All user reviews for the Epiphone 1958 Korina Flying V

The Epiphone Flying V '58 is a moderately priced reissue of the famed Gibson guitar that first turned heads and ears back in the swingin' 50s. It features a Korina body and set neck, also Korina. The fretboard is rosewood, and it has 22 frets. The tuners are the typical vintage style models, and the bridge setup is a tune-o-matic model and a flatmounted tailpiece shaped like a V. It also has very classy looking gold hardware. It features a pair of Epiphone humbuckers wired to a pair of individual volume controls and a master tone, as well as a 3 way toggle. It's pretty simple features wise, but the looks and sounds really turn heads!

UTILIZATION

The design is pretty ergonomic and cool. It's a little hard to get used to playing a V if you are coming from a Strat or Les Paul, just because it is a bigger instrument. However once you wrap yourself around the idea it is fine. It is easy to play standing up or sitting down. I've seen some of these V's with a small grip pad on the bottom side of the body for extra traction when sitting. However this guitar was ultimately made to rock out, so it's better used standing up in my opinion. The upper fret access is pretty killer given that there's no cutaway or no real neck heel to get in the way. It's not as flawless as a neckthrough design, but for a set neck you aren't getting much better access here, folks.

SOUNDS

The tones out of this guitar are actually pretty decent given that it's a cheaper instrument. The stock pickups are basically medium output clones of Gibson 'buckers and they do a fair enough job at the cleans and drives. The clean sounds are not the best for what I wish to hear, but they do a passable job and work well for bluesy or rock tones. It's a bit muddy though, and you don't get the brightness that would be ideal for funky sounds. Switching over to a drive tone is where this guitar shines. The pickups work very well for classic rock a-la Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, The Scorpions. Again, the muddy quality is apparent if you're used to hearing the real deal, but for someone who cares more about the look and just getting a loud, raunchy guitar sound, these pickups suffice for rhythms or lead tones.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all I think the Epiphone '58 V is a great buy for someone looking for a well made and very cool looking guitar. It sells new for about $550 which is a good price. The stock parts, as with most Epis, really aren't the best in the world, but you can get decent parts to mod it if you're so inclined. However if you're looking for a cool looking guitar that would not break the bank and allow you to really fly, this one is definitely worth the consideration

Epiphone Flying V Korina manufacturing Coren, bought a month ago
22 frets 2 double epiphone alnico classic, a slecteur 3 positions
Korina body, therefore, mahogany neck

UTILIZATION

It flies sitting on the game, it's a Flying V, ie that the game can sit in the corner of the guitar riding on the right thigh.
For me the grip a t instantanment about fun.
The neck is fantastic: it's what I DCID buy it!
I was looking at dpart a Les Paul, plutt ct copies of Epiphone as Gibson, but I qd even cared to try two brands of guitars, and others, Chres of trs and economy.
And then, trying the Flying V curiosities I had the rvlation what agrment game! And I do not mean that the CASC to treble. The handle, somewhat round pais no xagration, provides sensations indict in Premire boxes, which seems to be the opposite of a good Flying V type 67, which would have something sp cial acute in the boxes.
The one feels a thickness in the notes under the fingers, before even plugging in the guitar!
I tried this in 2 MODEL diffrent shops to make sure I did not make me the Ides, but no! So, I wanted to compare it with the gibson (there were only available in the Faded) but it did not convince me.

SOUNDS

The sounds:
For the neck pickup, trs velvety sound clear, good bass saturation.
We can play jazz with this microphone!
I am using the bridge pickup in its saturated mode noise is then trs soft, with a good fuzz is superb. In his clear, it lacks bite my taste. The intermediate position can both play the funk that plans blues or Led Zep.

I think these pickups lack a little DEFINITIONS, whether Gibson can remdier pickups a. This is especially true for the bridge pickup.

That said, I looked good rglage with my amp, and I get great sounds in all clear that saturated. There is a onctuosit and the inside of the body is full, consistent, rock fans have all 70 intrt try ...
Apart from a, you will get something good with this guitar amp with a good lamp, normal.

