Flying V Faded???

[triburst1]

Right now I'm mainly playing a P90 guitar into a Peavey Classic 30. I love the raw, classic sound but I've been wanting to also get a solid mahogany guitar with HBs for a darker, thicker heavy tone.

I've been thinking of picking up a used Les Paul Special Faded and swapping out the pups for something a little hotter. Today I found another option, a used mid 2000s Flying V Faded in the gorgeous cherry finish. The V, of course, is a solid mahogany guitar and it already has a set of hot pups.

The pawn shop has it priced at $579. It has a couple small dings and one of the knobs is missing, but other than that it's in great shape. I think I can pick it up for $400-450. I was planning on spending $500 on the LP special plus another $150-200 on new pups.

I've always wanted a Gibson V. I had a Epiphone when I was a kid and it always felt better in my hands than any other guitar.\

Does anyone have a faded V? Pros? Cons? Advice?

[danohat]

You can get a brand new one at Guitar Center for 699. Use one of those 20% off coupons and you are right at the same price as the pawn shop for a used one.
The Flying V sounds awesome overdriven. It is made to crunch and scream. The clean sound is not good at all. Totally lacks any character. Buy it to rock! Use something else for cleans.

[G-Minor]

I have one and love it. The 496r and 500t is not everyones cup of tea. I personally love them. Great feel. Essentially the same thing as the glossy v just less finish.

[db1408]

If you like the look . . . you will love the sound . . haha GET ONE! Wish I never sold mine, such an unusual guitar with such a great individual sound!

[triburst1]

Originally Posted by danohat

You can get a brand new one at Guitar Center for 699. Use one of those 20% off coupons and you are right at the same price as the pawn shop for a used one.
The Flying V sounds awesome overdriven. It is made to crunch and scream. The clean sound is not good at all. Totally lacks any character. Buy it to rock! Use something else for cleans.

I would burn $50 in gas to get to the nearest Guitar Center and pay $ 60 in TN sales tax. I think I could buy this one for $400 cash, out the door.

[AngryHatter]

I saw two for $475 a piece on CraigsList.

[triburst1]

I went back to play the V today with the intention of taking it home if I could get it for $400-425. After playing it I can safely say that I wouldn't have given more than $250 for it.

The action was great and the pickups sounded amazing, even through a cheap solid state combo. Unfortunately, it had THE ABSOLUTE WORST FRET JOB I HAVE EVER SEEN. It felt about like running my hand up and down aboard full of tacks.

The frets on this guitar were so wretched that you could actually see the ends of about 7 or 8 of them when looking at the BACK of the neck. I compared the frets to several $100-200 Chinese guitars at the shop and all had MUCH better fret work than the Gibson.

I can't believe that this kind of shoddy work actually passes as Gibson USA guitars. It sort of made me sick to my stomach.

[nwobhm]

Yeah, That was one of the problems of the faded series, the frets. I had a couple, first one frets ends cut my hand up, no set up what so ever. The second one the previous owner set it up and dressed the frets perfectly. It sounded great acoustically, very resonant. wish I hadn't sold that one.

[triburst1]

Originally Posted by nwobhm

Yeah, That was one of the problems of the faded series, the frets. I had a couple, first one frets ends cut my hand up, no set up what so ever. The second one the previous owner set it up and dressed the frets perfectly. It sounded great acoustically, very resonant. wish I hadn't sold that one.

That's absurd. Thin finish-no problem. No binding-who cares. A guitar that lists for $1300 having a neck that feels like a barbed wire fence-inexcusable.

I find it shocking that every Chinese and Korean Epiphone I've ever handled had WORLDS better fret work than a Gibson USA costing three to four times as much.

Hell, one of the Chinese guitars I compared it with at the shop was a Faded series Epiphone "SG" that had clean, smooth, even frets. Why is it that a Chinese worker getting paid 50 cents an hour can do a better job than the "master craftsmen" at Gibson making 40 times that?

I have always loved Gibson guitars and have always aspired to own them. I just can't explain how disapointed I was in this guitar. It was like finally bedding your dream girl only to find out she's a tranny when she takes it off.

If I had ordered a new one for $1000 from Musician's Friend only to open the box to this, I probably would have vomited on it.

[nwobhm]

I can't believe, they now list for that much, that is absurd. They have gone up considerably! Of course both mine were used, back when they came out and didn't cost me and arm and a leg.

[triburst1]

Originally Posted by nwobhm

I can't believe, they now list for that much, that is absurd. They have gone up considerably! Of course both mine were used, back when they came out and didn't cost me and arm and a leg.

Do you know how much it costs for a pro fret dressing job?

[AngryHatter]

Originally Posted by triburst1

Do you know how much it costs for a pro fret dressing job?

Yeah.
Andy Brauer did mine, installed pickups and wiring.
Wasn't that much, all told.

[triburst1]

Originally Posted by AngryHatter

Yeah.
Andy Brauer did mine, installed pickups and wiring.
Wasn't that much, all told.

That wasn't supposed to be a rhetorical question. I really would like to know if you don't mind telling. Did your faded SG have terrible frets too?

[nwobhm]

You might try asking in the custom shop section or your local music shops and compare prices.

[danohat]

I am thrilled with my faded V. It plays great and has no quality issues at all. Got it for around 600 new.

[Deftone]

I have the faded SG and yea, the fret work is not great, but I play mine all the time with no issues at all. I'd never buy an Epi over a real Gibson.

BTW, I recently had a fret level and re-crown on one of my LP Customs by a professional luthier and the cost was $130.

[Telechamp]

Originally Posted by Deftone

I have the faded SG and yea, the fret work is not great, but I play mine all the time with no issues at all. I'd never by an Epi over a real Gibson.

BTW, I recently had a fret level and re-crown on one of my LP Customs by a professional luthier and the cost was $130.

I recently bought a new Gibson Special Faded SG and the fret work was great on it. I had it set up, but no fret work needed to be done.

I hear these Fadeds are hit and miss.. I know they are inconsistent, because I played a few that didn't impress me, before I found one that stood out above the others, and I grabbed it.. I love the one I got.

[Deftone]

Originally Posted by Telechamp

I recently bought a new Gibson Special Faded SG and the fret work was great on it. I had it set up, but no fret work needed to be done.

I hear these Fadeds are hit and miss.. I know they are inconsistent, because I played a few that didn't impress me, before I found one that stood out above the others, and I grabbed it.. I love the one I got.

They really don't need fret work, just the ends of the frets need a little filing. Mine didn't need anything, but I've heard people complain about this and that. They're inexpensive because thay are not completely finished.

[Jaypee319]

pros-- well, if youre into V's.. this one is a pretty good one. the 500t and 496r are better suited for HEAVIER stuff. not as expensive as the regular flying v's that arent satin, but essentially the same build etc etc from my experience with messing around with them

as for the faded finish, well that's just up to personal preferences

cons-- do make sure you can personally check one out and try it. more and more, I've noticed Gibbys getting quite inconsistent with how they set up their instruments. sometimes it's actually good. but sometimes, it's just pathetic.
If youre out to get a new one, the prices have gone much higher.. don't remember how much, but it's to the point where I wish I could get one for only $500 (USD)

that's all I can recall about them.. I'm kinda kicking myself for not pulling the trigger on a sweet deal for a V when I had the chance back in the day.. :/

[Trea]

I have an SG Faded and the fretwork was great. Actually better than some of the LP's i've seen lately. I guess it's just luck of the draw though.

[AngryHatter]

Originally Posted by triburst1

That wasn't supposed to be a rhetorical question. I really would like to know if you don't mind telling. Did your faded SG have terrible frets too?

No, not terrible.
They weren't sharp or any burrs.

They are large frets, similar to a strats. While he was installing stuff he also did a complete setup, which in his case includes checking/dressing frets et cetera.
A complete setup is about $80.
I told him the action I wanted (Fretless wonder, please) and that was it.
He set the bridge, did the frets, set the pickups (Radically different from out-of-the-box), checked the nut, relief - all the goodies you'd expect for the money.

I liken people like him to auto detailing versus car washes.

[AngryHatter]

Originally Posted by Deftone

They really don't need fret work, just the ends of the frets need a little filing. Mine didn't need anything, but I've heard people complain about this and that. They're inexpensive because thay are not completely finished.

Actually I think they are inexpensive for three main reasons:
The finish takes much less time to cure and that translates into money saved.
They are stained, not painted, and the finish is two mils thick versus the normal seven - so that is material saved - more money.
And the control cavity is filled with the cheap stuff.

Further, they use two 490s R/T, each being two conductor. Gibson aftermarket 490s are four conductor.

But they ARE finished.
To suggest they are unpainted do-it-yourself furniture is silly, and I've heard a lot of people describe them in that fashion.
So, lets dispel that rumor!

[Deftone]

Originally Posted by AngryHatter

Actually I think they are inexpensive for three main reasons:
The finish takes much less time to cure and that translates into money saved.
They are stained, not painted, and the finish is two mils thick versus the normal seven - so that is material saved - more money.
And the control cavity is filled with the cheap stuff.

Further, they use two 490s R/T, each being two conductor. Gibson aftermarket 490s are four conductor.

Sounds like you are saying they aren't completely finished to me.

I'm in manufacturing and I don't know squat about furniture. Less money to manufacture translates into savings to the consumer. The Special Faded guitars aren't as finished as the more expensive Gibsons that's why they are cheaper. It's not a rumor, it's a fact.

Personally, I like them like that. Not everyone wants or needs a spit polished guitar. It's a workhorse.

[ashbass]

Faded V used to equal very good bang for the buck. Here's my current one. The P90s fit in the regular pup routes no problem. I rolled the fingerboard a lot but do recall that the fret ends stuck out enough to bug me. A board and some sandpaper later, frets are fine, and the neck feels super broken in.

[Chupy]

Originally Posted by ashbass

Faded V used to equal very good bang for the buck. Here's my current one. The P90s fit in the regular pup routes no problem. I rolled the fingerboard a lot but do recall that the fret ends stuck out enough to bug me. A board and some sandpaper later, frets are fine, and the neck feels super broken in.

Never was a V type of player, but damn!! That's just cool as hell!!

[worn]

I recently sold my Faded SG (frets were fine right from the factory), a Washburn bass and an '81 Fender Lead I then spent the last 2 days guitar shopping, travelling the city playing everything Fender and Gibson. I didn't come across a single one that had bad frets, many needed the action and relief adjusted, but I couldn't fault the fret work.
I did keep going back and picking up one Faded V at Long & McQuade but had my heart set on a P-90 Junior and ended up with a new Double Cut LP Junior Special in TV yellow, which didn't need any fret work but the relief and action had to be adjusted when I got home. I also have an SG Robot that has excellent fret work right from the factory.
I'm just not seeing this Gibson quality control problem people are complaining about.

[ashbass]

Originally Posted by Chupy

Never was a V type of player, but damn!! That's just cool as hell!!

Thanks. I wanted P90s in mahagony and the V was cheap. the mod was effortless after I got a new pickguard. I've always held a V more like Albert King than Schenker so this is a blues/rock guitar as opposed to metal one. With the default pguard and pups it feels more metal to me. Now, it just feels blues like that.

[holt1]

Originally Posted by ashbass

Thanks. I wanted P90s in mahagony and the V was cheap. the mod was effortless after I got a new pickguard. I've always held a V more like Albert King than Schenker so this is a blues/rock guitar as opposed to metal one. With the default pguard and pups it feels more metal to me. Now, it just feels blues like that.

I use a Dean V for blues. It gets a killer sound clean and I use it for a bunch of tunes that really swing in one of the bands I play in. This one is killer! I want to do that mod to one so I can use p-90's.

[Jayman]

I have played countless of these Gibson Faded V's and have found that they are some what hit or miss. I've played a few that were just unbeleivable playing and sounding guitars but I've also played many that were as you described just crappy. They had the sharp fret edges like you were talking about and just didn't have a tone to them at all.

I kinda feel like all Gibson's are like that though. The normal production models seem to have a little more regularity and quality control but they still aren't all what I would call 100% guitars.

I have a 2001 Gibson Gothic Flying V that is one of the best sounding and playing guitar for the buck that I have ever picked up. My only complaint and reason I might come to selling it is that it is all black and just doesn't fit me well.

With the lower-end models I would suggest playing them first before buying especially over the internet. If you are still interested in a Flying V and might consider one of the limited run gothic models let me know, I might could hook you up.

[triburst1]

I played another faded V and two faded SGs, both brand new at the Gibson Showcase in Nashville this past weekend. They all had the same terrible sharp frets as the first V.