Epiphone Firebird Electric Guitar - Vintage Sunburst Reviews

If 70s riff rock is your thing, this is perfect. Lightweight. Looks super cool. Quality electronics. Attractive price. Let it rip.

Heard great things about this guitar, WOW is all I can say. Love this firebird, great tones so fun to play. Really nice quality. Becoming a huge fan of Epiphones.

I can't add much to what's already been said about the quality of this guitar. You don't often get a chance to own something like this Firebird at the price point it's being offered.

It seems my guitar tastes have changed over the years. I had a Gibson Firebird VII about 15 years ago but did not keep it very long. I wanted to try a 'bird again as an alternative to my PRS and Prophecy Flying V. Rather than shell out so much for a Gibson, the Epiphone seemed a good choice for the money. I had no idea it would be that good. The fit and finish is flawless! I love the tone - kind of a cross between a single coil and a humbucker, with more clarity than a humbucker. The neck is a dream to play. The overall setup was perfect. I have to praise Sweetwater for the care they take to ensure guitars they sell are setup so well. Based on experience with many different sellers, Sweetwater is the only company I will purchase a guitar from! And you can't beat the candy they enclose with your purchase!

I've got this thing called G.A.S. You know it as Guitar acquisition syndrome. I have far too many and all of them are top grade Fender and Gibson Stratocasters, Les Paul's, Flying V's, SG's Telecasters and other models with a few Custom Shops on both brands.

Only once has I ever considered an Epiphone guitar to add to my collection. That was an earlier ES 335. It was ok and lived a short life before selling. I've also tried various Epiphones and always felt they were cheap. No matter which one I played, it just felt real cheaply made, whether it be the parts on it, the finish, or the setup, it just felt like a toy and couldn't believe anyone would buy one.

One day I saw a Youtube video with a YouTube influencer reviewing the Epiphone Firebird. He was most likely paid by Epiphone to give a glowing review on it. That's all fine and dandy, but there was something sincere in his review that I couldn't deny. His name is Robert Baker and he's a Nashville session player. Ok, given that his reputation is only the line for not being true to his review. I was impressed, but wouldn't be for a year later that I really got curious and bought one on Sweetwater.

I cant find a more proper word to encapsulate the review of my Firebird other than "stunning". Why Epiphone put more love into the build process on this one and not others is a mystery, but the quality of this is on par with Gibson. I've looked over every part of this guitar and there's not one thing that's off, whether it's a screw not tightened down, or a finish flaw or binding work cheaply lined up. It's a 10 on build quality.

I was fortunate to get a lighter one at 7lbs. 5oz. The neck is progressively wider down the neck. The profile fills up the hand lower down, but not too thick. The neck is like a perfect baseball glove. It is perfect and never goes out of tune, even on huge string bends. I'd say the profile is like .86 at the third fret and .96 or less at the twelfth fret.The fretboard edges are even rolled! What the heck??? Awesome! And lastly the old debate of it's got to be a Nitrocellulose finish in order to resonate has been debunked! It vibrates and sings like a bird, because it is...a Firebird. It is also an incredible slide playing guitar as good as SG's if not better given the unique sound of the Firebird pickups.

I'm infatuated with this guitar. To me there's a mystique with the Firebird. The shape and sound of it is unlike any other guitar, even if it strikes similarities with the Explorer. The Firebird is it's own stalworty thing. It exudes the rockstar look.

Buy one! Did I say this play as good as Gibson's? Yep, it does!

I had been stalking Firebirds for years, and I finally pulled the trigger.

It's a total HOMERUN! From the Probucker pickups, to fit and finish - just awesome all the way around!
If you are thinking about it - just DO IT!

My only regret is I didnt buy one years ago!

the closest thing to having a Gibson firebird in my opinion, a lot goes into the woodwork and mine came to me in perfect condition a little tweak and this guitar really has a unique sound from most of my other guitars I'm even very happy with the sound of the factory pickups all around a good looking and great sounding instrument.

Not big on leaving reviews, usually I'm a "just try it" sort of person. But, considering the guitar that belongs to me now, I felt it deserved a bit of credit where it's due.

I spent the time doing my homework on this guitar, watching the usual videos and reading posts over and over, as we do. Waiting for one to show up at a music store so I could see what they were really about. Three years went by. Never saw one in person. So I made up my mind and sunk the money sight unseen because, well, the worst way to spend your time is to pine away for something and never take action if you know you have the means to do so.

I'll tell you, with this guitar it's not about the money. If you have it, and it seems like a guitar you want to give a shot, just do it. It came out of the box needing nothing, absolutely nothing. The quality (overall and in detail) is significantly above the rest of the Epiphone line. That says a lot considering the difficulty of building a good neck-through design in mass quantity, and so a lot of corners could have been cut here, but it appears that they chose not to do that. But again, it's not about the money. A Firebird is about standing out on stage in a confident way and yet still giving a very loud rock and roll presence. It's more comfortable than some give it credit, and most say it's a "long" guitar, but if you enjoy playing bass or baritone this should be very familiar to you. And again, you will stand out on stage. You will develop a desire to improve your playing just because you're playing a Firebird - it's that kind of guitar.

