Great Flying V-Style Bass Guitars

[Aussie Player]

I picked up an Epi short scales several years ago. I like it. Rare that I drag it out , but I love the thing. Some may find the sight of some old geezer in jeans and sneakers playing a Flying V kinda pathetic , I’m fine with that,
Doesn’t bother me one bit.

I am old and play my Gibson V through my Marshalls. I like the sound.

 

[Jazzzed]

I actually stumbled upon this forum earlier in the week because I was searching for one of those Gibson’s to purchase.

 

[tim gueguen]

I think the reverse-V was just a prototype and never in regular production:


View attachment 5447580

No, it was a production instrument. I've handled one, and at least it felt light. But awkward.

 

[Water buffalo]

No, it was a production instrument. I've handled one, and at least it felt light. But awkward.

One of the most ugliest guitars ever built. That being said, It was one of the most balanced instruments that I ever played.

 

[Jazzzed]

I built a twelve-string V-bass the other day.
The Brooks FV-12:

How well do the 12 string basses work for finger style players? Also, how is the neck dive balance on your Thundervee model?

 

[Basvarken]

How well do the 12 string basses work for finger style players? Also, how is the neck dive balance on your Thundervee model?

For me it's no problem to use either fingerstyle or pick style playing.
There are a few 12-string bass players out there who prefer to have the bass string above the octaves.
But from all the 12-string basses that I've built that is a minority.

The Thundervee does not suffer neck dive. Grace the ultra-lite tuners and the rear strap button being placed halfway up the upper wing.

 

[Jazzzed]

The 12 string certainly has an interesting tone to it. Similar to an Octaver pedal. Are the strings readily available or does it use guitar strings for the other 8?

 

[Basvarken]

The 12 string certainly has an interesting tone to it. Similar to an Octaver pedal. Are the strings readily available or does it use guitar strings for the other 8?

For 34" scale 12-string basses there are sets available by D'Addario for example. But since this FV-12 bass is short scale, I assembled a custom set. They are longer than guitar strings.