Help me out with Flying Vs

[Gannet]

I'd like to try a Flying V. But there isn't nearly as much info online as there is about Les Pauls.

There have been a bunch of different runs over the last 30 years. Some Historic, some Custom Shop, some USA. Prices vary widely, and at least on the surface I can't see a lot of reason for the price differences.

With LPs, I get the price difference for the Historic. Better wood, long tenon, yadda-yadda (whether it's worth it is for other threads). Are there basic construction differences in the Vs? I see 3-piece, 2-piece straight and 2-piece "angled" bodies, bound and unbound, big and small pickguards, nashville vs ABR bridges, stop vs. v-shaped tailpieces, and that's about it. Are there internal construction differences to be aware of or concerned with?

Features to chase? To avoid?

Are there websites or specialized forums that go over this? (I found that 67-71 page, way too rich for me).

I'm coming at this from an Albert King/Billy Gibbons/Hendrix perspective, not metal.

I'd like to keep it under $2k, preferably well under.

Things you can share with me? Advice? Tips? Recommendations?

TIA!

 

[The_Nuge]

I went through the same thought process a wile back - I wanted a '58-style V for bluesy-type music. Also wanted a high-quality guitar and was willing to pay a premum for korina.
Ended up getting this 2007 Hamer Vector:

It's really quite superb! Build quality is easily on par with CS Gibson, and it's sounds really good with its standard Duncan '59 pickups. With a bit of luck, you might be able to find one for 2k$!
As for Gibson, the standard Vs available, I think they call them '67 RI, are OK, but in my optinion need the pups changed at a minimum. Anything '58-shaped is horribly expensive!

 

[Gear.Pig]

Hamer Vector is the choice if you want '58 style in korina. They are no longer made and kinda hard to find, but come up occasionally and you can get them for $2000-$3000 usually.

 

[Cjsinla]

Start out with a Faded V, see if you like V's. You can find them under $1000. Also, most USA V's are better for metal and have ceramic pups. The 57/57+ pups will give you a more vintage sound. The recent Gloss V's might also be reasonable but also have ceramic pups.

 

[zakk_attack]

Bought a faded last week.
Stock pickups are quiet hot, but I think that you can take off them some nice bluesy/rock sounds: it's up to your hands, and your amplifier. (if you plug it in a Randall transistor, I bet you'll hardly get a blues sound...).

Don't think at the fadeds as "cheaper ones", because they are made exactly like the standard gloss '67s.

For example, I like the 496R neck pickup, but i don't 500T. Not in the same way, at least

The CS models made by Gibson are too expensive, imho. They'll play fine for sure, but I won't spend 3500€ for one.

I'll leave aside the special or limited runs, usually they cost a bit more and they are harder to sell. Try out the '67 reissue (the USA one, faded or gloss) and see if you like it. Then, if you're able to get a nicely sounding one, you can swap the pickups for somethng more vintage sounding...eventually.

R.

 

[EasyAce]

Found this one over a year ago in a Sam Ash; the only mods I've made to it have been swapping the black knobs for clear (you'll get why when you see her) and replacing the lame PRS Dragon II pickups she came with (they were obviously a mod themselves before I owned the guitar) with P94s that just cry the blues:

The guitar was born in 2008 as a 67RI. An artist named Hugo Rodriguez painted the guitar in 2012; she toured the gear shows until ending up with Sam Ash in 2014 and in my hot little hands that June.

 

[marco v]

Got this one today, a '95. Binding on the body not the neck. I can find absolutely no info about this model.

 

[zakk_attack]

Might the binding have been added by a luthier/aftermarket? I don't remember '90s V/X with binding.

 

[marco v]

I did some more research today. This one started out as a black V. One of the previous owners had the top refinished by a good Luthier in Holland. I contacted him today and he remembered the V. He finished it by request in sunburst and added the binding. The back is original. It's a great guitar.