OVERALL OPINION

I do not regret my purchase, I feel like a great tool in the hands. It is not free from default but I DCID to around 10 to encourage others s'intresser prs over this guitar, especially those who love seventies rock (this said it is REALLY versatile in my opinion).
At the current price (under 450), I do not know the guitar with much of the game agrment

Set neck, everything is already well stated above

UTILIZATION

Channel pleasant, ideal weight, not easy to play sitting down, and the rear grip is more like the 1958 version that had the home at the end of the horn, not on the side as cleverly done today. It stings a little nose like Firebird .. but it fits.

SOUNDS

Well, it is fish a little, so I disassembled everything and Ho! Horror is not really the welding quality .. yuck yuck .. I sreoude everything and he sticks a vitamin Q 22 .. the sound is "better" but a bit rough. In short, I have three different amps sound for € 250 but nothing to play Albert King, no no no ..
So I ordered a set of Stormy Monday, knobs cts, and capacity of 22 Jansen, and as soon as it happens I redo all the cabling, with welds and large tissue cables in 1958 as a year of its creation .. (I Blues plays)

OVERALL OPINION

I have a few days ago, and I'm already very happy of the look and the beautiful reflections of the wood, the fact that serious! (As the young ..)
What I like least .. Well from a poor weld, but it is on the made in Korea, I am totally confident that by sticking him good microphones (Bare Knuckle) this violin will be a killer, because this instrument is managed from its aesthetically big sister visible here: http://www.jerrock.com/66/node/355
Here at 45 we're still a kid who dreams of being Albert King, is to become left-handed, # C # BEBEG agree, and have talent!
Here I do not jeterai stone microphones, we understand at this price, but the rest is in line with the legend, I am a big pleasure.
Life is short, not the instrument that you want to sustain the sailing.

In the late 50s Gibson started putting out futuristic looking guitars to show that they were a hip modern guitar company. This guitar is a copy of the Flying V they put out in the 50s except with a black finish. It was introduced in the late 50s and was way too radical and ahead of its time. It was re-introduced in the mid 60s and people loved it. Gibson has been making them ever since. This Epiphone has the design of the original version. The dimensions are slightly different and it uses Korina wood like the original models did. It has a 22 fret rosewood freboard attached to a Korina neck. It has the pointy flying V headstock from the 50s. It has dual gold finished humbuckers. Each pickup has a volume control and there is a master tone knob. The bridge is a big V shaped piece of metal that helps with sustain. The guitar has a black finish and it looks very classy with the gold hardware.

UTILIZATION

The Flying V design overall has better playability than the traditional Les Paul design. Because of the V design the upper frets are easier to reach than on a Les Paul. The set neck design means there is a bit of a heel at the neck joint but on this model it is not bad. Since this is a 58 model the upper fret access is even better than on a 67 flying V. The neck attaches to the body higher on the neck than on the 67 models so the neck joint heel is less intrusive. The V shape might be hard for some people to play sitting down. You may have to play in a classical position with the guitar in your lap if you are playing while sitting down. Some models have a strip of rubber to add more traction to the bottom of the guitar, making it easier to play while sitting down. Standing up the shape gives the guitar perfect balance. The input jack is kind of in a bad place if you are use to wrapping it through your guitar strap.

SOUNDS

Because of the 50s design of the guitar they have put in pickups voiced for medium gain or classic rock type music. The guitar comes with two Epiphone Alnico Classic humbuckers. These pickups are medium output and are voiced for a classic rock tone. This voicing suits the guitar perfectly. When you plug it in it sounds like a classic Gibson. These pickups are also great for blues. With the right amp you can get a really smooth bluesy sound. If you are playing metal or heavier music you may want to upgrade the pickups. These pickups with their medium output may not have the clarity needed for lower tunings or high gain sounds. The bridge with its large metal piece and string through design provides more sustain and an little extra brightness than the normal versions. If you want to play heavier music you may want to swap the pickups out for some Seymour Duncans or EMG pickups for heavier tones.

