Innovative. Groundbreaking. Daring. Revolutionary. Again.
Gibson's original limited run
of Reverse Flying Vs flew out of stock, selling out faster than any other electric guitar model. Hundres of lucky guitar players
were very happy and tens of thousands hollered for a Reverse V guitar of their own. Since then, the letters and e-mails to
Gibson have flooded in, demanding another chance to own a Reverse Flying V.
You asked, Gibson listened, and they have
handcrafted a small number of Reverse Flying V guitars for another very limited run of these flame-throwing cult classic collectibles.
For those who missed it the first time, here is one more chance to grab an amazing Reverse Flying V electric guitar from Gibson
USA. If there is this much demand for them now, think what they will command when they are vintage.
Innovative, groundbreaking,
daring, and revolutionary were the are the words most commonly used to describe Gibson's legendary Flying V, first introduced
in 1958. In 2007, when Gibson took it a step further with the bold and fearless Reverse Flying V, people couldn't believe
their eyes. Smart guitarists grabbed one while they could, nabbing one of the most popular and collectible Gibson electrics
of the past 20 years. Now, in response to a popular demand that has increased ever since the original run, Gibson USA is proud
to once again offer the Reverse Flying V, in a very limited edition.
This limited edition Reverse Flying V features
a solid mahogany, V-shaped body, four-ply pickguard, Kluson-style green key tuners, and retro-style V-shaped gold tailpiece.
The neck sports the traditional Flying V profile, a hybrid between the classic '50s rounded contour and the popular '60s slim-taper.
The ebony fingerboard and gold-pasted truss rod cover round out this testament to Gibson's bold and pioneering design tradition.
With a pair of '57 Classic humbuckers, for legendary vintage Gibson tone, the limited edition Reverse Flying V is available
in Classic White, Ebony and Natural. Only 300 of each color will be produced. So act fast and take home this collectible
classic while you can.
Tune-o-matic bridge
The Tune-o-matic bridge, also known as the ABR-1, was the brainchild
of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954. At the time, it was a true revelation in intonation, and set a standard
for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for
the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also
yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. It is combined with a separate
"stopbar" tailpiece, essentially a modified version of the earlier wraparound bridge. To this day, the Tune-o-matic remains
the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered
and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed.
'57 Classic pickups
Gibson pickups have been setting
the standard for the guitar industry since 1935 when the company introduced its first electric model, the E-150 Hawaiian lap
steel. Add the pioneering introduction of the revolutionary double-coil "humbucking" pickup invented by Gibson's own Seth
Lover in 1957 and you can clearly see that Gibson has dramatically influenced the evolution of popular music in all genres,
from the warm jazz tones of Charlie Christian, to the world-shaking rockabilly of Scotty Moore, and the crunching rock of
Jimmy Page. The pickups in this limited edition Reverse Flying V are Gibson's '57 Classic humbuckers. With Alnico II magnets
and balanced coils, these pickups deliver an unmistakable vintage vibe with warm, rich tone. They are carefully hand-wound
at Gibson USA in Nashville, Tennessee.
Electronics
When it comes to guitar electronics, less is definitely
better. And that certainly holds true with Gibson's limited edition Reverse Flying V. Gibson has chosen to install only one
volume control, which translates into less resistance between the pickup and the actual output. That means you end up with
nothing but pure tone from the pickup, and one flat-out screaming rock and roll machine.
Solid Mahogany Body
Probably
the most central of all Flying V features is its V-shaped, solid mahogany body. Whether it's the regular Flying V, or Gibson's
limited edition Reverse Flying V, the solid mahogany body provides tone, sustain, and performance. The mahogany goes through
the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of
skilled wood experts before it enters the factories. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and
the temperature at 70 degrees. This insures all woods are dried to a level of "equilibrium," where the moisture content does
not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and helps control the
shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to helping reduce the weight. It also helps with improving the woods' machinability
and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that a Gibson guitar will respond evenly to temperature and humidity
changes long after it leaves the factory.
Nitrocellulose Finish
Applying a nitrocellulose finish to any
Gibson guitar including this limited edition Reverse Flying V is one of the most labor-intensive elements of the guitar-making
process. A properly applied nitro finish requires extensive man-hours, several applied coats, and an exorbitant amount of
drying time. But this fact has never swayed Gibson into changing this time-tested method, employed ever since the first Gibson
guitar was swathed with lacquer back in 1894. Why? For starters, a nitro finish dries to a much thinner coat than a polyurethane
finish, which means there is less interference with the natural much thinner coat that a polyurethane finish, which means
there is less interference with the natural vibration of the instrument, allowing for a purer tone. A nitro finish is also
a softer finish, with makes it easily repairable. You can touch up a scratch or ding on a nitro finish, but you can't do the
same on a ply finish. In addition, a nitro finish is very porous in nature, and actually gets thinner over time. It does not
"seal" wood in an airtight shell as a poly finish does and allows the wood to breathe and age properly.