 

[charlie chitlins]

Epiphone Korina V is a great bang for the buck.
Also a fairly inexpensive way to find out if the jones will go away when the honeymoon is over.

 

[ashbass]

These are on ebay every little bit. Usually they don't go the distance and are bought before the auction ends.

Flying V '98

58 style plastic and 67 style body and tail. They ain't nothing but the sh!t.

 

[ashbass]

Epiphone Korina V is a great bang for the buck.
Also a fairly inexpensive way to find out if the jones will go away when the honeymoon is over.

I've had epiphone Vs and Explorers. Both sit on your body way differently than a gibson model. The neck/body aren't the same dimensions and the strap buttons are not in the same place. Starting on an epiphone V would discourage me from Vs.

 

[Tonemeister]

I went through the same thought process a wile back - I wanted a '58-style V for bluesy-type music. Also wanted a high-quality guitar and was willing to pay a premum for korina.
Ended up getting this 2007 Hamer Vector:

It's really quite superb! Build quality is easily on par with CS Gibson, and it's sounds really good with its standard Duncan '59 pickups. With a bit of luck, you might be able to find one for 2k$!
As for Gibson, the standard Vs available, I think they call them '67 RI, are OK, but in my optinion need the pups changed at a minimum. Anything '58-shaped is horribly expensive!

Looks gorgeous....but.....Did you think you were buying Korina? Quoted from the Hamer Site "Tracing its roots back to 1973 Hamer, the Vector is the essence of rock. Lovingly crafted in our small New England studio from the choicest white African limba and shaded with a korina hued acetate lacquer. Gold hardware from Schaller and TonePros update this classic piece, worthy of any collection. "

edit: maybe in 2007 they actually used Korina? Sorry

 

[Cjsinla]

Limba is korina

 

[The_Nuge]

Limba is korina

Exactly

 

[The_Nuge]

Looks gorgeous....but.....Did you think you were buying Korina? Quoted from the Hamer Site "Tracing its roots back to 1973 Hamer, the Vector is the essence of rock. Lovingly crafted in our small New England studio from the choicest white African limba and shaded with a korina hued acetate lacquer. Gold hardware from Schaller and TonePros update this classic piece, worthy of any collection. "

edit: maybe in 2007 they actually used Korina? Sorry

There were several series of these Hamer Vectors, and AFAIK all of the natural-finished ones were korina / limba

 

[Tonemeister]

Limba is korina

Cool. Learn something new every day. Sometimes two things. Ha

 

[Lightningflash]

Found this one over a year ago in a Sam Ash; the only mods I've made to it have been swapping the black knobs for clear (you'll get why when you see her) and replacing the lame PRS Dragon II pickups she came with (they were obviously a mod themselves before I owned the guitar) with P94s that just cry the blues:

The guitar was born in 2008 as a 67RI. An artist named Hugo Rodriguez painted the guitar in 2012; she toured the gear shows until ending up with Sam Ash in 2014 and in my hot little hands that June.

Cool V!

I'm with the others that say buy a Faded V, you can get them for $500-600 and sell for just as much if you feel you don't like V's or want something better.

I do not agree with buying a 2-3k Hamer. If you're going to spend that much, buy a Gibson V. For every 100 Gibsons sold at that price range, there are probably 2 Hamers sold (if that even that many) at that price range....very limited market!

 

[Lightningflash]

These are on ebay every little bit. Usually they don't go the distance and are bought before the auction ends.

Flying V '98

58 style plastic and 67 style body and tail. They ain't nothing but the sh!t.

What's the scoop on the 98's?
They made them for 4 years, correct?
Any idea how many were made?
Some said Limited Run on the back of the neck/headstock but the last two years they did not, is this correct?

 

[Davio]

Don't forget about the Gibson V2 that was made 1979 to 1981 iirc. They were nearly 1500 bucks new even then, but can be had now at or around $2000 in great shape. IMO that would be the one to have.

Here is another that is rare and unique and less than $1500 on ebay right now