1958+ Gibson Flying V

Below is a concise timeline of key model years and significant changes based on available information:

• 1958–1959: Initial production run. Introduced on January 6, 1958, with a korina wood body, two humbucker pickups, a string-through-body design, and gold-plated hardware. Only 98 units were manufactured (81 shipped in 1958, 17 in 1959) due to poor sales, making these original models highly valuable today
  • 1963: A small batch was assembled from leftover 1958–1959 parts, featuring nickel-plated hardware instead of gold. These are considered part of the original run but are less valuable than 1958 models
• 1966–1967:  Reissued due to renewed interest from guitarists like Albert King, Lonnie Mack, and Dave Davies. The 1967 model became the standard, featuring a mahogany body and neck, a larger pickguard, a stopbar tailpiece (replacing the string-through design), and a modified headstock. Some models included a Vibrola tremolo system. Only 111 units shipped in 1966, with production continuing into 1967 
• 1971: Limited-edition Flying V Medallion model, similar to the 1966 version but with a shorter headstock. Only 353 units were produced
• 1975–1982: Second reissue period, known as the Flying V Mahogany.  Models from 1979–1980 featured pearl block inlays and a white finish, while some had gold hardware and headstock plaques
• 1978–1982: Flying V2 model introduced, featuring a five-layer maple and walnut "sandwich" body, boomerang humbucker pickups designed to sound like single-coils, gold tuners, and a brass V-shaped tailpiece.  Only 157 V2s were shipped in 1979, retailing at $1,199 (equivalent to $5,195 in 2024). Sales were poor due to high cost, weight, and non-traditional pickup sound. In 1982, pickups were changed to "Dirty Fingers" humbuckers. The V2 was discontinued in 1982
• 1981–1984: Flying V Heritage Korina reissue, replicating the 1958 korina design with a V-shaped tailpiece, PAF reissue pickups, and finishes like Antique Natural, Candy Apple Red, Ebony, or White
• 1983–1984: No-pickguard model and variations with alder bodies and different bridge designs, available in multiple finishes (e.g., Alpine White, Ebony, Electric Blue)
• 2007: Limited-edition Reverse Flying V, with an inverted V-shape design
• 2016: Flying V Pro introduced, with features from 2015 Japanese Market Pro HP demos, including a slightly smaller body, dot inlays (T models), or cream binding with rectangular pearloid inlays (HP models). Renamed Flying V 2016, with ongoing production differentiated by year (e.g., Flying V 2017, 2018). Available in Natural, Aged Cherry, Ebony, and Alpine White
• 2021: Gibson Custom Shop’s Murphy Lab released a limited run of 81 aged 1958 Korina Flying Vs to commemorate the original 1958 production

 

Current Models (as of 2025): Gibson offers various Flying V models, including the standard Flying V, 1967 Flying V w/ Vibrola, 70s Flying V, Flying V Custom, and Flying V B-2, with mahogany bodies, SlimTaper necks, rosewood fingerboards, and Burstbucker pickups. Finishes include Antique Natural, Ebony, and others.

Notable players like Jimi Hendrix (1969 custom left-handed model), Randy Rhoads (custom 1979 model), and Kirk Hammett (signature 1979 model) have influenced the Flying V's popularity.

The Flying V has been reissued multiple times since 1967, with variations in materials (korina, mahogany, alder), pickups (PAF, boomerang, Dirty Fingers, Burstbucker), and hardware (gold, nickel, stopbar, Vibrola).

• Epiphone, a Gibson subsidiary, also produces Flying V models inspired by the 1958 design, with ProBucker humbuckers and modern features.epiphone.com
• Other brands like Jackson, Dean, and ESP have created V-shaped guitars inspired by the Flying V, often with distinct modifications to avoid legal issues with Gibson.

 

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/754368

The M5 Guitar is a 2020 Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V, Ebony | Epiphone inspired by the Gibson Custom Shop  SN 2306152213IGC

Note: MSRP for the Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V, Ebony | Gibson version is $14,999

 

Metallica fans worldwide are familiar with Kirk Hammett’s 1979 Flying V. It was Kirk’s first Gibson and established his passion for Gibson guitars. Its purchase was inspired by famous Flying V™ players Kirk admired and because he was looking for a fuller sound.  Kirk still plays the original guitar to this day, and used it on all the early Metallica albums, including Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, …And Justice for All, and The Black Album, making it one of the most important heavy metal guitars of all time.

Now, Epiphone is partnering with the Gibson Custom Shop to release the Epiphone Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V, a meticulous recreation of Kirk’s prized original. 

It features a mahogany body, a one-piece mahogany neck with volute, Grover® Rotomatic® machine heads with “spade” buttons, and a custom bridge. 

The electronics are also top-notch, with a pair of Gibson USA Calibrated T-Type humbucker™ pickups wired to CTS® potentiometers and an Orange Drop® capacitor, and a Switchcraft® 3-way pickup selector toggle switch and a 1/4” output jack. 

A Kirk Hammett logo adorns the rear of the headstock, and a black hardshell case with a red plush interior is also included.

The Gibson Flying V: A Short History