I'm the first to admit I'm very picky. Again, it took me three years to decide to spend, what? $? That's really absolutely nothing in today's market. But I should have gotten a Firebird a long time ago, because for those like me who experience the frustration of trying to find "the one" without having to spend extreme (or even average, frankly) amounts of cash or modifying a beater guitar to death, I really suggest taking a long, thoughtful look at this guitar. Might be a very pleasant surprise. And hey, if enough of us buy it, maybe they won't discontinue it!

Thanks for reading and I want to give a shoutout to my rep Matt Brooks, I appreciate the effort Sweetwater and its staff have provided me.

I bought Epiphone Firebird about a month ago and it is still just the perfect guitar for many styles of music. The free plekking was the reason for my purchase even though it is still a great deal the plekking offer pushed it over the top. It is in absolutely perfect condition and it sounds excellent. It is a little snappier response with the 720 pups and it has a spank factor that will make it quack. My Sweetwater rep Patrick Cobley is the best man when it comes to getting the guitar you want into your hands and he will always go the extra mile to make sure you are a well satisfied customer. Kudos to Patrick for the great service that you give to the people who come to Sweetwater for their instruments. Pow!

Epi has hit this one out of the park. I am so impressed with the quality of this guitar especially at this price. I have owned a Gibson Firebird in the past and this is pretty darn close in every aspect. Great job Epi. Great deal Sweetwater.

Always wanted a Firebird? Then get this one while the gettin's good. I've played a couple vintage Gibson 'Birds that did not impress me either tone or playability wise as much as this Epi model does at a fraction of the cost. Nine ply mahogany and walnut neck thru body construction, a neck to die for, and Firebird minibuckers built to vintage '63-'64 specs—-what's not to love? This Bird can hold its own next to my well loved 2013 Gibby Firebird V right outta the box. As a matter of fact, I put a set of Epi FB720 minibuckers in my Gibson last year because I really dug the way they sounded in the Bonamassa Treasure Firebirds—crisp and clean, not too hot, but still with enough hair to push a tube amp when ya turn 'em up. This guitar will give you the best of both worlds, the comfort and playability of a Gibson with the bite and sizzle of a Fender that'll cut through the mix. I love mine; grab one while they're still at the current great price point and you will, too. Sweetwater's the place to do it—-great service, reliability, and quality control.

I had never even held a Firebird. Always thought they were really cool looking and sounded great in the "Master's" hands. When word got out that Sweetwater had them in stock (acclimating in their warehouse) I began reading and watching reviews. I was intrigued. As soon as they became available, I made my selection and my purchase.

The guitar arrived well packed as always from Sweetwater. Fit and finish were perfect. I've always been drawn to the sunburst or smokehouse type of finishes. The vintage sunburst of my Firebird is nothing short of a work of art. The walnut & mahogany laminated neck through is amazing, and produces sustain that lasts forever. The action was perfect. The Grover tuners feel smooth and hold tune very well. Due to the design of the guitar, it seems a bit long, but no neck dive. It's incredibly comfortable to play either sitting or standing. The entire fretboard is very easily reached. The shape of the neck is very comfortable. It is slim at the nut and widens out a tad at the base. Makes me think this is the way all necks should be. I have long fingers, so this is a perfect fit for me!

Now for the sound… The pickups are not mini humbuckers. Totally different breed, apparently designed just for the Firebird (hence the FB designation). They are not made up of "poles" rather they are more like blades. Whatever you call them, they are amazing. Bottom end is so warm, it's like having a bass guitar and yet the top end is bright and chimey. Pure freaking magic the way the sound. I enjoy playing classic rock and blues and these pups deliver! Clean or dirty, the tones are distinct and pure. Hard rock, metal, country, or jazz, this guitar can deliver.

Bottom line for me, is I'm considering thinning my herd a bit now that I've found my Firebird. For me, it's a perfect guitar!
Sweetwater's 55 point inspection and their customer service takes any worries, or doubts out of buying a Epiphone Firebird from them.

Whoops, just saw they are now on back order again!

Purchased this Epiphone firebird with the PLEK service included for free. This guitar came to me perfect. The sound and playability are better than my Gibson 2019 Cardinal red firebird. If I had to sell one it would be the Gibson. Also a shout out to my long-time sales rep Matt Alexander. He made sure the guitar was setup to my preferences. Thank you Sweetwater.
JD

The point is, if you told me this exquisite, fabulous high-quality guitar was 3X the price I wouldn't bat an eyelid. In fact it would be still a bargain. Why? It's literally one of the finest guitars I've ever played. (And I own some pretty nifty guitars, vintage and new.) To say I'm blown away is an undertatement.

The quality of the build, hardware and finish, is boutique top-notch. and the sound is fabulous. I had it PLEK'd by Sweetwater and they did a fantastic job. it's so even and smooth. Bravo, Epiphone.

Had an original 63 v when I was young. Pretty close. Over all a nice guitar. Was looking for a lighter guitar, this fit the bill. Had a free plek which made it a good deal ,See what a plek brings. It plays good 2nd string is cut a little low on nut. Some scratchy frets not bad, I think a good luthier is necessary after the plek. I think I would just find the best plek guy and then go for it otherwise it's like hoping you get one. Can't complain, all in all I'm Happy with it.

Thanks to Nate at Sweetwater as always. This epiphone firebird has lots of rave reviews online, and I can see why. I won't bore you with what everyone else has said about great build quality etc. I'll just say this...I love the neck pickup! The bridge pickup sounds very close to my MIM Fender telecaster (which is a good thing), but the neck pickup is just so sweet! I have a number of humbucker guitars including a Gibson LP. The neck pickup on an HH guitar can sometimes be muddy or too dark. You can usually compensate for this by adjusting the pickup height and using your guitar and amp tone and volume controls. However, I didn't feel the need to do any of that with the firebird neck pickup. It delivers that classic rock tone without the mud. The relative clarity of the neck pickup also makes playing the middle position a great experience as well. If you are looking for an HH guitar that can do that, then this is a great option. If you don't like the look of the firebird, then you might want to try dropping a firebird pickup in a guitar that you already have.

This guitar will easily sound as good, if not better than anytop end Gibson's and fenders. The sound and playability of this guitar are second to none. I sit there and listen to whats coming out of the amp and Im blown away.
Thats why theyre constantly sold out...and thats why you will almost never see one of these in the demo sale category. ..because no one in their right mind is going to return this guitar. Probably the best guitar under $ currently on the market.
You will never get quality like this for $Buy Buy Buy it...NOW

I was kind of looking for something unusual and Sweetwater happened to have these at the top of their list during guitar month. I've bought a few Epi's over the years and their quality continues to improve. This guitar is no exception. Now for the best part. This guitar came with a free pleck job. My sales engineer asked what strings and how I wanted it set up. A week later it showed up. A quick tune and I was playing. It felt like an old friend. Low action no buzz smooth as silk. I have never had a guitar come from anybody, not even Sweetwater that I didn't have to do a set up on. Aside from that the mini-Pro-buckers sound amazing! This guitar is something special...

Very impressed. I love the way this guitar looks, feels, sounds, and plays. They were running a special for the Plek service and it's perfect right out of the box. My trusty sales rep Colton Smiricky called me to get my preferences right after I ordered it, so it was set up just how I like it. Fit and finish is outstanding. I'm happy with the pickups too. They are unique, not just repurposed mini humbuckers. As a longtime fan of Johnny Winter, it has that Firebird sound. The neck feels fantastic in your hand. It's comfortable to play, sitting or standing. Electronics are top quality too. I don't see or hear anything I need to upgrade.

Epiphone builds some really nice guitars these days. I've developed trust in their products. This year, I've bought the 50's LP gold top, 60's LP ice tea burst, ES-339, and now the Firebird, and they've all been excellent. SG is next!

I have to give Sweetwater some props too. I've bought a lot of guitars from these guys. You get multiple guitars to choose from by serial number, high-res pics from every angle of that exact guitar. Viewed on a large UHD monitor, I feel comfortable with what I'm buying. And that's exactly what shows up at your door. They pack it the way you wish everything was packed - box in a box, snugged up in packing material, so unless the shipper really abuses it, you're gonna get the guitar in perfect condition. You get a personal sales engineer who's there every step of the way, and makes sure you're happy with it afterwards.

Great Guitar. My older brother had a 1964 Gibson Firebird. I grew up playing it. This is exactly the same For 650 dollars. I'm a studio musician in Austin. Guitar has to play in tune. This one is great.

This is my first Epiphone purchase, so I researched this model quite a bit. Had the guitar setup and Plek'd at Sweetwater which is the main reason for this review. Guitar turned out awesome, and playability is superb.
Pickups in this are excellent, plenty of power, and very clean. I run it through my Recto-verb 25 head and 2x12 cabinet.
Very Happy, especially glad I had the work done before I got it.

When I buy an Epiphone or other overseas affordable alternative guitar I secretly expect it to slightly under perform, or that the finish will be funky in places, or it'll need fretwork, or at the very least…I might be replacing some electronics. This was NOT the case with this Firebird. I took the whole thing apart three days in the owning it, and sure enough it was a 9 ply, walnut mahogany sandwich, with true neck-thru construction. I was honestly expecting an elaborate veneer of some type.
As far as the sound goes, it COOKS! If I put a little heat in that bridge, pick up, it goes from thin to fat and nasty quick!! And I'm pretty sure these pick ups can't really be classified as a "Mini Humbuckers" They sound like something you'd hear in 1963, but not like the mini'buckers I have on my 70s Les Paul. These are FAR hotter. This guitar has a lot of magic happening up in that neck pick up, and that's where I spent most of my time. The neck itself is very playable too. Just an overall great guitar. Had a fantastic price point. 'Nuff said!!

WORDS CANNOT EXPLAIN how amazing this guitar is at this price point. Buy one. Lower the action and go. It's on par with my Gibson Elliot Easton Tikibird.

Fretwork is great, electronics are solid, sounds great and it feels much like a Gibson. Andy from Sweetwater is always great to work with!