Set-neck
Construction
Like all classic Gibson guitars, the neck on this limited edition Reverse Flying V is distinguished
by one of the more traditional features that have always set them apart a glued neck joint. Gluing the neck to the body
of the guitar insures a wood-to-wood contact, no air space in he neck cavity, and maximum contact between the neck and body,
allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The result? Better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned
necks.
22-Fret Ebony Fingerboard
Ebony has always graced the fingerboards of the world's finest stringed
instruments, including today's Les Paul Custom, Les Paul Supreme, and the pioneering HD.6X-Pro Digital Les Paul. The fingerboard
on this Gibson limited edition Reverse Flying V is constructed from the highest-grade ebony on the planet. The ebony is personally
inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the Gibson factories to be fitted onto the
neck of the Les Paul Custom. The resilience of the dense and durable wood makes the fingerboard extremely balanced and stable,
and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending
capabilities and eliminates dead or choked out notes, common occurrences on fingerboards with lesser radiuses. Resilient and
less porous, ebony absorbs oils well, allowing it to preserve its rich beautiful color.
Fret Wire
The fret
wire on all Gibson models is a combination nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver)
specifically designed for long life and superior wear. Gibson's traditional "medium/jumbo" fret wire is first shaped by hand,
then cut to an exact 12-inch radius. After hand pressing it into the fingerboard, a machine press finishes the job to eliminate
the gap between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard.
Inlays
The classic dot inlays are one of
the most distinguishable features of many traditional Gibson models, including the ES-335 and the Les Paul Junior. A figured,
swirl acrylic gives these inlays that classic pearl look. They are inserted in the fingerboard using a process that eliminates
gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers.
Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable
than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The more traditional '50s neck profile is the thicker, more
rounded contour, emulating the neck shapes of Gibson's iconic models of the late 1950s. The '60s neck profile is considered
the more modern, slim-tapered contour most commonly associated with the Gibson models of the early 1960s. The neck of Gibson's
limited edition Reverse Flying V has the best of both worlds it is a hybrid between the '50s rounded contour and the '60s
slim-taper profile. As with all Gibson necks, it is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial
cuts. Once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest including the final sanding is done by hand. That means there are no
two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each
neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.
Adjustable Truss Rod
The adjustable
truss rod is a Gibson innovation that revolutionized the guitar. Before this groundbreaking discovery in the early 1930s,
the truss rod was used only to strengthen and stabilize the neck. By making it adjustable, the truss rod now allows a guitar
to be set up using a variety of string gauges, as well as string heights. This easily accommodates any style of playing, and
allows a limitless range of set-up options. And by placing it at the base of the headstock, the adjustable nut is easily accessible,
even while the strings are still on the guitar.
Gibson Logo
Many of the most innovative and revolutionary
strings instruments of all time have borne the name Gibson the Les Paul, the ES-335, the Explorer, the Flying V, the SG.
The list goes on and on. There is no mistaking the classic, hand-cut mother of pearl logo, inlayed into a pressed fiber-head
veneer that is then glued to the face of the mahogany headstock. A thin coat of lacquer finishes the process. It is one of
the most recognizable logos in all of music, representing more than a century of originality and excellence.
Vintage-Style
Split Headstock
The asymmetrically designed headstock on the Reverse Flying V is a scaled-down version of the split
headstock Gibson used on the experimental Futura and Moderne models of the 1950s. Like every Gibson headstock, it is carved
out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck. It is not a glued-on headstock, and the process takes craftsmanship, time,
and effort. But the rewards are worth the effort. The headstock is carefully angled at 17 degrees, which increases pressure
on the strings and helps them stay in the nut slots. An increase in string pressure also means there is no loss of string
vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain. A gold-plated truss rod cover adds a nice finishing
touch to the headstock, and perfectly complements the Reverse Flying V's gold hardware.
Gibson
Reverse Flying V Electric Guitar Limited Edition Features:
- Solid mahogany
reverse V shaped body
- Set-neck construction
- 22-fret ebony fingerboard
- Medium/jumbo
fret wires
- Classic dot inlays
- '50s/'60s hybrid neck profile
- Tune-O-Matic
bridge
- '57 Classic Pickups
- Single volume knob
- Nitrocellulose finish
- Adjustable truss rod
- Vintage-style split headstock
If
you miss it this time, don't blame us. Order now.
Customers who shopped for the Gibson Reverse Flying V Electric Guitar Limited Edition Natural
ultimately bought: