Epiphone Limited Edition Joe Bonamassa 'Treasure' Firebird 1 - USA 2016

The Firebird has always stood apart in Gibson and Epiphone's history, a reverse-bodied oddity born in 1963 that traded the usual mahogany curves for a sharp, jet-age silhouette and a thru-neck construction almost nobody else was building at the time. Joe Bonamassa's own 1963 Firebird I, a single-pickup example from that inaugural production year at the combined Epiphone and Gibson facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan, became the blueprint for this Limited Edition Epiphone "Treasure" Firebird-I Outfit, built in close collaboration with Epiphone's craftsmen in Nashville to faithfully reproduce that original guitar.

Joe has been vocal about how well this reissue holds up against the real thing. "This guitar is named 'Treasure' after the '63 Firebird that was generously given to me four years ago," he explained. "Comparing the new Epiphone side by side with my two original '63s, the Epiphone versions both play and sound superior." That's a serious claim from someone who owns the originals, and it comes through in the build, a thru-neck of mahogany and walnut running the full length of the guitar, a single Epiphone ProBucker FB720 in the bridge position delivering plenty of gorgeous, rocking tone, and an adjustable wraparound "Lightning Bar" bridge and tailpiece keeping things simple and resonant. It's genuinely fun to play, light in the hands thanks to the reverse Firebird body, with a 1960s rounded C neck profile that feels immediately familiar.

This particular example presents in near-new condition, with hardly a mark on it and entirely stock, exactly as it left the factory. It comes complete in its original Epiphone gigbag.

Specifications:

Weight: 3.36kg / 7.42lb

Action at 1st Fret: 0.25mm

Action at 12th Fret: 1.5mm

Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 22.92mm

Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 25.28mm

Nut Width: 42.87mm

Width at 12th Fret: 54.48mm

Neck Joint: Thru-neck

Neck Material: Mahogany/walnut, 9-piece laminated

Body Wing Material: Mahogany

Body Shape: Reverse Firebird

Neck Shape: 1960s rounded C

Truss Rod: Adjustable, dual-action

Truss Rod Cover: 1-layer black, "Gibson" logo in gold - Epiphone cover in case

Scale Length: 24.75"

Fingerboard: Rosewood with dot inlays

Fingerboard Radius: 14"

Nut: Ivory PVC

Headstock: Original Firebird beveled headstock, no inlay

Bridge Pickup: Epiphone ProBucker FB720

Neck Pickup: None

Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone

Knobs: Gold "Top Hats" with metal inserts and pointers

Pickguard: 3-layer white/black/white with vintage "Firebird" logo

Frets: 22, medium-jumbo

Bridge/Tailpiece: Adjustable wraparound "Lightning Bar"

Hardware: Nickel

Machine Heads: Kluson Reissue Firebird/banjo tuners, 12:1 ratio

Output Jack: Epiphone heavy-duty 1/4"

Case: Original Epiphone gigbag

Condition: Near-new, stock