Any Flying V owners?

Always had a soft spot for the Flying V model but I've never owned one.

Anyone here have one? If so, share your thoughts and opinions. Pics too.

I don't have one but I think they're cool. I'd like an all-white one with an ebony fretboard.

Had two Epiphone Korina V's but down to just one.
Sold the other one to Steve.

btw - they're great Guitars - The Epiphone 50's Clones.
And they Love stomp boxes as in "Dirt, Delay & De-Tuned." :cool:
Whew!

Fake one.

Early '80s Harmony copy that I installed early '80s Dirty Fingers HBs in. Currently in pieces awaiting reinvention. Interestingly, I last used it in a production of Faustus when it was determined that Lucifer needed a guitar. What else would he play? Anyway, some time after that show I discovered that it was Harmony Model #666. :shock:

I love Lonnie Mack and Albert King's V's. Never had one of my own, though.

Yep, a 1977. I need to flip the neck pickup back around the right way (the previous owner turned it around so the adjustable pole pieces are closer to the bridge).

Here it is next to a purpleheart violin bodied guitar I built a while ago:

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad5/Shieldbearer/Guitars/100_1265_20Percent.jpg

As far as opinion, I love it. I tend to go for a very mellow, neck-pickup sound a lot of the time, and believe it or not, it can do that. It's not an L5, but it still can be jazzy. Oh, and it rocks pretty well, too.:grin:

I bought a copy to play slide on- no body horns to get in the way.I got it from a hockshop for less than $200AUD. It plays pretty good, and I put in a pair of SD Seth Lovers. I'll play it for a whole night, no problem. Obviously, you can't play it sitting down very comfortably:mrgreen:
Back in the Dark Ages, when I had an SG, it used to feel really long, because the bridge is in the middle of the body. The V is a little like that also-- it feels like it has a real long neck, as there are no top and bottom horns. But it doesn't hang neck-down like an SG. The rear "wings" must balance it up better.

The brand is "Legacy", which was used by Billy Hyde's (sorta like an Aussie GC) for guitars, basses, stompboxes and cheap PAs, etc.

The V was made by the esteemed Pearl River Piano Company:grin:
And even though the pickups cost me more than the guitar, I like it a lot.

Another factor in getting a V?- We often play to a real "trad country" crowd at one of the venues we do. I just wanted to see their faces when I plugged it in.....:twisted:

Have owned several, don't have one currently... Looking for another one right now.

Opinion? Awesome guitars. Will definitely do everything from blues, to jazzyness, to full out metal. I've even done country gigs with one, replaced the bridge hummy with an SD Phatcat P-90.

They are a breeze to play sitting down- If you play right handed, just stick the "V" on your right thigh, it sits great.

Standing up, they are one of the most well balanced and comfy guitars out there IMO.

Also as mentioned by Dave, killer for slide as there no part of the body that really gets in the way or inhibits access to the upper reaches.

I dig V's a ton. They are NOT just for metal guys.:cool:

I've got two gibsons. My first a wine red 67 reissue was hanging in a mom and pop shop for ten years unsold with the pickguard cover still on it (took forever to unweld it from the plastic). It's neck was bowed like a rocking chair so I got it for a great price but it straightend right out when I got it home and tweeked the truss rod. It's one of the loudest guitars I've heard unplugged. My second is a black 67 reissue with schaller hardware, grover tuners and an SD custom custom in the bridge. It sustains forevers.

Have an Epiphone Korina Flying V and am loving it so far. Stock humbuckers are much less hot than the hot ceramic pickup set(496R & 500T) in my Gibson Explorer and on the Gibby Flying V.

Great to have one cool looking iconic rock guitar...and at a great price..:)

I owned an Epiphone in black and white, which had a set in neck and plywood body, it sounded terrible and never felt like a guitar to me.
http://sandmanguitaronline.com/images/1967%20Flying%20V.jpg

I had Matsumoku made Washburn V which sounded fantastic but had a problem with its neck so I sold it on.
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcROY31tV2jyeiYrO2GvajfRc-V-pQFabsELyLOWiP4UcP97onzo&t=1
Not mine but similar

I owned a Dean Acoustic V for a while, which sounded and played really crappy.
http://www.deanguitars.com/dean_winter_06/images/V-Coustic_med.jpg

And for the heck of it, I bought myself a Saga Flying V kit which after I assembled it turned out to be the worst guitar I ever owned.
http://www.boutiquemusicinc.com/e-store/images/Saga/FV10.jpg

So I can state that so far I haven't found a V that fits me but you'll never know, stranger things have happened.

Here are my 3 current ones and my reviews of them. See if anything helps you out. The last one (the reverse V) is by far my favorite.
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Great reviews there. Thanks.

I'm going to go check out a natural finish Epi Korina V on Sunday.

You are welcome TG. I think that Epiphone's '58 reissue is one of the best looking V's of all time. I've never played one myself. But what an amazing looking classic design. Let me know how the hunt turns out for you.

IMHO - it's gotta have the Strings Through The Body. :cool:

I have an Epi Korina V, it's definitely a get-you-noticed guitar.

The guitarist in my band has a V2, and visually it makes me want to rip my own eyeballs out with an ice cream scoop, but I gotta admit that it sounds awesome. Maybe there's something to those V-shaped pickups?

If I bought a V, I would only want the rara avis that is the V Custom. I mean if you're going to the opera anyway, you might as well go in black tie, am I right?

http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/8-17-10/Gibson_Custom_Shop_Flying_V_Custom_Classic_White_C S002258_1.jpg

The guitarist in my band has a V2, and visually it makes me want to rip my own eyeballs out with an ice cream scoop,

Am I the only one that think's that V looks freakin' awesome??!!

Am I the only one that think's that V looks freakin' awesome??!!

Probably not; they command surprisingly high prices on eBay. Someone likes 'em.

Not sure I'll ever own the Gibson version, but in case I don't this is my fallback position... :wink:

https://www7.corecommerce.com/~theguitarsyn260/images/products/8519.jpg

Partly thanks to this thread I made an offer on a local adverts site today to swap my tele for a V. Have to actually see each other's guitars, but it seems likely.
Funny thing is, after a decade of heavy telecaster use, and 7 years here, I may soon be telecasterless.
I realised a day or 2 ago that I associated my last remaining tele...my avatar...with the wedding band that I left acrimoniously a couple years ago and I never play it now. Just don't seem to want it anymore, plus I now have an SG, LP and a 335 I seem to be getting on with just fine.
Anyway, here's a pic.

I have one of the Gibson Faded Vs (http://www.deaf-eddie.net/guitars/flying-v.html)from a few years ago - it's probably the lightest guitar I've ever gigged with. Didn't like the stock ceramic pups, swapped 'em out for a S-D Pearly Gates Plus (Lone Star Strat pull!) in the bridge and a Dimarzio DP103 neck, with coil-shunts. Sounds fabulous to me now, much more "woody"... whatever that means!

http://www.deaf-eddie.net/guitars/faded-v.jpg

That Gibby is HOT!

Had an epi korina V for a while, put a set of pearly gates in it and it absolutely smoked. Probably get one again someday.

Best of both..? Check this out - http://www.rsguitarworks.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&Itemid=92

Best of both..? Check this out - http://www.rsguitarworks.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&Itemid=92

cool looking guitar and I know they make great stuff, but it bugs me when people don't advertise the price.

Well, here it is. I've put vintage style Schaller tuners on it and a set of Tonerider Alnico4 pickups. They seem OK so far. I also moved the strap button to the neck heel, which sorted out the balance.

Fun guitar. Light weight, nice sounding and surprisingly ergonomic.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/tgoss/epiV.jpg

Well, here it is. I've put vintage style Schaller tuners on it and a set of Tonerider Alnico4 pickups. They seem OK so far. I also moved the strap button to the neck heel, which sorted out the balance.

Fun guitar. Light weight, nice sounding and surprisingly ergonomic.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/tgoss/epiV.jpg

Very nice! I moved the strap button on mine to the neck heel too, much better balance now.

I had one of those Harmony Flying Vs, which I purchased back in the 1980s. I sold it in 1997--dumb, dumb, dumb sale. I hadn't done much to the guitar, but it was very, very comfortable to play, and it sounded just fine. I play slide almost exclusively, and it was great for that.

I had another V copy (Ibanez?) with a Fender-style headstock. I never warmed up to it. It just didn't feel right.

A few years back I bought an old Arbor Flying V, probably a 1980s job. It has a brass nut and a sort of Fender-y bridge setup--not a Tuneomatic style--with through-body stringing. I put flatwound .12s on it, and I love it. It's light, it plays easily (even with the .12s), and it sounds great. It overdrives my Epiphone Valve Jr. with ease. I can play well beyond the neck on it!

I was going to buy an Epiphone Korina V this year, but I was seduced by those seafoam green Xavieres . . .

Well I gave in and bought one again: a 1980's German made Hoyer.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e22/guitarman91/Fenderbird%20bouw/100_1513.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e22/guitarman91/Fenderbird%20bouw/100_1524.jpg

I have since put it together and it sounds and plays really good.

The guitarist in my band has a V2, and visually it makes me want to rip my own eyeballs out with an ice cream scoop, but I gotta admit that it sounds awesome. Maybe there's something to those V-shaped pickups?

If I bought a V, I would only want the rara avis that is the V Custom. I mean if you're going to the opera anyway, you might as well go in black tie, am I right?

http://www.themusiczoo.com/images/8-17-10/Gibson_Custom_Shop_Flying_V_Custom_Classic_White_C S002258_1.jpg

That's a beautiful guitar, fit for a king, for Albert King.

http://www.jimcarlsonmusic.com/Page%20Images/London/HRVaultKings.jpg

And for the heck of it, I bought myself a Saga Flying V kit which after I assembled it turned out to be the worst guitar I ever owned.
http://www.boutiquemusicinc.com/e-store/images/Saga/FV10.jpg

So I can state that so far I haven't found a V that fits me but you'll never know, stranger things have happened.
Interesting, I just put together a Saga V, and was actually pleasantly surprised by it. Then again, I put a lot of work into it, including successfully converting the bolt-on neck to a set-in neck (for no reasons other than just simply wanting to), lubricating the hell out of the tuners, and minor fretwork. Haven't painted it yet, but it has a good, workable tone, and I don't have to worry about it falling apart on me.

Me, Rockin' out with my rare 1958 Flying V! — with Mike Peroni, 1958 Gibson "Flying V" and Sears Silvertone Amp. 1975 ish. Sad to say I traded it for a $600 Les Paul in 1976.


http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/652_1036078896577_1063616828_30189818_5609_n.jpg

Got this one a few weeks ago.

I've got a faded V with a standard guard with stock buckers and a p90 guard. Awesome machine! Here's a pic with the p90's

I have a 90 epi with a floyd, waiting for the new nut set-up in the mail before i sell for another tele :D, the floyd takes waaayyy to much of a chunk out the body and it just doesnt have that real V tone

I have a Harmony H814 Flying V that I mainly bought as a wall piece for 50$ however I gotta say I was pretty surprised how fun it is to play. The ergonomics are surprising good with the V shape - the body is everywhere you want it and nowhere you don't. On this one though the neck is pretty messed up so it'll never be a fulltime player as is, however I do have a spare tele neck sitting around so it may become a Tele V soon.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6180/6204335867_89828b1de8_z.jpg

Bought this one from a student about 2 years ago....fun guitar!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/refin/Steve%20Stuff/FlyingV.jpg

Man, this thread makes me want another Flying V very badly!

I got interested in Flying Vs back in about 1985 or 1986. I tried one at a music store outside of Herrin, Illinois. It was a Cort Flying V in a grayburst. I had never really cared for the look of Flying Vs, but I tried that one on a whim. It felt great, and it sounded great too. I have long looked for another one of those Cort Vs, but have never found one.

My old thread going again...?


I traded the Korina V above for a PRS SE Soapbar a while back actually.
But I have been GASing for one again the last week or so. Might have another trade lined up for a V (but not for the PRS Soapbar...it stays).

This thread resurfacing must be a sign to go for it...:cool:

My old thread going again...?


I traded the Korina V above for a PRS SE Soapbar a while back actually.
But I have been GASing for one again the last week or so. Might have another trade lined up for a V (but not for the PRS Soapbar...it stays).

This thread resurfacing must be a sign to go for it...:cool:

HA - I usually pride myself on not getting sucked into zombie threads so when I saw that the OP was March 13th I figured it was relevant......just didn't realize it was March 13, 2011.

Here's a blurry photo of my Epi Korina V. It has an Iron Gear Hot Slag humbucker at the bridge and a single coil from a cheap Strat copy at the neck, and it now has a big Gibson truss rod cover.

Had a pre-lawsuit Ibanez flying-V bass. Sold it. Of all the stupid decisions I've made in my life, that may well be the dumbest.

I've got a faded V with a standard guard with stock buckers and a p90 guard. Awesome machine! Here's a pic with the p90's
This thread is worth it just to see a V with P90! I bet it's killer! I finally got to play one like TG had about a month and a half ago, and their great! Super light, and I actually liked the stock pups too. Would love to have one one day.

Got this 2007 a few months ago. Really like it.

I've had several Vs. Right now, I have a standard '67 reissue Gibson V in white, and it's probably the nicest one I've ever had, certainly the sexiest. It has a PRS Dragon in the neck position, and a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, which I don't like. I'm considering replacements right now, but might try something by GFS.

!!! Here's my V ^^^ with GFS Mean 90 p/u's. I have a few tweaked Fenders built for 12-bar rock n roll, but the P90 V beats them all for recorded tone.

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh230/ravenhaller/IMG_1695.jpg

i just last week bought a new epiphone korina wood V. it's much different than any guitar i've owned, but it plays and sounds fine. killer slide guitar! i'm surprised at how much i'm liking it. usually by the time i've owned a guitar 5 or 6 days, i'm noticing things i don't like about it, but this one is going the opposite way, the more i play it, the more i like it.

did i mention that it's a killer slide machine?

The best of both worlds:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=405924402754634&set=a.405921166088291.109248.100000112344706&type=3&theater

I love V's. Never had one though. Wouldn't mind giving one a run at some point. Of all of Gibson's non-traditional models (Explorer, Firebird, RD etc) I think it seems like the most ergonomic design.

I especially like the Korina ones, the perfect combination of class and bad@$$. And....at very least....you can lean it against yer amp without worrying about tipping.

I suppose as this is my thread and I have the V back again I'd better post a picture.

I've put Mean90s in and it sounds amazing though my tweed Deluxe.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/tgoss/DSCF0010.jpg

I have a 1990 with original case. This is probably one of 10 times I have ever even taken it out since then.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216705_10150241561751307_4210720_n.jpg

picture is sideways, sorry, haha

http://www.billydlight.com/vclose.jpg Here's my son's Faded V that I Lonnie Macker'ized and put in Vintage DeArmond Dynas, that come out of an early 60's Martin Archtop.

Here's my son playing it with his band. It's his now. He rocks it! :grin: If you're wondering the band is playing an AC/DC number.

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tsvX45-OZXc/0.jpg

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tsvX45-OZXc/0.jpg

Cool....and cute.

Any soundclips?

I had a couple of Gibson '67 reissues. They sounded OK and one played nicely and the other one was a real dog. Both sucked when sitting down though and think very carefully if you are going to buy a V and dedicate time to standing up. There are few guitars as cool looking on stage though. The Jackson RR is slightly easier to sit with but still only works comfortably standing up.

The terrible V I had, a black 1990 Gibson with a perpetually sticky neck as if it had paint on it that didn't dry, was a trade and I gave up a 1990 American Standard Telecaster which was a bad move. I didn't really go for the six saddles and overly hot pickup on the Am. Std., but it was far closer to what I like than a Flying V. Thankfully, my next V, same year but wine red, had a nice neck which didn't feel all gummy.

If you want something pointy but far more playable while sitting down, why not the Explorer?

I posted my Gibson V earlier, but here's a home built with a Lyons neck, Northern Ash body and Guitar Heads hardware (I love Guitar Heads for the voodoo/offbeat stuff):

http://i916.photobucket.com/albums/ad5/Shieldbearer/Guitar-Amp%20Related/100_5525_20Percent.jpg

I used Duplicolor General Motors Storm Gray Metallic under a clear Duplicolor that has a sparkle effect added to it.

My V is fine sitting down. I either angle the neck level with the floor more or less and it's comfortable (it has the rubber grip strip along the bottom edge so it doesn't slip) or else I put my right leg into the V which puts the guitar into a 'classical' position.

My V is fine sitting down. I either angle the neck level with the floor more or less and it's comfortable (it has the rubber grip strip along the bottom edge so it doesn't slip) or else I put my right leg into the V which puts the guitar into a 'classical' position.

That rubber grip strip is what both of my Vs were missing. I figure that's all it would take. It's a really great, lightweight guitar so that's all it should take to keep it in place.

I couldn't get used to sitting in the classical position though that's what a lot of V owners learned to do, including the Jackson RR owners, and got used to it. Technically speaking, the classical position is far more ergonomic. Suffering from cubital tunnel syndrome now and carpal tunnel twenty five years earlier, I think I could have avoided problems if I learned the correct position in the first place. My first guitar teacher was very strict about ergonomics even though I developed all the rock and roll player bad habits. However one rock player, Robbie Robertson, would wear the guitar up really high and never slouch. He had the posture of a classical guitarist only standing up.

Cool....and cute.

Any soundclips?

Here's a couple

ctQXb87Aipo


j02Y05NDgmA

Here's a couple

ctQXb87Aipo


j02Y05NDgmA

Great stuff! Made me smile! :grin:

Great stuff! Made me smile! :grin:

+1

I never owned one, but there was an Ibanez copy at the music store where I worked for a while. I came close to pulling the trigger a couple of times, but never did. A guy I knew bought it, put in EMG's and used it in a reggae band. Sounded killer!

I'd like to find one of black Hendrix V's Gibson made a few years ago. I like the diamond inlays.

My V is a breeze to play sitting down... i've never really analysed what i'm doing, but I find them surprisingly well balanced and ergonomic for the shape they are.