I knew that the Firebird could put the FIRE in Rock and Blues, but I never realized that it could give voice to some of the sweetest sounds to ever fall on ears! The Firebird is truly an exceptional tool to promote inspiration and place the magic of musical expression in your hands. I'll leave the technical aspects to others.

It's amazing that they managed to get this much quality at this price point. Looks great, feels great, sounds great. I bought this with the idea that I would have to upgrade the pickups, but found that was unnecessary. The stock pups sound just as they should for that classic Firebird tone. The neck is fast and comfortable. The sound is versatile as can be, whether you're after a sweet clean tone, a bit of bluesy bite, or a full on tsunami of heavy rock. Get one of these. You'll quickly come to love it, whatever your style might be.

I don't do reviews unless I'm really impressed or really disgusted with a product. I'm beyond impressed with this guitar. Fit and finish is near perfect. Playability is outstanding. I usually expect to change pickups on Epiphones, but the stock pickups are so good, I haven't even considered it.
I have Fender Teles, Strats, Gretsch, and a Gibson Les Paul. The new usually wears off and I go back to playing the Paul most often. I waited over a month to write this review because I figured it would be the same with this guitar, but it's my new number one. I would recommend it to anyone thinking about buying one without hesitation.

I've been playing for 53 years, 45 of those professionally and have toured/recorded with multiple Top 10 artists in several genres, so while this is merely my opinion, I'd like to think that it's a well-informed one. The build quality on the Epiphone Firebird is excellent and the Sweetwater setup and intonation was perfect. My brother is a local luthier and I usually send all my newly acquired guitars to him for those tasks, but the Firebird, as with all other guitars I've purchased from Sweetwater, required no additional work or adjustments. I thought I might want to replace the pickups with a vintage voiced set, but I took it out on a gig immediately upon receiving it and it sounds great and there were no noise/hum issues. Completely satisfied with this purchase.

Purchased this guitar along with a Fender Player Strat. Been playing both for about a week now and the Firebird is by far the best. Takes a little getting use to if you aren't familiar with these beasts but after that, it plays like butter. Mini probuckers sound amazing with some dirt on them. Amazing guitar for the price. Made me an Epiphone believer once again! On a side note I purchased the Strat from Guitar Center. First one arrived damaged and had to return. Second one still has cracks in the finish at the neck pocket. Guitar Center has nothing on Sweetwater's customer service and packaging standards.

Yes, it is big and the headstock is long, but I love it. The tone is unmatched. And, despite its size, it is very playable. My group plays in clubs and bars. Customers want to touch it and have lots of questions.

Guitar came in quickly and in wonderful shape. Looks beautiful and sounds even better! Pictures are after a day or two of use not fresh out of the box.

This epiphone Firebird far surpassed my expectations. I have owned many guitars from cheap to expensive. This one takes the cake. The fit and finish is amazing and it plays like a dream. Hard to believe this is a sub 1000.00 guitar. The Grover tuners are amazing. The pickups are awesome. Great all round guitar. Working with sweetwater was a dream as well.

I've had this guitar for 2+ years now, done sessions and gigged with it most of that time. I imagine the current production runs are on par with two years ago, based on the reviews. If you want a Firebird this one will give you everything you want except maybe the headstock design. It's plain but everything else about the guitar is 100% professional level. I always do my own setup adjustments on any guitar I play and this one dialed right in effortlessly. I tend to hit guitars a little harder but love to have easy playability. I have 10's on mine and the action is the lowest of any of my guitars and I can still hit the wound strings relatively hard and they stay clean. Bends at upper frets do not fret-out. This is a 12" radius and I am surprised how clean it is this low. (High E I have at about 0.055" and low E about 0.075".) Finish is immaculate. Resonates really well. Fingerboard is smooth and uniform, no fret sprout at all and I live in a desert. The pickups are great. I was surprised. The bridge is a typical budget TOM but it hasn't given me any trouble; sound and intonation are tight and consistent. I absolutely love this guitar and it ranks with the two best I have ever played, and I have played many from all price ranges over the last 20 years having worked at a guitar shop for many of those. Like I said, if you want a Firebird don't hesitate. This guitar is a steal at the price and I would take it any day compared to the more pricey equivalent even if they were priced the same. The quality control on the one I received is top notch and it's held up.

What you get from Epiphone for your investment is off the charts. Their other "Inspired By Gibson" Guitars are either more expensive and are all "Set Necks Designs". This is the only Epiphone that comes with these features... Neck Through Design, CTS pots, Orange Drop Capacitors, Grover Tuners, Real FB-720 Humbucker Pickups, (Not to be mistaken for Humbucker Mini's which they are not), They do however deliver the all familiar transparent clarity of the mini, with a touch more output then a Mini Humbucker Pickup. I have ordered several Guitars and a Bass, all with professional setups by Sweetwater, but the Setup on this Firebird is the best playing, highest quality setup on an Instrument that I have received yet, by far! The finish is just stunning and so is the sound. I have already recorded several videos with this instrument and I am blown away at the over all quality of this instrument. So China vs USA... Fine... $$$,00 vs $,$$$,00 in other words, more than 8 times the price. If you've got it, then go for it, but even if I could afford the Gibson, I would still prefer this Epiphone. Why, you ask... It's simple, the same woods, the same pots, Grovers, Higher Output yet very similar sounding pickups. (I never liked mini's, they are gutless sounding and they have microphonics that really squeal with even modest gain. No, these Epiphones are the greatest value in Firebirds that one can get in 2023. Whether you opt for the rather large case like I did, or like one reviewer suggested, get the MONO Vertigo BASS Bag for it, you can't go wrong with this Guitar. It might be the best value in Electrics at this price, PERIOD! Pick out the one you like and order your Epiphone Firebird today, you will not regret it for one second! I have included a few pictures of my Firebird, it's my new favorite Guitar!

This is really a good looking guitar. It plays well. The neck is somewhat chunkier than I remember my Gibson being years ago, but it feels good in my hand so no matter.
If there were a critique I would have, it would probably be the pickups. I feel certain I will replace them in favor of something a little hotter. That is a personal thing.
Having said that, this is a great guitar for the price. It plays, and especially looks WAY above its price class.
I really like this guitar, and I think it is a great value. It really is a good lookin' fiddle.

I can play any rock song and you feel it is the right guitar sound. From Holly to Zappa it rocks.

I got a used version of this guitar and I can't say it isn't perfect cause it is. I like player grade guitars and this is great!

This guitar Amazing good work from Epiphone nice wood tone i want Thank you Sweetwater sales Technician all Team work on this guitar until i received yesterday. Thank you Sweetwater

This guitar plays great out of the box. The wings like to bump in to things. You can get the gigantic hardcase for it or just get a Mono Vertigo bass bag and it will fit perfect. Nice sounding pickups with plenty of bite in the bridge and smooth but clear in the neck. It feels massively long but it also feels like it is tucked up under your chin. A true oddball feeling guitar in a good way!

I've been a Fender guy mostly, but the Firebird has been my main exception. Besides the cool look, the neck feels better (to me) than (most) gibson/epis (C vs D shaped?). I've followed all the iterations over the years on this guitar and finally realized this is the one that makes it all come together. And, adjusted for inflation, it actually cost me less than I would have paid back in the 80s. This, for a more superior/authentic (60s) bird! It's a great guitar. SWs sales/service is impeccable.

I got my Firebird yesterday and have not been able to put it down. I have several Epiphone guitars and this one has surpassed even my expectations. The fretwork is excellent, with no fretting out when bending at the upper frets, and clear response all the way up the neck. Intonation was easy to dial in after setting up with my preferred strings, and the tuners leave nothing to be desired, Grover's are great.
The neck-thru design really makes this guitar feel like you are picking up a single piece of wood and you can really feel the guitar resonate. Also, the balance with the strap button on the heel is perfect.
The pickups and electronics blew me away! In the past, I have torn out the electronics and rebuilt them as I wanted, but this one - stock with CTS pots, Orange Drop caps and quality hand-wiring - leaves nothing needing upgrading. The pickups are also, very nice and I really love the clarity and growl out of them. Compared with my Firebird VII with Seymour Duncan - Seymourized Mini Humbuckers - they have a hotter output without losing clarity or adding mush to the low end.
Really, it's one of the best guitars you will find for $ IMHO! This one is a keeper!

I reach for this guitar just as much as my Gibson's, perfect gigging guitar, and the stock pickups are fantastic.

Stays in tune extremely well, if you want a Gibson but it's out of the price point, you can't go wrong with this Firebird. The quality is nearly on par with Gibson. I'd say 90%.

I bought my IBG Firebird in end of 2020, So my honeymoon and no divorce period is over.. This guitar is a well built and solid player..True neck thru, True original firebird inspired pickups, quality hardware, much better than Gibsons lower offerings from 2017-19...This handles sounds from hard rock to country and between.. My only issue is the way they mounted the tuners...way to much of side angle for the high e string... if you look at the gibsons head stock they use the same style of tuners but mounted up a tad higher and closer together much better angle, Dont know why Epiphone did not follow suit... i had to notch the high e nut just a touch to feel better about it staying in place no problems so far..You can beat this guitar for the money its as close to a vintage firebird without spending 3x as much...

I always wanted a Firebird and have no disappointment with this guitar. It has a great sound and plays effortlessly. The fit and finish is top notch and it is just super cool. It's alot of guitar compared to a Les Paul, SG or Strat. When you sling it on it's like you have the great California Redwood over your shoulder.

I have several USA Guitars, Gibson and Fender.
I ordered the Firebird based on reviews and research I did.
I had Sweetwater PLEX it and it is awesome, really think this makes a difference. I had a Strat PLEXED previously and it is excellent as well!
I was able to set the action at 2.5/64, the neck is semi thin and a nice width.
It is different getting used to the ergonomics, I don't see any issue but some my not dig that aspect.

This guitar is a whole 'nother breed. It arrived to Maine from Sweetwater still in tune, no frets need attention, and pickup output is even across the strings. No dead spots on the fretboard, no buzzing, no weak output. The packaging was ridiculously thorough, and as usual Sweetwater has the best customer service reps I've dealt with in the music industry.

The pots are good. One (bridge volume) wasn't snugged down, and is a shade scratchy at the bottom. One knob is weird and doesn't sit level, but that's a minor gripe. There were a couple slivers of wood that weren't perfectly cleaned up on the board, and some minor tool marks on the fretboard as well, but that's pure, unadulterated nitpicking on my end. The frets are well done with no sharp edges, no rough spots, and no frets needed leveling. Remarkable.

Playability is fantastic. It's an extremely resonant guitar, and the pickups sound like a Firebird should. The pups blend very well with each other on the middle position, bleed some volume or tone and it'll do anything. The neck pickup is thicker than Mississippi mud, with loads of harmonics. The bridge bites like a bobcat, and the tone pots on both can very easily kill the treble and mellow it out. It's just an absolute pleasure to play, and the tuning machines are fantastic.

This is a better guitar than my Gibson Studio Faded LP, which was a real dog until the electronics, pickups, and nut were all replaced. This Firebird is still a better guitar as it sits. It is extremely responsive to pick attack, and it plays so well with a tube amp that I have to remind myself it's a brand new guitar and not a particularly good vintage example. It is not neck heavy, in fact it weighs less than 8lbs.

It sounds and plays as good as my G&L USA Legacy custom. All in all, this is a LOT more guitar than the price tag would indicate. While it's always possible that the good folks at Sweetwater cherry picked me a great one because I'm polite on the phone, I don't think that's the case here. These are the real deal, Epiphone knocked it out of the park. True neck through, vintage construction pickups (even though they have the quick connect instead of solder), it's a keeper.

I'm trying for a balance here between reviewing this as solely "for the price" and also putting it up against any guitar regardless of cost. The final star rating is 100% value for the money though.

Appearance: 8/10
It's not a stunner necessarily, but with Chinese made Epiphones what I desire with the finish is just very competent work. I am indeed impressed as the paint job is better than several American made guitars I've had. Lines are great, the various crevices are done well, the burst is quite good, it's just a nice looking instrument. Finish is poly, as one would expect at $600. The mahogany has some nice grain too. The Pau Ferro fretboard looks nice and dark, they've definitely gotten the hang of getting the fake rosewoods looking good in the past year or two. Those used to be super dependent on the specific guitar.

Hardware: 7/10
Tuners are grovers and definitely feel good. New guitars are always a bit wonky with their tuning because of the strings, but it held pretty well while I was playing it. Strings are obviously getting changed right away so I won't comment on that. Pots are CTS and feel nice to move. They have the good kind of friction that you look for. Output jack is unspectacular, does the job. That's the type of thing that's good when you never notice it. Pickup selector is a bit weird compared to other three way toggles I've used. It's like it gravitates towards the middle position harder than most if that makes sense. Like being on the bridge or neck only giving it the tiniest tap will move it to the middle. I haven't had any actual issues with this due to its location, but something to note.

Electronics: 9/10
I am legitimately impressed with Epiphone here. Alnico Firebird pickups that stay true to actual FB pickup construction rather than taking the easy way out and dropping mini humbuckers in there is impressive and the CTS pots and orange drop caps are obviously quality components. I really enjoy how this thing sounds. There isn't a single genre of music that I don't think this guitar could at least semi-adequately tackle. It doesn't even need coil splits to accomplish this. Sounded great through various drive, distortion, and fuzz pedals and also has a super chime-y high end on the bridge pickup.

Setup and Playability: 5/10
I forgive poor setups from the factory 100% due to shipping changes, every customer having a different preference, and how easy it is to adjust this stuff with a simple multi-tool. This one came with super high action which I was prepared for and took care of, but I did pretty quickly find out that this is due to some pretty bad fret buzzing on the low strings. Even at moderately low action I was getting this. Now, I'm one who would much rather have higher action on the low strings than the high ones and I'm fine with how I was able to set it up, but some might be annoyed that they'd have to pay $50-$100 depending on the luthier to get the frets leveled and achieve truly low action. Fret edges are totally fine, no sharp points or anything. The neck is very comfortable to me, but that is so subjective to different people that it's not really worth diving into. The nut is fine too. I would say the fret leveling was the most disappointing thing about the guitar I got, but in reality it's not a huge deal to me personally so I'm still leaving it at 5 stars. There was no fretting out on bends or anything like that.

Conclusion:
Really, this has the features of a guitar more expensive than it is. It reminds me of a past PRS S2 guitar that I used to own that was $1,200, the difference being that it was made in the US. Is this a master crafted instrument of impeccable quality? No, it's a mass produced Chinese guitar that's probably mostly made by a machine. However, for those that value location of manufacture less such as myself, this guitar and the current Epiphone product line in general presents a wonderful opportunity to roll the dice a bit with build quality and go for $1000 guitar features at a much more competitive price point.

Excellent guitar in every respect,,The Epiphone inspired by Gibson line is great. Shout out to my sales rep Aaron Kinney for outstanding customer service and setting me up with this beautiful guitar!!

Absolutely top shelf quality and playability . I love this guitar . After purchasing a Brent Hines Sig V a few years back , I saw the craftsmanship and attention to detail Epiphone uses making Their guitars very pro user friendly . Their quality control is top notch .. I have since purchased , without issue , A Ritchie Faulkner Flying V , The Prophecy plus Les Paul and another Custom Shop Les Paul , and , The Firebird . WITHOUT A DOUBT AN EPIPHONE FAN NOW .

Before I start I want to thank Ryan Murray and his Assistant Tina for their dedicated and amazing customer service! I called one night in early January and Tina got me in line for the Firebird. I waited for 2 months. Ryan called me last week and said the firebirds were in. I was excited and ordered it on the spot! The photos did not do the guitar justice. The finish was perfect and the burst and the grain of the wood was absolutely stunning! I took it out of the. Ox after letting it set for a few hours due to the cold weather here in WV. Once it acclimated I opened it and was in awe. I couldn't believe I was actually holding a guitar I've wanted since I was a teen. It was dang near in tune out of the box. I tuned it to Eb and played it unplugged for a few minutes. This guitar is very resonant and the whole body vibrates when you play it. The guitar is alive sounding! The sustain unplugged rivals my les Paul's and it's half the thickness! The fret work is beautiful! No fret sprout, no sharp ends, the binding wasn't touched once when dressing! The edges are even rolled like the Gibsons! The neck is fast as lightning! I prefer a big neck, 59 profile like on my les Paul's but this neck is wide and has some girth but it's very very comfortable! The tuners are Grover's what more is there to say?! Top notch and they are smooth and hold tune without any issues! The nut is made by graphtec and its perfect! Now when I plugged the guitar in I will be honest I was taken by surprise at how bright the guitar is! The pickups are HOT! Vintage voiced but lots of top end. I'm not complaining I just lowered the bridge pickup to where it wasn't as trebly on the higher strings and it was perfect! It still retained the bite I like but it wasn't like having an ice pick jammed in your ear. The bridge pickup is very articulate, a nice pronounced midrange and it cleans up with the volume control. The neck pickup is sweet and juicy. Very strat like and gets that chewy sound when you play with the volume and tone. Moving on the the electronics, the volume and ton controls are awesome! Full size CTS pots. The taper is great! The guitar doesn't get muddy on you when you lower the volume, the taper is even and so is the tone control. The way they respond is the same for both pickups. I'm very impressed and couldn't be happier. This guitar nails the Johnny Winter tone, it plays the Tom Petty Catalog nicely too! When you crank up the gain on your amp this guitar sings and screams! I highly recommend one! I love mine !

This guitar plays better than it looks and it looks great! You can play every note with ease because the heel is the flattest I've ever played due to the neck through design. When I got it the only thing I didn't like was the truss rod cover!

I pre ordered this months ago but with everything that's happened it took a little longer to get here.. but worth the wait! I just got it today and haven't been able to put it down. Other than adjusting a few things to my taste it came pretty much perfect out of the box! It is also far more comfortable to play than my firebird studio! I can't say enough about the the experience of ordering from Sweetwater! Even with the delay in shipping Matt kept me informed the entire time! And even sent me pics of my guitar prior to shipping!

I wanted to check out Epiphone's new lineup but wasn't so sure about some of the QC on the lower end guitars. I was not disappointed with the Firebird. No QC issues to be seen. The mini-humbuckers sound just as good as normal humbuckers, just a little less brash. Great for any genre of music. Even sounds good with metal music, surprisingly. The cleans are super clean smooth, the dirty sounds are nice and gritty. Don't let the mini-humbuckers fool ya. It is rather large, but it sits right whether you're standing or sitting. Sweetwater did the setup and my .11-.56 strings feel like they came stock with the guitar. The action is nice and low, but not too low that it buzzes out when you're playing more aggressively. Ken Davis is always very helpful and I can't say enough good about his professionalism and service.

Just arrived and is ALL i hoped for, and more. I was going to Plek . I decided to wait. After the set up at the Sweetwater Shop it was FINE. My second Epiphone from SW . Thank you STEVE GREY and the shop staff. A really fine laurel fingerboard. Thanks to Epiphone, a fine instrument.

...I do not care that it is not a Gibson. It is awesome. That I care about.

Been waiting for a while for these to come back into stock....they finally did....I pulled the trigger...ABSOLUTELY no regrets. Bought the Epiphone case for it too....worth every penny.

This guitar is lightweight, neck is very comfortable, pickups sound great through my Marshall Origin 20. Tons of chime and sustain.

If you like the Firebird, then this thing will satisfy. Looks great next to my Thunderbird bass!

I purchased a demo model Epiphone Firebird at Sweetwater a few months ago - always liked the non-conformist looks like my Fender Jazzmaster. (It's kind of like a mirror guitar, so why not get for stage effect?) I understand the large nick in the back of the finish made the demo discount, but overall the woodwork was pretty impressive, especially considering the wood layer lamination build required for a Firebird per 1963 specifications. That was impressive and done properly.

However, the big blunder was not the inexplicable gouge in the rear of the guitar while being on the rack for sales, but rather why the fret nut WAS NOT GLUED IN. The truss rod cover, however, had been glued instead, so after some work from my guitar tech he managed to get that pried off and provide a good neck adjustment.

As far as playability goes, the Firebird is very good after some neck adjustments - get used to that if you buy Epiphone. I was able to find an Epiphone hardshell case after some backorder waiting.

Finally, I replaced the tinny stock pickups with a Mojo Tone hot bridge and a Seymour Duncan vintage neck pickup - after this and a Graph Tech nut replacement, the guitar now plays beautifully and sings like a heavy rock giant with impressive output. And yes, it sounds great for blues as well.

Bottom line: Epi's are very competitive for value instruments, especially old designs next to what Gibson wants for their guitars, but plan to spend some money and time getting them cut in where you want them.

I also wish Epiphone had released additional colors of this base model; now it's $ or more for any color but tobacco sunburst.

Allen Collins also had a couple firebird I think he deserves a little credibility since he did write and play free bird .thank you

The ax itself is absolutely flawless. All the frets are nice the neck was rolled well. No string buzz. Really looks good well done!
Toggle switch was garbage. Buy one...

Pros: Fit and finish was wonderful overall. I've seen some reviews on this and other Epi firebirds complaining about some missing finish near the raised center woods and things like that but mine looks great, no issues in the finish. Plays great! Very much a dream guitar of mine. Frets are mostly perfect too (the last fret nearest the neck pickup as a nick or something in it but it doesn't effect anything and can be fixed easily enough) Neck pickup is wonderfully creamy but I would prefer a hotter bridge pickup, still though at this price point this thing sounds great clean and with overdrive

Cons: Wiring. This thing is a rats nest in the control cavity! I noticed an issue immediately, a loud hum that didn't die down when I touched the strings or bridge but did quiet if I touched any other metal parts on the guitar or in my signal chain. I suspected the bridge wasn't grounded properly.

Not sure how this wasn't noticed during the inspection from the factory. I can't believe it wasn't noticed during the "55 point inspection" they supposedly do at Sweetwater. It would have been noticeable immediately if it was ever plugged in.

Sweetwater's customer service was pretty lacking. I reached out to my sales rep, he referred me to tech support. Over a few days they told me they didn't think it was a bridge ground issue. Not sure how they came to that conclusion because they didn't troubleshoot anything with me and didn't really ask me any questions about the issue. Basically said I could take It to a Gibson authorized repair center to have it fixed under warranty or a different shop and they'd refund me up to 75 dollars for repairs after I sent them a receipt. So I could take it to a different retailer for repair or pay out of my own pocket to fix it and hope they pay me back.

1. Next time I'll just buy from a different retailer then that can back up the products they sell, maybe like the one I would have had to go to get it repaired under warranty, which I had to look up myself.

2. I'm not paying out of pocket to fix a guitar that I bought brand new and hope I get reimbursed after the fact.

I gave up on the tech support, with only was getting one response a day via email and my work schedule making it impossible to call on the phone during business hours. But the sales rep will call constantly and email up until they take the money from your account to pay for the guitar. Go figure.

I opened it up myself and lo and behold the wiring is a mess, a few poor solder joints, a jumble of wires and no bridge ground connected to any pots. The bridge ground was there and attached to the bridge post, but it was never pulled through to the control cavity And shows no signs of ever being connected. I pulled it through and connected it the back of a pot. Overall an easy fix but a fix that I shouldn't have had to make on a brand new guitar and one that many customers wouldn't be able to make if they aren't comfortable with solder.

It will eventually need completely re-wired, but it works without nasty hum for now. And the guitar does have CTS pots and orange drops in there. "Era appropriate wiring" though? Lol okay! Picture attached of said rats nest. I took some in case tech support would
Want to check it out—they didn't care to.

The toggle switch is junk as well and will need replaced too eventually. It doesn't want to stay anywhere but the middle position, a slight bump will spring it there but it works for now

Overall I am happy with the guitar just because it's so pretty and places beautifully. It would get 5 stars if it wasn't for the wiring issue. If I wasn't able to fix it on my own and had to take it somewhere and pay for repairs though? Idk My rating would be much much lower

Customer service from Sweetwater 2/5 stars. A lot of other online retailers offer better rewards or pricing for gear, I'll stick to using them. I literally only bought from Sweetwater because of the reviews for their customer service and their 55 point inspection, figuring it was safer to get a preordered/back ordered guitar that way...well now I know better.

In 68 at Madison Square Garden, for having to retune his Firebird so often. The nature of the beast? I think it's the neck.
A beautiful guitar though, looks like a high quality piece of furniture. Feels great. I have a few high frets that needs to be addressed, and a slightly high area on the fretboard. Fixable,but what really ticks me off is that after building such a beautiful guitar, the idiot that installed the bridge didn't put it quite in the middle, so the strings are not running visually parallel with the neck. Off about 1/8th inch.
I set it up to Gibson specs for now, a little higher than I normally would.
I have two more Epiphones planned, but I'm thinking I would have to try them out first, I don't trust their QC now.
Shipping did not go too well either, the box had a fist size hole right next to the Fragile lettering, and a blow across the bow that even dented the inside box, but luckily no marks on the Firebird.

Heavy, bulky, and odd. No thanks.