The Gibson Flying V is one of three futuristic body designs that Gibson president Ted McCarty pushed to have developed in 1957. Like the Explorer and Moderne, the initial run of Flying V’s weren’t that successful. Fewer than 100 were manufactured and sold when they first came out. Years after blues legend Albert King and rock artist Dave Davies of the Kinks started playing Flying V’s because of their unique design. The visibility helped popularize the model years after the initial run. Demanded started to increase and Gibson released a small number of Flying V’s in 1963 made from leftover parts from the original run. The guitar then reentered regular production in 1967 and has been reissued numerous times since then. Jimi Hendrix was also known to play a Flying V live on occasion around that time.
By the late 70’s and early 80’s Heavy Metal music was gaining a bigger following and the Flying V became a popular guitar, wielded by many of the great Metal guitarists of that time. Brian Tatler of Diamond Head used one. Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield of Metallica also played them. The Flying V became associated with driving hard, fast distorted rhythms and loud searing leads by the mid 1980’s. That led to the birth of the guitar featured here in 1984.
This V was part of the Gibson Designer Series guitars that were made in 1984 and 1985. The range included mostly Flying V’s and Explorers. There was also a Les Paul style version and a bass. You could order one of the series Custom Graphic Designs.
They also made one-of-a-kind artist original designs that you could order through your Gibson dealer.
This Flying V is one of the Custom Graphic Designs and was referred to as model 321 in Gibson’s brochures. It’s my personal favorite design. It has subtle, 70’s style green & gold pinstripes over a black gloss body. There was a version called the Rebel Invader and also a Union Jack Explorer. Those particular Designer series guitars are extremely rare. Especially the Rebel Invader. (I don’t think they sold many of the those).
All models have rosewood fretboards although it’s rumored that a few were made with ebony. Designer Series guitars were offered with either a tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece or Kahler locking tremolo for dive serious bombs! All versions came with Dirty Fingers high output humbuckers.
While a Flying V isn’t my first choice of body shapes, I literally can’t put it down once I start playing it. It’s extremely light weight and balanced. The guitar sets up well with perfect intonation and low action. The original Dirty Fingers humbuckers scream. The neck has a medium fast profile with a thick slab of rosewood and low/wide frets.
This 321 model is one of the more scarce Designer Series guitars. When they do come up for sale, they are always beat up. Every one of these has been played…a lot. They are usually in a state of being well maintained but also really worn out at the same time. The stories this guitar could tell, the places it’s been with its cigarette burns and scars throughout. It’s the perfect old school metal guitar when played through a Marshall head, but surprisingly it sings the blues with sweet sustain played through a Fender amp and the volume rolled back. The only artist that I’ve seen play this particular model is Ryan Adams when he was on the Fallon show in 2017.
You can’t help but smile when you play it unless maybe when you’re sitting down, but who buys this kind of guitar to sit down anyway?!?!