EPIPHONE

Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Firebird V and 1959 ES-355

- DAVE HUNTER

EPIPHONE HAS EXPANDED its Inspired by Gibson Custom range, and in doing so has arguably narrowed the gap in quality between these guitars and those of the parent company. At the same time, Epiphone has expanded its offering of period-correct models, which so far has included renditions of the J-45, J-180 and SJ-200 acoustics. The new lineup features the 1959 Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Custom, 1963 Les Paul SG Custom, and the two more exotic offerings, reviewed here, the 1963 Firebird V and 1959 ES-355.

While the majority of Epiphone's guitars have been "inspired by Gibson" models since it was absorbed by its parent company in 1957, the series represents a much closer collaboration between the Chinese-made guitars and the luthiers of Gibson's Nashville-based Custom department. The twofold goal includes greater attention to vintage-correct details and the use of many of the same parts featured on American-made Gibson guitars.

For example, each of these guitars has the same USA-made pickups found on Gibson's Custom counterparts, as well as CTS potentiometers, Switchcraft jacks and switches, Mallory tone caps and other components you'll find on many of the finest guitars available today. At these prices there will inevitably be some departures from both vintagecorrectness and Gibson Custom quality. The most obvious include polyurethane finishes, some slightly sharp fret ends and the use of bridge mounting anchors rather than posts directly into wood. With that said, the look and feel are both impressive at first glance, so let's dig more deeply into them.

1963 FIREBIRD V