A Modern Tribute to '80s Hard Rock Attitude
If you grew up watching MTV in the '80s or wished you had, the Gibson 80s Flying V is going to feel right. This guitar strips away the refinements and gets back to what made the Flying V an icon on stages from the Sunset Strip to arenas worldwide. No pickguard, all-black hardware, and that unmistakable angular silhouette — it's the Flying V at its most aggressive. This is the reissue based on the highly sought-after 1984 models, the era when players like Rudolph Schenker and Kirk Hammett made the V synonymous with heavy music.
The guitar's mahogany body delivers the thick, sustaining foundation the Flying V is known for, while the fast SlimTaper mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard make it easy to navigate whether you're riffing or running leads. A pair of Gibson's 80s Tribute humbuckers bring the heat — these pickups were voiced specifically to capture the fat tone and rich sustain that defined the decade's sound. It's a guitar for players who want vintage vibe with modern playability.
Whether you're into classic metal, hard rock, or just want a guitar that commands attention, the 80s Flying V delivers the look, feel, and tone that made this shape legendary. It's ready to plug in and go.
Built for Speed and Comfort
The Gibson 80s Flying V's neck is carved into a SlimTaper profile, a shape that's been a Gibson favorite for decades because it's fast without feeling thin. The mahogany neck is topped with a rosewood fingerboard that's radius'd at 12 inches, giving you enough curve for comfortable chording while still feeling flat enough for smooth bends and quick position shifts. You get 22 medium jumbo frets that offer plenty of real estate for expressive playing, and the 24.75-inch scale length keeps string tension comfortable while maintaining that warm, vocal Gibson tone.
The Graph Tech nut measures 1.695 inches at the nut, a comfortable width that accommodates most playing styles without feeling cramped. Gibson outfitted this guitar with Grover Rotomatic tuners, reliable workhorses that hold tuning stability whether you're practicing at home or playing a gig. The set neck joint — glued in, not bolted — contributes to the Flying V's sustain and resonance, a construction method Gibson has used on its finest guitars for generations.
80s Tribute Pickups Deliver the Goods
Gibson designed the 80s Tribute humbuckers specifically for this guitar, and they nail the tonal character of the era. These pickups offer a fuller, fatter sound than the lower-output pickups of earlier Flying V models, giving you the punch and presence needed for everything from crunchy rhythm work to screaming lead tones. The neck pickup delivers thick, warm tones perfect for melodic leads, while the bridge pickup has the bite and clarity to cut through a dense band mix.
The control layout is straightforward: two volume knobs (one per pickup) and a master tone control, all hand-wired with Orange Drop capacitors for vintage-style tone shaping. A three-way toggle switch lets you select neck, bridge, or both pickups. The electronics are wired the traditional Gibson way, giving you the tonal flexibility to dial in anything from smooth jazz tones to high-gain aggression.
Rock-Solid Hardware and Finish
The 80s Flying V features an aluminum Nashville Tune-o-Matic bridge paired with an aluminum stopbar tailpiece — a classic combination that provides excellent sustain, stable intonation, and easy string changes. The chrome hardware complements the Ebony finish beautifully, and the all-black aesthetic (including black top hat control knobs and acrylic dot inlays) keeps the look clean and focused.
The body is finished in gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, the same finish Gibson has used for decades. Nitro finishes allow the wood to breathe and age naturally, and many players feel they contribute to better resonance compared to thicker polyurethane finishes. The Ebony finish is deep black with a lustrous shine that looks killer under stage lights. This guitar ships with a hardshell case and Gibson's accessory kit, so you're covered for storage and transport.
Product Features:
- Mahogany body with iconic Flying V shape delivers thick sustain and classic Gibson tone
- SlimTaper mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard offers fast, comfortable playability
- 12-inch fingerboard radius and 22 medium jumbo frets accommodate bends and quick position changes
- 80s Tribute humbucker pickups voiced for the fat, rich tone of 1980s-era Flying V models
- Set neck construction enhances sustain and resonance
- Nashville Tune-o-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece for stable intonation and excellent sustain
- Grover Rotomatic tuners provide reliable tuning stability
- Hand-wired electronics with Orange Drop capacitors for vintage-style tone shaping
- Gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish in Ebony with chrome hardware
- Includes hardshell case and Gibson accessory kit
Brand: Gibson
Model: 80s Flying V
SKU: DSVE00EBCH1
Condition: New
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