Epiphone Flying V
The Epiphone Flying V may be the most bad a$$ guitar you can get for $500. You know, you rarely see people playing these things, they’re kind of “out there.” That’s what makes it cool. I’ve almost always gotten a compliment after playing a show with a V.
If you want to stand out onstage & don’t mind a guitar that doesn’t stay in your lap, this thing is the way to go. (This guitar slips away from you f you put it on your leg while sitting down).
Check Out The Flying V (with modified pickups) Video:
Playing the Epiphone Flying V
Ok, so with any Epiphone you have to ask yourself if you should just save up the rest of the money to buy a real Gibson. My answer to that is always “Yes, save up the money! You will thank yourself.” But, I’ve been there plenty of times where the money’s tight, and I know how it is.
Just know that the pickups, hardware, and construction will be lower quality than a Gibson.
Alright, I’ll stop preaching now.
I love Vs because, despite what looks like a small body, they have a really fat tone. You’d almost expect it to sound thin, but it’s anything but. The V actually gets one of the heaviest distorted tones of any guitar I’ve played.
Most people associate the V with metal, and with good reason: this thing is great at recreating early Metallica and Randy Rhoads tones. It’s also good for other types of tunes, just check out the video above.
With the Epiphone Flying V, you still get the classic Gibson 2 tone + 2 volume knob + 2 humbucker combo, and by adjusting the volume & tones knobs you can get a nice variety of sounds. This guitar is more versatile than you’d think.
The pickups? Alnico Classic Humbuckers. These sound really good for a guitar in this price range. A lot of times I recomend changing out the pickups if you buy an Epiphone, but these bad bitches are pretty awesome right out of the gate.
You might want to use a thick strap on the V because it tends to slip away from you a little bit… the neck will droop if you don’t watch out. A thicker strap will help combat this.
The action may really vary on this axe, just as with any other guitar. Sometimes you’ll get one that plays very poorly, and all it needs is a good setup. I always recommend taking a new axe to your local guitar shop to get it setup… it can literally make a world of difference.
Some users have complained about this guitar shipping with loose screws on the strap buttons, but I think this is silly because you should put straplocks on any guitar you value at all. Period. End of story.
Bottom Line? This V is a great buy if you want a seriously iconic gutair that catches a lot of stares, but you’re not ready to shell out the bucks for a Gibson.
Specs for the Korina Flying V
The 1958 Korina Flying V is based on the Flying V Gibson released in 1958. The Kornina wood gives it a bit more “bite” than mahogany. Check out the specs:
