New Epiphone Firebirds

[F15hface]

A couple of new Epiphone Firebirds were revealed adjacent to NAMM. They’re in the Gibson custom shop colab range, so pricing will be into 4 figures. I’m happy to see a Firebird I reissue, just needs a short vibrola added.

[GreenKnee]

Pelham Blue Firebird I is a stunner! I'd love one but I think the price will be unjustifiable for me unfortunately

[Larry Mal]

Interesting. This I don't quite understand, Epiphone doesn't really have a legacy of Firebirds, sometimes they make them good, sometimes not so good, they are always a lesser version of the actual Gibsons. There's no real history there unlike a Casino or Riviera.

I guess I just have a hard time seeing the triangulation of "Epiphone" "Firebird" and "Custom Shop", and wonder if they'll make them in the classic Firebird style that neither Epiphone or even Gibson is using these days.

[Larry Mal]

I got my answer now.

The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop line previously brought us the highly-rated Epiphone Greeny and the Korina Flying V and Explorer, and these are the latest offerings in the firm’s premium offshore range.

We love the Inverness Green finish and single pickup simplicity of the fancy Firebird I reproduction, though there is a double humbucker/Maestro vibrola equipped Firebird V (in Frost Blue or Ember Red), should you want more bells and whistles.

Both have a nine-ply mahogany body and walnut neck (in a neck-through construction) with mahogany wings, plus Kluson ‘Planetary’ style tuners, and Gibson USA Firebird mini humbuckers.

These don't have anything to do with any Custom Shop, they are "inspired" by the Custom Shop. The Kluson tuners mean that they are probably going to be the exact same as the Epiphone Firebirds right now are, which are good guitars, these new ones will just have different finishes and accoutrements.

And Firebird pickups aren't "mini hum buckers".

They will probably be very good guitars.

[eilrahc]

Just on the subject of Firebirds, I'd love to see an Epiphone version of the non-reverse Firebird, since like the standard version the only one in the Gibson catalogue at the moment seems to be from the Custom Shop. Given the success of the Eastwood Stormbird (which I want to like but can't get past the horrible headstock design) and how well made the current line of Epiphone Firebirds is, I think that could be pretty successful.

[mekhem]

I really like the looks of the reverse firebirds so this appeals to me in some way.

The ergonomics however... they are way to long for me.

[zhivago]

These look fantastic to me, and I am really happy to see they are sticking with the neck-through construction just like the old ones were.

If I didn't already have a Pelham Blue Firebird V I'd be seriously tempted! I'm a big Firebird fan!

[Ceylon]

If you could get the dual pickup one in the finish they're showing off the single pickup on in, I'd be up for one of those.

[F15hface]

If you could get the dual pickup one in the finish they're showing off the single pickup on in, I'd be up for one of those.

The SGs and Les Pauls in the same line have multiple finish options so fingers crossed.

I still don’t understand what makes these ‘inspired by custom shop’ guitars so custom-shoppy. Surely they’re inspired by a 63 Firebird or a 58 explorer or 61 SG rather than CS versions of them? Like sure it’s just branding, but it’s not great branding.

[chandra]

If you could get the dual pickup one in the finish they're showing off the single pickup on in, I'd be up for one of those.

The SGs and Les Pauls in the same line have multiple finish options so fingers crossed.

I still don’t understand what makes these ‘inspired by custom shop’ guitars so custom-shoppy. Surely they’re inspired by a 63 Firebird or a 58 explorer or 61 SG rather than CS versions of them? Like sure it’s just branding, but it’s not great branding.

Gibson hasn’t made a production Firebird V/VII in several decades. Firebirds are custom shop runs (Murphy Pab or signature). Hence, why it’s IBG. This also applies to ‘59 reissues Les Pauls, 58-spec explorer/v, and so on.

Anything based on a specific guitar or spec is “custom shop”. Epiphone has done this in the past.

[zhivago]

I have a 2017 Firebird V that was called the Firebird T, so they have been making them on and off....they made them in 2016 too for sure. Sure, they lacked the vibrola unit and banjo tuners. But they were true Firebird Vs in construction and other appointments.

The Firebird is a niche guitar that is expensive to build...it makes sense that it is not in production all the time.

In my whole life, and I am 46, the only person I've ever met that owns a Gibson Firebird is my old friend Crispin (well, his was an Epiphone with Gibson pickups)....and me.

Pretty much every other guitarist I have ever met in London played a Strat, Tele, or Epiphone Les Paul. Even an SG was rare...I only met one guy that had one.

[Larry Mal]

I have a 2010 Firebird V.

And I paid as much as these Epiphones now cost.

[zhivago]

Just for a giggle..here is a screenshot of the list price off Gibson's site back in 2017 for the Firebird I now own:

[F15hface]

Just for a giggle..here is a screenshot of the list price off Gibson's site back in 2017 for the Firebird I now own:

That’s insane. An epiphone Les Paul standard is more expensive. Half what these new epiphone firebirds are likely to cost.

[zhivago]

And it came with a proper Firebird brown case: