Ain’t it Funky, Now? Gibson Flying V Limited Edition
Written: Nov 22 '06 (Updated Nov 22 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Classic Design, Gibson Quality, Korina Wood, Sound, Hard Shell Case, Warranty
Cons: Expensive, but good things usually are
The Bottom Line: A faithful reproduction of the late 50s Gibson Flying V, first issue. Striking appearance and beautiful sounding, it is the ultimate professional rock guitar.
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| George_Chabot's Full Review: Gibson 1959 Korina Flying V |
Gibson Flying V Limited Edition
If you lurk around the classic rock guitar section very long you will soon learn that there are certain guitars that are akin to the “Holy Grail,” where people will sell their very soul to obtain one. Such an instrument is the original Gibson Flying V.
The Flying V was produced in 1958, along with a couple of other innovative designs, and then immediately dropped the next year. I seem to recall Gibson was trying to compete with the Fender products and the signature Gibson Les Paul model, while a premium guitar in its own right, did not make any inroads on the players who liked the lighter, more funky looking and different sounding Fender Strats and Telecasters. Kind of like comparing a Caddy limousine with a Z-28 Camaro; both are automobiles, but there are two completely different mindsets among their owners.
One of the main reasons the Gibson experimental models were discontinued was the economy was in recession and luxury products just were not in demand. This has had the effect of making the original models super expensive today as there is a very small universe of original Gibson electrics available for all the dollars chasing them. You can pay $200,000 for a Les Paul guitar from that era. No kidding. You can, but I can’t afford that kind of luxury. My house is not even that expensive, and here we are talking about a guitar you can carry in one hand.
The Gibson Flying V Limited Edition is a reissue of the classic instrument made in 1958. There have been many Gibson Flying Vs built since that first series almost 50 years ago, but not many have conformed to the original specifications as closely as this model does.
Besides having an innovative shape that has inspired many imitators, the Flying V Limited Edition has an exotic African Korina wood body. Korina is noted for its superior sustain and light weight. The set neck has all 22 frets clear of the body for ease in playing. Your fingers can really fly on this fret board. The lower bout of the guitar has an inlaid strip of ridged rubber so that you can hold it sitting down and the rubber will grab and hold the slippery body in place on your leg. Or, you can put your right leg in the V of the body and play sitting down that way.
The strings are through the body, like a Fender Stratocaster, and pass through the V shaped tailpiece and over a classic Gibson tune o matic bridge. The headstock is pointed and has six tuners, three per side, with a truss rod cover and the Gibson name logo in raised letters.
The hardware is gold plated and the pickups are classic Gibson humbuckers with gold covers. The pick guard is multilayer plastic and the “top hat” knobs are three in line with two volume and a single tone control. The three-position pickup selector switch is down near the control knobs and the cord plug in is on the front of the body with a separate round plastic trim piece that matches the pick guard. The body is natural finish or can be had in sunburst, both so you can see the beautiful Korina wood grain.
The Gibson Flying V Limited Edition plays like a dream, with the raw, rock n roll sound that only the original Korina wood V had. If you are a hard rock fan, this is the ultimate axe. All notes are accessible and the strings bend like wet spaghetti. You can certainly try out all your ideas on this instrument. It will probably even give you a few new ones.
The Gibson Flying V Limited Edition comes with a unique fitted deluxe hard shell case at no additional cost and a lifetime warranty to the original owner. If you are a professional rock musician, you cannot get a better guitar than this.
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