounds nice.

All these people complaining are the ones who can't afford epiphones or Gibson so they try to make themselves feel better by lying and false information its not working people lying about epiphone only gets you caught

Laurel fretboard at that price? Yikes.

That's nuts on the price. Pickups shouldn't add 1K onto the price. Maybe there are some other features here, but it's still a lot. Just get last years Epiphone and put some better pickups in it, replace the bridge if you must, and maybe take it to a tech for a perfect setup. You will have 99% of what this guitar is offering for a lot less. Also I just don't trust Epiphone quality control. They can say that it's custom shop all they want and put a crazy price on it, but we have all played way to many dogs from Epiphone. I've def played a few that were special, but it's something you have to find in person. I don't think I would trust one brand new and certainly not for that price. And yea, no rosewood? For the price of an American Pro Fender? Seriously?

I paid $650.00 for on the used market back in 2022..its relatively hard to find in honey burst color and when it does Pop up its gone very fast

Epiphone is on crack with that price tag. What a shame!

The whole CS “collab” is merely a scan of a 63’. Nothing wrong with that but we’re missing how that makes this guitar worth this asking price! It’s basically a non signature Joe B. production Firebird except the Joe B. gets the rosewood board! I hate to bitch but for this asking price it absolutely should have a rosewood board at least. You can literally buy the Gibson U.S.A. Studio version for $1,500 all day long. This is bittersweet IMO unfortunately. Great looking guitar but stop charging premium prices for upgrades that players can do themselves!!

There trapezoid inlay's not block they would be on like a Les Paul custom.....

That price 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

I have a 2021 Epiphone custom koa Les Paul all high end electronics hardware and build..and i have 2 limited edition modern figured Sgs also high end electronics hardware and build all 3 models have been recently discontinued and on sale what's left of them and its not many left.. all 3 of them will will go up in value and price on the used market..i wouldn't have it any other way..

That's Firebird

Ill take an LTD Pheonix

Gibson does not currently do a USA Epiphone, but that's what this is without the nitro and the logo.

You can get a much better sounding PRS for less.

Epiphone returned people back to high end guitars by JC Curliegh in 2019 epiphone was never meant to be a budget brand in the first place and they weren't until Norlin ruined them when they took over Gibson..that ended with JC Curliegh Restored Epiphone in 2019 also no les Paul and Epiphone the Gibson Les Paul solid body guitar wouldn't even exist today a historic fact..start researching before you open your mouth..

Damn... I just told my gf I'm done buying guitars for a while 🙃

meh the regular Epiphone Firebird is a much better deal at $650 and sounds just as good if not better imho

Its still an epiphone for 1400:00 to 1500:00 dollars. Every youtuber is trying to sell the price as normal now and days but really. i understand the hike but really, not that much.

Custom shop quality with a laurel fretboard?

OK so really... what is the difference between this one and the one that costs 650? Don't get me wrong, this sounds great. But it costs too much. What does this have that the 650 one doesn't?

As I said before: It's a shame that all of this "youtubers" or big "youtube channels" are normalizing Epiphones (made in china/indonesia) for 1000€, 1300€, 1500€ and much more (1800€ the vibrola model). The same model that previously cost around 600€ now it costs the double or more for a few minor changes... and all of you trying to justify the ridiculously high price. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

I'm sure they'll sell some. But they won't be selling one to me. Too pricey.

Nope…

MADE IN CHINA....NO!!

epiphone used to be an affordable guitar maker. what the hell happened ?

Love them but to pricey !

What pisses me of isnt even the price. Its that gibson keeps moving their prices up pushing the guitars out of the hands of actual people. Like a new lp standard is touching 4k cad. Firebirds are just forget abt it even used. The fact that an lp junior is going for 2200 cad new is a fkn joke. It was once possible to get a whole lp which is the benchmark for gibson prices for that money or less. Dont even get me started on custom shop. This new regime cant go bankrupt fast enough. And for this kind of money put some rosewood on it. Fender is doing it in Mexico for less. They are trying to replace the standard Gibson line w this but wont build them w rosewood. They want the gibson line to be like custom shop prices and custom shop guitars are meant to be unobtainable at this point. While i like this guitar the issues around it are too much. Gretsch makes some great stuff over in japan too.

Hell no! Not for something made in China. When did overseas guitars get so crazy expensive? But of course Andertons and other RU-vid guitarists are going to get sponsored to talk people into buying them and that’s when Epiphone “custom shop” will be over $1500 per guitar. They should start building in Japan again just for these inspired by Gibson custom lines and then I would 100 percent support the prices. Other than that…pass

Hard to judge a guitar's potential if you don't demo clean tones. Priced well outside most people's budget as well. This feels overhyped to me.

If Gibson could just focus more on their other non les paul guitars, offer more color options at an affordable price would be the push they need to reach younger audiences. Unfortunately they won't do this since every owner seems to be in the "become a rock god" mindset and just continues the same boring thing or constantly make signatures at ungodly prices for the wealthy.

Pricing ridiculous

Prices getting way to high for epi. Resell is less than 1/2 of that. No thanks

Reading the negativity in the comments is a thing. Absolutely in love with this Bird. Components Construction Case. For 2k Gibson gets you less guitar in a bag.

That amp sounds awful.

That amp seriously sounds awful.

Overpriced firewood. Just like a Gibson 😂😂😂😂😂