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tjon901 « Blend of the old and new design »
Published on 06/02/11 at 21:10The limited edition flying V Gibson made in 1998 is a blend of the old Flying V design and the new one. It has the pickguard and electronics setup of the old 50s Flying V on the body of the newer 60s Flying V. This combination gives a unique look that many people might not notice. 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. The guitar is made from solid mahogany with a mahogany set neck. The neck is 22 frets with a rosewood fretboard. The neck is not bound. It has two volume knobs and one tone knob and a 3 way pickup selector. It has 496R and 500T ceramic magnet pickups in the neck and bridge respectively. These pickups are Gibsons own design. It has a traditional Les Paul style tune-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece.
UTILIZATION
The main difference with the 1998 limited edition Flying V is the way the knobs are arranged. This guitar has the knobs arranged 3 in a row. I like this setup better than the newer one because on the 60s Flying V's the knobs are in a triangle shape and they can seem a little bunched together. 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. Because of the shape you may have to play in a classical position when you play sitting down but this is not a problem for me because I always play in a classical position.
SOUNDS
The pickups the V comes with are generic Gibson pickups. They are good at everything but not great at anything. The mahogany wood give the guitar a really deep sound even though the body is not that big. If you want to play heavier music you may want to change out the pickups. The Gibson pickups are medium output and are voiced more for classic rock. The 496R is voiced for the neck and some people say it is a little bright. If its in the neck position in the right guitar it will balance out the neck position sound perfectly.
OVERALL OPINION
This limited edition Flying V is sure to become a collectors item in the future. Its subtle unique look is something that you look for in a rare guitar. The flying V is a very popular guitar. The Flying V has been around for over 50 years and will be around for a many more years. So if you are looking for a classic design that will always be cool and popular and if you can find one, you should try and pick up a 1998 Limited Edition Flying V.
UTILIZATION
The main difference with the 1998 limited edition Flying V is the way the knobs are arranged. This guitar has the knobs arranged 3 in a row. I like this setup better than the newer one because on the 60s Flying V's the knobs are in a triangle shape and they can seem a little bunched together. 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. Because of the shape you may have to play in a classical position when you play sitting down but this is not a problem for me because I always play in a classical position.
SOUNDS
The pickups the V comes with are generic Gibson pickups. They are good at everything but not great at anything. The mahogany wood give the guitar a really deep sound even though the body is not that big. If you want to play heavier music you may want to change out the pickups. The Gibson pickups are medium output and are voiced more for classic rock. The 496R is voiced for the neck and some people say it is a little bright. If its in the neck position in the right guitar it will balance out the neck position sound perfectly.
OVERALL OPINION
This limited edition Flying V is sure to become a collectors item in the future. Its subtle unique look is something that you look for in a rare guitar. The flying V is a very popular guitar. The Flying V has been around for over 50 years and will be around for a many more years. So if you are looking for a classic design that will always be cool and popular and if you can find one, you should try and pick up a 1998 Limited Edition Flying V.