Epiphone and Gibson Custom have teamed up once again to create the updated Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird V Reissue with Maestro Vibrola—an authentic replica of the guitar designed by legendary automotive designer Ray Dietrich.

When it was launched in 1963, the Firebird was Gibson’s first neck-through-body guitar, and it went on to be used by players in a wide range of genres, including blues legend Johnny Winter, Keith Richards and Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music, to name a few.

The updated Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird V with Maestro Vibrola delivers vintage Firebird specifications at an accessible price. Vintage-inspired features include a 9-ply neck-through-body made of mahogany and walnut, with mahogany body wings on either side of the neck. This construction method results in the tuners, pickups, and bridge all being anchored into the same pieces of wood for exceptional resonance, sustain, and tonal transfer.

The neck features a SlimTaper Rounded C profile with soft fretboard edges for a comfortable, played-in feel. The rosewood fretboard is adorned with mother-of-pearl trapezoid inlays and equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets. Even the side dot position markers match the size and historically accurate placement of those found on vintage Firebirds.

Kluson planetary geared “banjo” tuners anchor the strings at the headstock and further add to the historic Firebird look, while an Epiphone ABR-1 bridge and Maestro Vibrola with an engraved Epiphone logo hold things down at the other end.

The electronics are also premium and include Gibson USA Firebird mini-humbucker pickups with Alnico 5 magnets, CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors, and a Switchcraft 3-way pickup selector toggle switch and 1/4” output jack—giving this remarkable recreation not only the look but also the sound of a classic Firebird V.

An Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom hardshell case is also included.