Gibson Flying V – U.S.A. – 1958

TYPE

Electric Solid Body Guitar

FEATURES

Limba body, limba / mahogany neck

Rosewood or ebony fretboard

Two humbucker pickups

INFORMATION

The Flying V, with its space-like appearance, was the first of McCarty’s range of instruments. He did manage to produce a striking futuristic guitar. The Flying V prototype’s body was made of mahogany. This instrument was not only very heavy and unbalanced, but also expensive to produce. After this it was decided to use the lighter and more readily available limba wood.
The demand for the first Flying V’s was small. In 1958 just over a hundred were ordered and the model was taken out of production. Nevertheless, the Flying V experienced a revival in the 1960s. Production was resumed in 1967.