Epiphone EIFBVSNH1 Electric Guitar: Full Review

The Epiphone Firebird is an iconic electric guitar model first introduced by Gibson in 1963. Designed by automotive designer Ray Dietrich, the Firebird stands out with its unique "reverse" body shape with horns that point backwards.

Epiphone's version of the Firebird retains the classic offset double-cutaway body style of the original, which helps provide excellent access to the higher frets. The distinct shape also allows for comfortable playing whether sitting or standing. As an affordable version of the classic Gibson model, Epiphone's Firebird offers great bang-for-the-buck for players looking for a distinctive instrument with vintage character.

This Epiphone Firebird model features a mahogany body and neck for a well-balanced tone, along with Alnico Classic humbucker pickups for vintage-inspired growl. With its fast-playing neck, unique styling and resonant tone, the Epiphone Firebird encapsulates the vibe of classic rock while providing modern playability. For guitarists looking for a guitar with flair, the Epiphone Firebird is a high-quality option worth considering.

Body & Neck

The Electric Firebird Sunburst by Epiphone is built with a solid mahogany body, giving it a nice weight and resonance. It has a classic 'reversed' Firebird body shape with sleek lines for a distinctive look.

The neck is also made from mahogany and has a comfortably rounded '50s profile that feels great in the hand. It has a 24.75" scale length with a rosewood fretboard containing 22 medium jumbo frets. The fretwork is very good on this model.

The body has a gorgeous Heritage Cherry Sunburst finish with black accents that looks high-end. The multi-ply pickguard and chrome hardware nicely complement the overall aesthetic.

Overall the Firebird offers a well-made and stylish mahogany body and neck that feels solid and plays smoothly. The distinctive body shape and classy finish give it a lot of visual appeal. If you're looking for a high-quality, eye-catching electric guitar, the Ortega Guitars RCE145BK is definitely one to consider.

With its solid construction and stylish design, the Firebird is built to deliver great tone and playing comfort. The mahogany body and neck provide a balanced tone with good low-end, punchy mids, and singing highs. The medium jumbo frets allow for expressive string bending.

Some other features that contribute to playability include the 12" radius rosewood fretboard which feels smooth, and the Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece for solid string stability and sustain. The pickups and electronics are also very good quality.

When it comes to looks, the Firebird has an iconic and instantly recognizable silhouette. The reversed body shape is balanced and comfortable to play but also super eye-catching.

The smooth lines, beveled edges and pointed cutaways give it a sleek, fast look. The Heritage Cherry Sunburst finish is absolutely gorgeous, with an elegantly faded edge bursting into bright vibrant cherry center.

The chrome hardware including the pickguard, pickup covers, bridge, and tuners gleam against the dark finish. Everything comes together seamlessly for a very classy aesthetic.

In summary, the Epiphone Electric Firebird Sunburst offers excellent construction, hardware and electronics to match its stylish visual appeal. Players who value smooth playability combined with iconic looks will find this Firebird delivers.

Electronics & Hardware

The Epiphone Firebird Sunburst electric guitar features Epiphone's powerful mini-humbucking pickups that provide a bold, balanced tone. It has two volume controls and two tone controls, allowing you to shape your sound.

The guitar has a Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece for great sustain and tuning stability. It comes equipped with quality Grover Rotomatic tuners that keep the guitar in tune through dynamic playing.

The mini-humbuckers and hardware work together to give this Firebird a versatile sound palette. The pickups are not as hot as full-sized humbuckers, giving a more vintage output while still having enough power to drive amps into overdrive. The controls allow you to find the sweet spot for everything from clean chords to searing rock leads.

If you're looking for a versatile electric guitar with classic styling, the Epiphone Firebird is a great choice. The mini-humbuckers provide a wide range of tones while the hardware keeps the guitar playing in tune. This guitar is well-suited for rock, blues, country, and more.

Another popular electric guitar option is the Dean Guitars SA DREAD CE VB. This guitar has a single-cutaway dreadnought body shape made of mahogany with a spruce top. It comes in a vintage brown finish that looks great on stage.

