Blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa has joined forces with Gibson Brands once again to announce the limited release of the Epiphone Polymist Gold Firebird I and the Epiphone Tobacco Sunburst Firebird I.
The guitars were modeled after the original 1963 Gibson FIREBIRD 1 and are of highly limited supply.
The Joe Bonamassa Firebird I is presented in two finish options: Polymist Gold and Tobacco Sunburst. The neck consists of double-carved, one-piece genuine mahogany and the fingerboard features one-piece, hand-rolled Indian rosewood with cellulose trapezoid inlays. The reverse Firebird body shape pairs a two-piece maple top with a one-piece genuine mahogany back. Also, the guitar features custom add-ons like the ProBucker FB720, a one-of-a-kind faithful recreation of the original early 60s Firebird pickup and exclusive Kluson’s superb re-issue of the original Firebird/Banjo style tuners.
“When Epiphone approached me about doing this guitar, I said we have to base it on a very special guitar called ‘Treasure,’ which is my original 1963 Firebird I. This guitar was loaned to me by a gentleman named Dan Silverman. He came to a show in Portland, OR and came up to me and said ‘Joe, I want you to play this in good health, take it on the road, and give it another life.’ He bought it new in 1963. I immediately named it ‘Treasure’ because it’s one of my prized possessions. I’ve used it on a lot of different records. I’ve played ‘Slow Train’ on it more times than I can remember.”
Joe’s guitar tech Mike Hickey added: “The very first year of this guitar doesn’t have ‘Firebird’ on the pick guard – that’s how you can tell the year. This guitar also doesn’t have the tremolo, which is a rarity. Joe uses this guitar for the song Slow Train and we use a capo at the second fret so you’re in F-sharp.”
