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Epiphone 1963 Firebird V
Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain
VS
Playability
75
Sound
72
Build
67
Value
66
Score
71
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Playability
78
Sound
78
Build
74
Value
77
Score
77
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Epiphone 1963 Firebird V vs Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain Specs Comparison
Epiphone 1963 Firebird V Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain
General
Brand: Epiphone Schecter
Year: 2024 2020
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 7
Made in: China South Korea
Series: 1963 Firebird V Silver Mountain
Colors: Blue, Red Red Patterns, White Patterns, Green Patterns
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: 9-ply Mahogany/Walnut Neck-Through Mahogany
Bridge: Maestro Vibrola Hipshot Hardtail (.125) w/ String Thru Body
Neck
Neck Joint: Neck-Through Set
Tuners: Kluson "Banjo-style" Planetary Schecter Locking
Fretboard: Indian Laurel Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Trapezoid Lines
Scale Size: 24.75" 27" to 25.5"
Shape: 1963 Firebird Thin C
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel
Fretboard Radius: 12" 16"
Nut: Ivory Tusq Graphite
Nut Width: 43mm (1.693'') 48mm (1.89'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickups: Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnet (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA Sonic Seducer (Humbucker / Passive)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnet (Humbucker / Passive) Schecter USA Sonic Seducer (Humbucker / Passive)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Bell Dome
Pickup Mods: None Coil Split
Volume Controls: 2 2
Tone Controls: 2 1
Hardware
Strap Lock: No No
Hardware Color: Nickel Black
Show Diagrams Comparison
Epiphone 1963 Firebird V pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's switch options
Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's switch options

Reasons to Get
Epiphone 1963 Firebird V over Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain

Release Year
2024 vs 2020
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
24.75" vs 27" to 25.5"
Easier to adapt to
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Graphite
Resistant, good tuning stability and rich tone
Neck Joint
Neck-Through vs Set
Stronger neck and easier access to upper frets
Strings
6 vs 7
Narrower neck and fewer strings to change
Tone Knobs
2 vs 1
More tone control
Nut Width
1.693'' (43mm) vs 1.89'' (48mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Bridge
Tremolo vs Fixed
Simple vibratos without too much maintenance
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm) vs 16'' (406.4mm)
Easier to play chords without muting strings

Reasons to Get
Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain over Epiphone 1963 Firebird V

Country of Manufacturing
South Korea vs China
Built with higher quality standards
Fret Material
Stainless Steel vs Nickel Silver
Best fret material that will last forever
Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Scale Length
27" to 25.5" vs 24.75"
Less fret buzz with less string stiffness
Pickup Mods
Coil Split vs None
Splits humbuckers into single coil pickups
Strings
7 vs 6
Allows you to play lower notes
Number of Frets
24 vs 22
Allows to reach higher notes
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.89'' (48mm) vs 1.693'' (43mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Luminescent Sidedots
Yes vs None
Assists you when playing in dark environments
Bridge
Fixed vs Tremolo
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Fretboard Radius
16'' (406.4mm) vs 12'' (304.8mm)
Flatter fretboard makes it easier to play single notes and bend
Value Score
77 vs 66
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Epiphone 1963 Firebird V vs Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain

Bridge Pickup
Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnet vs Schecter USA Sonic Seducer
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
Gibson USA Firebird Mini Humbucker with Alnico 5 Magnet vs Schecter USA Sonic Seducer
Different Neck Pickup
Body Wood
Other vs Mahogany
Different Body Wood
Fretboard Wood
Laurel vs Ebony
Different Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6 vs 3-4
Different Headstock
Nut Material
Ivory Tusq vs Graphite
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Epiphone 1963 Firebird V vs Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain

Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Volume Knobs
2
Same volume control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Paint Finish
Poly
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Passive
Cleaner sound and no battery needed
Neck Profile Type
C
Comfortable neck that works for most people

Common Strengths

  • High-Quality Frets
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Strap Lock
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Price History Comparison

SET PRICE ALERT

Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain Prices

    SET PRICE ALERT

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    Hand Size Comfortability

    And after taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain favors large hands more than the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V.

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain:
    Big Hands
    Small Hands

    Beginner Friendliness

    The Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain meets 5 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

    New Player Friendliness

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale
    • Locking tuners

    New Player Friendliness

    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain
    • Comfortable shape
    • Easy-to-use bridge
    • Locking tuners
    • Tall frets
    • Comfortable neck
    • Comfortable fretboard
    • Narrow nut
    • Short scale

    Sound Quality Comparison

    The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

    Woods Used in Both

    Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
    Mahogany

    Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

    Woods Used in the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V

    Laurel wood pattern used for guitar building
    Laurel

    There are many types of Laurel, but East Indian is the most common for guitar building. Its color can vary from dark to light brown with black lines. Many people find its tonality similar to Rosewood, which favors the warmer frequencies. Find out more about Laurel.

    Woods Used in the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain

    Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
    Ebony

    Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

    Winner: Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain.

    Pickup Configuration

    Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

    Pickups Quality

    Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

    However, the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V has a slight sound quality advantage when taking into account other factors like the type of pickups, magnet, position, etc.

    Both use Passive pickups. This is what's used for most music genres. They have a regular output and will serve you for both high-gain and clean tones. The alternative (Active pickups) offer a higher output that is mostly used for heavy music.

    Winner: Epiphone 1963 Firebird V.

    Versatility Comparison

    Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

    Switch Options

    Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

    Only the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain comes with some kind of pickup modification: Coil Split.

    Coil Split lets you disconnect one of the pickup coils. When used with humbuckers, it turns them into single-coil with lower output and cleaner tone.

    When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

    Winner: Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain.

    Final Sound Quality Scores

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V
    Pickups 90
    Sustain 70
    Versatility 63
    Tuning Stability 65
    Sound 72
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain
    Pickups 85
    Sustain 80
    Versatility 66
    Tuning Stability 80
    Sound 78

    Build Quality Comparison

    When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V compares to the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain.

    Country of Origin

    The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Epiphone 1963 Firebird V is built in China while the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain is made in South Korea.

    China has a bad reputation when it comes to building quality. However, times have changed and now respectable brands use China's cheap labor to build good instruments for a lower price. Don't discount a guitar only because it was built in China, but also expect more quality from countries like Korea.

    South Korea was for many years the number one choice for mass-producing semi-premium guitars. They can build excellent guitars for a cheap price. Now, it's less common to find Korean guitars because Indonesia has proved capable of building guitars just as well, but likely for cheaper.

    Winner: Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain

    Nut Material

    If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

    The Epiphone 1963 Firebird V has a Ivory Tusq nut. Ivory used to be considered the best material for guitar nuts due to its beauty, durability, and the rich harmonics and sustain you could get from a guitar with it. However, the way to obtain it is simply unethical. Enter TUSQ ivory nuts, which are made synthetically to imitate ivory. Technically, it's better than ivory because it is consistent piece-to-piece, while natural materials can vary a lot, even if they're made from the same.

    On the other hand, the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain comes with a Graphite nut. It's a self-lubricating material that will allow the strings to slide over the nut without a lot of friction. It's a good type of nut if you want to have better tuning stability than with plastic, although it's not as resistant as Bone or Tusq.

    Winner: Epiphone 1963 Firebird V.

    Fret Material

    Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

    In this comparison, the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain is the only one that has stainless steel frets. These frets will basically last for the entire life of the guitar. They will never need polishing nor replacement. And not only that, but some people also notice that bending and vibratos are much easier to perform when they upgrade to stainless steel.

    Winner: Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain.

    Bridge

    The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

    The Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's brige is a Tremolo. Tremolo bridges give you more versatility than fixed bridges. They let you perform the intense vibrato effects that would be impossible with a fixed bridge. However, since the bridge floats and there's less contact with the body, the strings lose sustain slightly faster. They can also be a bit harder to restring and set up correctly than fixed bridges.

    On the other hand, the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's is a Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

    Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

    Winner: Tie.

    Tuners

    The Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

    Winner: Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain.

    Neck Joint

    Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

    The Epiphone 1963 Firebird V has a Neck-Through neck joint. This neck is a lot more resistant and lets builders give the neck joint a more comfortable shape for soloing at the upper frets. The disadvantage is that they're more expensive and that if you damage your neck, you can't simply replace it like with bolt-on necks.

    On the other hand, the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain comes with Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

    Winner: Epiphone 1963 Firebird V.

    Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V
    • Expensive Wood
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Neck-Through Build
    • Tremolo
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in China
    • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain
    • Stainless Steel Frets
    • Locking Tuners
    • Expensive Wood
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • Luminescent Inlay
    • Made in South Korea
    • No High-Quality Nut
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Tremolo
    • No Compound Radius Fretboard
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    Final Build Quality Scores

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V
    Quality of materials 66
    Features 65
    Quality Control 70
    Build Quality 67
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain
    Quality of materials 71
    Features 75
    Quality Control 75
    Build Quality 74

    Playability Comparison

    Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

    Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

    Nut Width

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V Nut Width
    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V Nut Width
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain Nut Width
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain Nut Width

    The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain has the wider nut with 48mm (1.89'') vs 43mm (1.693''). This is a 5mm (0.197'') difference

    This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

    Scale Length

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's Scale Length
    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's Scale Length
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's Scale Length
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's Scale Length

    The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

    In this case, the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain features a multi-scale of 27" to 25.5" while the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V has a regular scale of 24.75".

    A multi-scale fingerboard incorporates two scale lengths at the same time. This is present in some instruments with long scale to give a different tension to the lower strings than the higher strings. The thickest strings need more tension to avoid fret buzz (especially when tuned low), so the scale is longer for these strings, while the thinnest strings will need less tension (because they have a lower gauge), so they have a shorter scale to reduce stiffness for bends.

    It can feel awkward if you've never played a multi-scale because the frets will have more separation for the higher strings, but a lot of people love their versatility.

    On the other hand, the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's 24.75" regular scale means it has a fixed scale for all the strings.This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

    On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

    Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

    Neck Profile

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V Neck Profile
    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's neck profile
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain Neck Profile
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's neck profile

    No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

    Both the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V and the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain have a C-shaped neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

    Fretboard Radius

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V Fingerboard Radius
    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's Fingerboard radius
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain Fingerboard Radius
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's Fingerboard radius

    Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

    In this case, the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's fingerboard radius is smaller, which means it's more curved than the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's. This extra arc will make playing chords easier in this model. You won't be as likely to mute the strings, especially if you have big hands. However, playing single notes and bending will be easier on the Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain.

    Still, both tend to favor soloing over chords, so if you're looking for a guitar for playing rhythm, you might want something else with a radius closer to a Stratocaster's 9.5''.

    Fret Size

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V Frets Size
    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's Frets Size
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain Frets Size
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain's Frets Size

    The Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Epiphone 1963 Firebird V's Medium Jumbo frets.

    Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

    Final Playability Scores

    Epiphone 1963 Firebird V
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 80
    Chord Playability 65
    Solo Playability 80
    Playability 75
    Schecter C-7 Multiscale Silver Mountain
    Bending & Vibrato Ease 90
    Chord Playability 55
    Solo Playability 90
    Playability 78