Head to head
Epiphone IGC 1963 Firebird I Reissue, Cardinal Red vs Harley Benton ST-70 RW
The verdict
The Epiphone IGC 1963 Firebird I Reissue, Cardinal Red and Harley Benton ST-70 RW are closely matched overall — 67 to 65 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Epiphone IGC 1963 Firebird I Reissue, Cardinal Red wins on
- Better build (65 vs 58)
Harley Benton ST-70 RW wins on
- Better value (75 vs 65)
- Lower price ($195 vs $1,299)
Scorecard
| Metric | IGC 1963 Firebird I Reissue, Cardinal Red | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 67 | 65 |
| Build | 65 | 58 |
| Playability | 75 | 72 |
| Sound | 63 | 60 |
| Value | 65 | 75 |
Full specifications
| Spec | IGC 1963 Firebird I Reissue, Cardinal Red | ST-70 RW |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Epiphone | Harley Benton |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | — |
| Body wood | Mahogany (Wings) | Basswood |
| Neck wood | 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut | Maple |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | Amaranth |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | — |
| Scale | 24.75" | 25.51" |
| Pickups | Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets | 3 Roswell STA Alnico-5 Vintage ST-Style Single Coils |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $1,299 | $195 |
| Body Finish | Vintage Gloss | — |
| Body shape | Firebird | — |
| Body Styles | Firebird | — |
| Bridge | Wraparound Lightning Bar | — |
| Bridge pickup | Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnets | — |
| Case | Inspired by Gibson Custom Hardshell | — |
| Control Covers | Black with Silver Inspired by Gibson Custom Logo Hotstamp | — |
| Control Knobs | Black Top Hat with Reflector | — |
| Controls | Master Volume, Master Tone, Hand-wired with CTS Potentiometers and a Mallory Capacitor | — |
| Finish | Nickel | Natural High Gloss |
| Fretboard inlay | Mother of Pearl Dot | — |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 305 mm |
| Fret Count | 22 | — |
| Headstock Inlay | Modern Epiphone Logo in Gold (on Truss Rod Cover) | — |
| Joint | Neck-Through-Body Construction | — |
| Model | ECFIR3CRNH1 | — |
| Mounting Rings | Nickel | — |
| Nut | Graph Tech | — |
| Nut width | 43.0mm / 1.69in | 42 mm |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | — |
| Pickguard | 3-ply White; Firebird Logo Hotstamp in Red | — |
| Pickup Covers | Nickel | — |
| Profile | 1963 Firebird | — |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 648 mm |
| 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 | Single Ply Black with Epiphone Logo in Gold | — |
| Tuner Plating | Nickel | — |
| Tuners | Kluson Banjo-style Planetary | — |
| Ex Factory Stringing | — | D'Addario .010 - .046 (Article no. #104555#) |
| Neck profile | — | C |
| Top wood | — | Imitation rosewood veneer |
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