Head to head
ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic vs Gibson 1963 Firebird V with Maestro Vibrola, Light Aged, Cardinal Red
Electric$8,799
No ratings yet75Overall / 100
The verdict
The Gibson 1963 Firebird V with Maestro Vibrola, Light Aged, Cardinal Red comes out ahead overall — 75 to 66 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
ESP LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic wins on
- Lower price ($1,699 vs $8,799)
Gibson 1963 Firebird V with Maestro Vibrola, Light Aged, Cardinal Red wins on
- Better build (87 vs 61)
Scorecard
| Metric | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic | 1963 Firebird V with Maestro Vibrola, Light Aged, Cardinal Red |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 66 | 75 |
| Build | 61 | 87 |
| Playability | 72 | 75 |
| Sound | 68 | 68 |
| Value | 64 | 65 |
Full specifications
| Spec | LTD Gl Desert Eagle Black w/ Graphic | 1963 Firebird V with Maestro Vibrola, Light Aged, Cardinal Red |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | ESP | Gibson |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | — | US |
| Body wood | Alder | Layered Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Maple | 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through |
| Fretboard | Macassar Ebony | Indian Rosewood |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 25.5" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) / Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) | Firebird Alnico 5 / Firebird Alnico 5 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $1,699 | $8,799 |
| Bridge | Floyd Rose 1000SE | ABR-1 |
| Bridge pickup | Seymour Duncan ‘78 Direct Mount *(Push to Select) | Firebird Alnico 5 |
| Case | ST-TE Guitar Form Fit Case | Custom Shop Hardshell |
| Case Included | Y | — |
| Construction | Bolt-On | — |
| Controls | Passive | 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 500K CTS Potentiometers, Hand-Wired Harness with Black Beauty Capacitors |
| Finish | Black w/ Desert Eagle Graphic | Nickel; Murphy Lab Light Aged |
| Fretboard radius | 305mm | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Hardware | Black | — |
| Neck pickup | ESP LS-120 *(Pull to Select) | Firebird Alnico 5 |
| Neck profile | GL Original U | — |
| Nut | Locking | Nylon |
| Nut width | 43mm nut / 45mm neck width | 42.85mm / 1.69in |
| Scale length | 25.5" | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Strap Button | Standard | — |
| Tuners | LTD | Deluxe Banjo Tuners |
| Accessories | — | Certificate of Authenticity |
| Body Finish | — | Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | — | Firebird |
| Body Styles | — | Firebird |
| Control Covers | — | Black |
| Control Knobs | — | Black Top Hats with Silver Inserts |
| End Of Board Width | — | 56.89mm / 2.24in |
| Fretboard inlay | — | Aged Cellulose Nitrate Trapezoid |
| Fret Count | — | 22 |
| Joint | — | Neck-Through Construction |
| Model | — | FB5LACRNM1 |
| Output Jack | — | 1/4" Switchcraft |
| Pickguard | — | 3-Ply White/Black/White Firebird Hot-stamped |
| Pickup Covers | — | Nickel |
| Pickup Selector | — | 3-Way Switchcraft |
| Profile | — | Medium C |
| Saddle Material | — | Nickel-plated Brass |
| Strap Buttons | — | Aluminum |
| String gauges | — | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| Switch Tip | — | Cream |
| Tailpiece | — | Maestro Vibrola |
| Truss rod | — | 2-way Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | — | Black 1-Ply Gibson Hot-stamped |
| Tuner Plating | — | Nickel |
| Weight Relief | — | None |