The Dean SA DREAD CE VB is equipped with two Dean humbucking pickups that deliver a bold, resonant tone. It has individual volume and tone controls for each pickup, allowing you to blend the pickups and shape your tone.

Some other features that make this Dean guitar stand out are its rosewood fingerboard, adjustable truss rod, and die-cast tuners. The guitar has a 25.5" scale length and comfortable C-shaped neck profile. It's a quality instrument that looks, plays, and sounds fantastic.

Between the versatile mini-humbuckers of the Epiphone Firebird and the bold humbuckers of the Dean SA DREAD CE VB, guitarists have two great options. The Firebird offers a wide tonal palette in a classic design, while the Dean provides thick, rich humbucker tones in an eye-catching single-cutaway dreadnought body. Both are quality instruments that will serve guitarists well across many musical genres.

When shopping for an electric guitar, consider the body shape, wood type, pickups, and hardware. The controls, neck profile, scale length, and fretboard material also factor into playability and tone. Test different models to find the best electric guitar for your budget and playing style. And don't forget to complement your axe with a quality amp, cables, picks, and accessories.

Sound & Playability

The Epiphone Firebird features a mahogany body and neck which give it a warm, rounded tone with good sustain. The neck has a slim taper "D" profile that feels fast and comfortable for lead playing up and down the fretboard.

The alnico Classic humbuckers deliver a classic rock tone with plenty of bite and aggression when needed, but also clean up nicely when you dial back the volume. There's good note definition even with high gain tones. Palm muting sounds tight and focused.

Sustain is excellent thanks to the set neck design and quality hardware. Chords ring out long and true. The 12" fretboard radius gives a smooth feel that facilitates bending strings and complex chord voicings.

Tremolo picking and fast lead lines sound fluid and even across all strings. The Firebird can go from meaty rock rhythm to searing lead tones with ease. Overall an extremely playable and versatile guitar with professional level tone and performance.

Build Quality

The Epiphone Firebird has excellent build quality that lives up to the iconic Firebird design. The guitar features a mahogany body with a AAA flame maple veneer top that looks absolutely stunning. The neck is also made of mahogany and has a comfortable SlimTaper "D" profile that makes playing fast licks a breeze.

The overall fit and finish on the Firebird is very good for the price point. All the parts come together cleanly with no sharp edges or uneven gaps. The plastic inlays on the fretboard are cleanly pressed in and properly aligned. The tuners turn smoothly and hold tune reliably.

The sunburst finish on the body has an attractive gloss that really makes the figuring in the maple top pop. There are no visible defects like orange peel or uneven color. Quality control on the Firebird seems to be quite good, with very few reports of functional issues or cosmetic blemishes out of the box.

The Firebird feels solid and durable enough for extensive gigging and touring. While not as tank-like as a Gibson, the Epiphone can definitely hold its own on the road. Overall, this an exceptionally well-made guitar for the affordable price point.

Versatility

The Epiphone Firebird offers great versatility for a wide range of genres and playing styles. With its distinctive shape and powerful pickups, this guitar can produce anything from snarling rock riffs to bluesy leads.

The Firebird is especially well-suited for classic rock, hard rock, and metal. Its hot output pickups and bright, cutting tone allow you to achieve an aggressive rock/metal sound. The guitar has enough sustain and bite to produce searing lead lines. Chords also ring out with richness and attitude.

The semi-hollow construction gives this guitar a resonance that works well for blues playing. You can coax warm, smoky tones that are great for blues leads and shuffle rhythms. The neck pickup has a round, full-bodied character when playing blues.

Jazz players can also find the Firebird a rewarding guitar to use. The ability to get a clean, warm neck pickup tone makes this guitar suitable for jazz comping and mellow lead work. The Firebird produces a refined jazz tone without losing its rock 'n roll spirit.

From country rock to fusion, the tonal flexibility of the Epiphone Firebird allows you to cover many sonic bases. While it excels at rock tones, this guitar offers pleasant surprises for players of other genres too. The Firebird is arguably one of the most versatile guitars Epiphone makes.