OVERALL OPINION

Overall I think the 58 Flying V design is better than the 67 design playability wise. The better fret access on the earlier version may mean the neck join is weaker but I have never had any problems with the neck joints on Flying V's. I have had problems with SG neck joints however. The original shape provides better access to the upper frets and overall I think it looks more classy. . The bridge setup provides more clarity and sustain than a regular Tune-o-matic setup. Gibson versions of this classic design cost thousands and thousands of dollars and are very hard to find. You can get this Epiphone version for less than 600 dollars. At the end of the day a guitar is just a peice of wood with some wires in it. If you want a classy Flying V and dont want to break the bank this guitar could be fore you.

The Epiphone Flying V Korina is a pretty much exact copy of the 1958 Gibson Flying V. The Flying V is a classic design by Gibson. It was introduced in the late 50s and was way too radical and ahead of its time. It was re-introduced in the mid 60s and people loved it. Gibson has been making them ever since. This Epiphone has the design of the original version. The dimensions are slightly different and it uses Korina wood like the original models did. It has a 22 fret rosewood freboard attached to a Korina neck. It has the pointy flying V headstock from the 50s. It has dual gold finished humbuckers. Each pickup has a volume control and there is a master tone knob. The bridge is a big V shaped piece of metal that helps with sustain.

UTILIZATION

Because of the V design the upper frets are easier to reach than on a Les Paul. The set neck design means there is a bit of a heel at the neck joint but on this model it is not bad. Since this is a 58 model the upper fret access is even better than on a 67 flying V. The neck attaches to the body higher on the neck than on the 67 models so the neck joint heel is less intrusive. The V shape might be hard for some people to play sitting down. You may have to play in a classical position with the guitar in your lap if you are playing while sitting down. Some models have a strip of rubber to add more traction to the bottom of the guitar, making it easier to play while sitting down. Standing up the shape gives the guitar perfect balance. The input jack is kind of in a bad place if you are use to wrapping it through your guitar strap.

SOUNDS

The guitar comes with two Epiphone Alnico Classic humbuckers. These pickups are medium output and are voiced for a classic rock tone. This voicing suits the guitar perfectly. When you plug it in it sounds like a classic Gibson. These pickups are also great for blues. With the right amp you can get a really smooth bluesy sound. If you are playing metal or heavier music you may want to upgrade the pickups. These pickups with their medium output may not have the clarity needed for lower tunings or high gain sounds. The bridge with its large metal piece and string through design provides more sustain and an little extra brightness than the normal versions.

OVERALL OPINION

I prefer the 58 Flying V design to the 67 design. The original shape provides better access to the upper frets and overall I think it looks more classy. The bridge setup provides more clarity and sustain than a regular Tune-o-matic setup. Gibson versions of this classic design cost thousands and thousands of dollars and are very hard to find. You can get this Epiphone version for less than 600 dollars. At the end of the day a guitar is just a peice of wood with some wires in it. It is very hard to justify spending thousands and thousands on a guitar when you can get pretty much the same guitar for this kind of price.

Everything is said about the previous review. I will note depending on the price category in which it est.La finish is very good, and compared to its big sister version Fadded, it is a violin that seems better. The frets are better polished, and the varnish is applied perfectly. There is no failure in the joint sleeve body. The crachouillent knobs a bit, but it does not bother me in any position where I set to 10. Regarding the pickups, this is not a Gibson.

