Head to head
Epiphone IGC 1963 Firebird I, Heather Poly vs ESP M-1000HT Black Natural Fade
The verdict
The ESP M-1000HT Black Natural Fade comes out ahead overall — 82 to 67 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone IGC 1963 Firebird I, Heather Poly wins on
- Lower price ($899 vs $1,399)
ESP M-1000HT Black Natural Fade wins on
- Better build (93 vs 65)
- Better playability (81 vs 75)
- Better sound (71 vs 63)
- Better value (79 vs 65)
Scorecard
| Metric | IGC 1963 Firebird I, Heather Poly | M-1000HT Black Natural Fade |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 67 | 82 |
| Build | 65 | 93 |
| Playability | 75 | 81 |
| Sound | 63 | 71 |
| Value | 65 | 79 |
Full specifications
| Spec | IGC 1963 Firebird I, Heather Poly | M-1000HT Black Natural Fade |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | ESP |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | JP |
| Body wood | 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through | Alder |
| Neck wood | 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut | 3Pc Maple |
| Fretboard | Indian Laurel | Macassar Ebony |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 24 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.5" |
| Pickups | Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets | Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Alnico Black Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) / Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Ceramic Black Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $899 | $1,399 |
| Body Finish | Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Firebird | — |
| Body Styles | Firebird | — |
| Bridge | Wraparound Lightning Bar | Hipshot Fixed w/ String Thru |
| Bridge pickup | Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets | Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Ceramic Black Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) |
| Case | Hardshell Case | MH Guitar Form Fit Case |
| Control Covers | Black with Inspired by Gibson Custom Hotstamped Logo | — |
| Control Knobs | Gold with Silver Reflector | — |
| Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone, Hand-wired with CTS Potentiometers and a Mallory Capacitor | Active |
| Finish | Nickel | Black Natural Fade |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 300-400mm Compound |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Modern Epiphone Logo in Gold (on Truss Rod Cover) | — |
| Joint | Neck-Through-Body Construction | — |
| Model | EIGC63FB1HEPNH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Nickel | — |
| Nut | Graph Tech | Molded |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 43mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4"Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | 3-ply White; Firebird Logo Hotstamp in Red | — |
| Profile | 1963 Firebird | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 25.5" |
| Side | Mahogany Wings | — |
| Strap Buttons | 3 - Bottom, Shoulder, and Neck Heel - Historic Firebird Strap Button Placement Locations | — |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | — |
| Truss rod | Dual Action | — |
| Truss Rod Cover | Black with Epiphone Logo in Gold | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Kluson Banjo-style Planetary | LTD Locking |
| Case Included | — | N |
| Construction | — | Neck-Thru |
| Hardware | — | Black |
| Neck pickup | — | Fishman Fluence Modern Humbucker Alnico Black Direct Mount *(Pull Tone for Voice 2) |
| Neck profile | — | Extra Thin U |
| Strap Button | — | Standard |
| Top wood | — | Burled Poplar |