Pros & Cons of the Epiphone Firebird Electric Guitar

Pros

• Classic Firebird design and aesthetics at an affordable price point
• High quality mahogany body and set neck provide great resonance and sustain
• Alnico Classic humbuckers deliver a warm, rich tone well-suited to classic rock and blues
• Coil-splitting option expands the tonal palette into single-coil territory
• LockTone tuners offer tuning stability
• Excellent upper fret access due to slim taper neck profile
• Lightweight and comfortable to play standing up

Cons

• Pickups may not have enough output for very high gain/metal genres
• Tuning stability may suffer without replacing stock tuners
• Smaller frets may not suit players with heavier attack
• Jack input located on the side rather than top can restrict movement
• Not as versatile as guitars with HSH pickup configurations
• Resale value unlikely to increase over time

Alternatives

When looking at electric guitars in this price range, there are a few other models that are worth considering as alternatives to the Epiphone Firebird:

Fender Player Stratocaster - The Fender Stratocaster is an iconic electric guitar model that has been played by countless famous guitarists. The Player Strat offers great playability, classic Strat tone, and excellent build quality. The shape may not be for everyone, but it's a versatile guitar that can handle many genres.

PRS SE Standard 24 - For those wanting a more modern and sleek design, the PRS SE Standard 24 is an excellent choice. It has a comfortable body shape, wide tonal palette, and high quality components and craftsmanship that punches above its price. The overall fit and finish rivals more expensive models.

Ibanez RG450DXB - Ibanez is known for fast, shred-friendly guitars. The RG450DXB offers amazing playability with its thin, fast Wizard III maple neck, 24 jumbo frets, and two humbuckers for aggressive rock and metal tones. The RG style won't be for all tastes, but it's perfect for lead playing.

ESP LTD EC-256FM - ESP offers great bang for your buck, and the EC-256FM delivers an amazing Les Paul style guitar with set neck construction and quality components. It has a comfortable body shape and packs some very high gain pickups, making it a great choice for rock and metal.

Schecter Omen-6 - For those who want the Schecter brand in this price tier, the Omen-6 provides their style, feel and tone in an affordable package. It's a quality guitar with versatile sound that can handle anything from hard rock to extreme metal.

Value for Money

The Epiphone Firebird Sunburst electric guitar offers excellent value considering its price point and features. This iconic guitar design delivers versatile sound possibilities perfect for rock, blues, jazz, and more.

Worth the current price?

At around $400, the Epiphone Firebird hits a sweet spot for build quality, components, and tonal options. While not as premium as Gibson versions costing over $2,000, Epiphone's quality construction and attention to detail make this an incredible value guitar.

The mahogany body with maple cap provides resonant, well-balanced tone. The neck feels fast and smooth, encouraging expressive lead playing. The Alnico Classic humbuckers and coil-splitting deliver a wide range of tones, from warm and throaty to bright and cutting.

While cosmetics like binding and hardware are more basic, they perform well and allow the price to stay reasonable. Considering the iconic design, quality materials, and tonal versatility, the Epiphone Firebird offers outstanding value compared to other guitars in this mid-tier price range. It's built to inspire practice and performance for years to come.

Conclusion

The Epiphone Firebird Sunburst solidbody electric guitar offers classic styling and modern playability at an affordable price point. With its thin mahogany body, set mahogany neck, and dual humbucker pickups, this Firebird delivers the iconic tone that made it a legend among rock and blues players in the 1960s.

The Alnico Classic humbuckers provide a balanced, warm sound with plenty of sustain and character. The slim 60s SlimTaper neck profile is fast and comfortable, while the LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece offer rock-solid tuning stability. The vintage sunburst finish looks classy and pays tribute to the original Gibson Firebirds.

Overall, the Epiphone Firebird Sunburst punches above its weight class in terms of build quality, sound, and playability. While it may lack some of the premium appointments and refinement of pricier instruments, it excels at delivering that unmistakable Firebird tone and vibe. For guitarists looking for an affordable entry point into the iconic Firebird design, this Epiphone model is easy to recommend. Its quality and performance make it an excellent value for the money.