UTILIZATION

The neck is relatively thin and wide. This makes it quite enjoyable to play. We need a small adjustment to the width of the handle especially when played on a guitar made of 41.2 mm, it changes! Access to acute is the easiest in the world. Normal for this type of guitar. The interface is a little scary at first but ultimately it is not that bad. Standing, better to have a strap with the flu, because the head is heavy, but get this problem is great, especially as the wings of the V can be supported on the leg for solos supported. Sitting here may be sport, but remembering the basics of classical guitar it's OK

SOUNDS

Since I bought it for solos screaming, pushing all ten, with a good multi-effects, it does it well.
I put it under a Boss ME 50 and in stereo on a Marshall and Peavey. The sound is heavy, not retail. E, it is not clear what is best

OVERALL OPINION

Well I use deuis little, it's not my guitar baseline, but it does what I ask him to do. It complements my SG and my Telecaster. For the price it is excellent. The violin is really good. By changing the electronics, we have almost a true Gibson. Some critics view the key, mine is equipped with Grover gold that reflect well the agreement and that seem solid. I do not part with because it's a really good guitar

after three months of use I find it very honestly, even very good. The neck is really easy, just right for good fast solos. It really amazes me every day. To the sound is made to scream his rage!

(Originally written by rhum66/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
- I bought this guitar in February 2009. It was made in Korea, probably in 2008.

- 22 frets. The neck/body junction is right under the 21st fret so it's difficult to play the 22nd fret (it's a joke!!!). As a small reminder, on '67 flying V models the neck/body junction is under the 17th fret.

So access to the upper frets is better than perfect!

Slim C-profile neck although the fingerboard feels pretty thick when playing. A flat and slim neck for shredders (I guess I don't belong to this category...).

- Nut: I guess it's made out of tusk (bone imitation).

- Bridge: Tune-o-matic copy, seems to be quite reliable. Other special features: no tailpiece but a Telecatser-like string-though-body system for more sustain.

- Machine heads: Gibson copy, they stay in tune but seem a bit fragile (very low quality...). I guess the plastic caps will break with the first impact.

- Body: 2-piece korina (both pieces are beautifully assembled).

- Fingerboard: good-quality rosewood.

- Hardware: gold finish (which will soon be oxidized given that it's an Asian guitar.

- Controls: 3-way toggle switch, two volume controls plus a common tone control.

UTILIZATION

- Very pleasant neck. It doesn't make you tired.

- Playability: Great to play standing. The guitar is light, and the V-shape is comfortable for the right arm. When sitting down you have to adopt a classical guitar position (one wing resting on your right leg). It's somewhat uncomfortable if you played a Strat for 20 years.

SOUND: The alnico pickups and the electronics are ok for a guitarist playing at reasonable volumes without a band (= beginner).

If you play blues rock alone at home with a Digitech Jamman for example, you'll be satisfied. But for any other application (live on stage, band rehearsals, etc.) you'll want to change the pickups (average quality) and the potentiometers (very bad...).

I get a rather good Albert King blues sound (semi-clean/semi-crunch) with a tube amp (Fender Deluxe Reverb RI65) and a Tube Screamer.

I can feel that the guitar would be much better with some good pickups and potentiometers.

Notice: A good Gibson pickup is half as expensive as this Epihone guitar so it's up to you...

SOUNDS

- I play blues rock and I'm an Albert King fan, so I wanted to play a Flying V before dying (and without going broke).

I'm thinking about upgrading the pickups with a Burstbucker or a Classic 57 set. To be continued...

- The sound is warm and responsive with an all-tube Fender amp. The pickups provide a lower output level than the P90 installed on one of my Gibson guitars. The guitar allows you to play blues, Rolling Stones-like rock and funk.

- The body-through string concept, which is a unique feature of the Flying Korina (which is to Epiphone what the Telecaster to Gibson) adds clarity and sustain. The sound is twangy in spite of the mahogany.

- The fact that you only have one tone control for both pickups is not a problem. On the contrary, it makes things easier...

OVERALL OPINION

- I've been owning it for one month and we are still on honey moon. As I already said, it was my dream to play a a Flying V. Listen to the sound of master Albert...

- For an affordable price you get a rather good guitar with low-quality electronics. The question is: how much would you be willing to spend to upgrade the electronics and the pickups?

- Although I love the V shape it's also a disadvantage when you want to play sitting down because it forces you to play with a strap.

- A nice guitar with exotic wood and golden hardware, it's like owning a Cadillac...