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New Gibson Flying V?

T

thrashingbass

Jul 14, 2009
849
1,039
#1
I just catched this tonight, almost by accident, while checking out Gibson's webpage. And yes, I did search to see if somebody else noticed (I apologize if I missed a similar thread.) Has anyone tried this beautiful bass so far?

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According to them, it has their Thunderbird pickups, covered in chrome. The looks are striking, as I have always liked their red basses (I own none, though.) The sound in theory should be similar than a Thunderbird, especially since it's also Mahogany wood, but considering it's a short scale and the placement of the pickups is different, the tonal profile should be different (it probably sounds better than the original Flying V bass is reputed to sound, though.)

I have my own "Thunder V" bass, courtesy of Epiphone and a Lollar pickups upgrade, but I would love to sit down to play one of these things. It should be expensive as hell, though, knowing Gibson. It will probably be overpriced (IMHO). Not planning to buy one soon, but has anyone seen/played/heard this re-make so far?
 
#3
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Just noticed this as well, so at least, the street price is not as ridiculous as with some of their other basses. I still think it's overpriced, but if I had the money, I might consider it if I liked the tone and way it feels.
 
#5
Basso54 said:
Hope and pray for an Epiphone version, I know I will be.
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I believe these have been on and off the Epiphone market since 1997. Mine was bought second-hand for an excellent price with the original case it used to come with, and is from 1997. One of the strap buttons was better placed back then when these Epiphones started being made (exactly as in the Gibson reissue), so the instrument is NEVER neck-heavy and unbalanced-the modern Epihone variants have the same strap button in a less than optimal location. The pickups are a bit of a letdown, but many people still like them as-is (all Epiphone Explorer, Thunderbird, and Flying V basses share the same "TB Plus" pickups.) Of course, the colors are different (no beautiful candy red) and the wood used is still on debate (I doubt it's real korina, at any rate?), but the design is very similar, same scale length (30.5), and I even like the pointier headstock on the Epiphones better than the original, classic, rounder Gibson headstock. They are made in Korea (I forgot the factory name), and you could just switch the pickups with some made by Mr. David Schwab on these forums (he has a perfect fit for them), or for a pricier alternative, these "new" 1964 Thunderbird bass pickup replicas by Lollar (I have these pickups since 2010, when he was making them strictly for Epiphones and with black covers; those have been discontinued, but I surmise it's the same pickup with newer covers, now made available for both Gibsons and Epiphones).

Thunderbird Bass Pickups

The Lollar Thunderbird vintage replicas I have on my Flying V bass sound amazing, believe me, and all I have heard from the sound samples provided by Mr. Schwab for his own series of pickups is excellent as well. Luckily, there are sound samples for both the Lollar and the SGD Lutherie pickups, so you have an idea of how they sound. It won't be a Gibson, but you will have a pretty great sounding bass, and as long as you dig it, who cares?

I still would love to try out these Gibson V remakes-would love to have some cash handy right about now. :P
 
#6
The Lemon said:
Looks sweet, too bad it'll cost like $9,000.
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GC has them for $1300+ seems like a great deal on a limited run US made bass that will probably be collectable down the road- a big if, they stick to a limited run. You can spend that much on a new Carvin (loose 40-60% of its value when you take ownership) or a Lakland Skyline made in Indonesia.
 
#7
My first thought was that the folks at Gibson Finally had an epiphinay that they could make a lot of cash by putting out some instruments that bassists actually want (instead of 2,200 ripper reissue)...Ya know...The stuff that folks snatch up on ebay and such...

Saw it and it was on my doorstep two days later.
Prob wont play the heck out of it, as i've got my regulars..(T-Bird, les paul, moonstone...)
It's all its cracked up to be. I've an 81 V-Bass...and the new one feels a lot like the 81!!

No....Epi's cant stand in the shadow of the real deal.

Yea, get one!! You'll be real glad you did!! (Now, to get the new silverburst explorer!!...)
:bassist:
 
#8
Susqmike said:
My first thought was that the folks at Gibson Finally had an epiphinay that they could make a lot of cash by putting out some instruments that bassists actually want (instead of 2,200 ripper reissue)...Ya know...The stuff that folks snatch up on ebay and such...

Saw it and it was on my doorstep two days later.
Prob wont play the heck out of it, as i've got my regulars..(T-Bird, les paul, moonstone...)
It's all its cracked up to be. I've an 81 V-Bass...and the new one feels a lot like the 81!!

No....Epi's cant stand in the shadow of the real deal.

Yea, get one!! You'll be real glad you did!! (Now, to get the new silverburst explorer!!...)
:bassist:
Click to expand...

I am glad you liked it so much. :) May I ask how does its tone compare to the original which you also have? I wish I had the money, my friend. I am sure it must be a beaty to behold, and it must feel awesome to have it on your hands. :hyper: I mean, I LOVE to have my Epi V on my hands, it just plays and feels so great, so I can imagine how good of an instrument the Gibdon reissue is.

(I have no issue with the shape, nor with the scale. To be honest, it's so easy to play sitting down or standing up; just don't play it like a long-scale!)

You are so lucky getting your 81 V bass. Do you have a pic of it? I like the bluish ones. Of course I don't have it, but I always hear people complaining about its tone. And the Explorer also looks uber, but I do honestly prefer the V first, over the humongous silver Explorer (if I had loads of money, I would get both in a heartbeat.)
 
#12
evenintheshower said:
How's the balance on this instrument? Also, the strap buttons locations look problematic as far as wearing the thing comfortably, but I have never owned or played a V bass. I would love to hear more!
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The strap buttons on the Gibson reissue are in a PERFECT location. It won't neck dive at all. The Epiphones were done right as well the first time, but for some reason they changed the strap buttons location a few years back. On the Gibson and in my 1997 Epi, the balance is perfect. I would play them first to see if it's your thing, not only because of the short scale (for me, a non-issue, although it has its quirks, as in string selection, etc.) but because to play it sitting down the horns should be between your legs, much as if you were playing a Flying V guitar. For the purist, a no-no, but honestly, it's VERY easy to play in this fashion. It's a very well-made instrument, but also a niche one, and not for everybody (I personally love these basses.)

They won't be the same, but if there's any guitar shop in our area that has an Epi Flying V Bass, try to play it; the Gibson should be similar, but PROBABLY much better sounding (I just don't like the stock Epiphone pickups too much.)

I wonder how my modded Epi compares to the Gibson reissue. Would be a great experience to A/B them!
 
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#14
If you go to Sweetwater of AmericanMusicalSupply, they usually let you break the payments up into three payments..
I got mine for 1389 at Sweetwater.

Didnt really buy it to play it-that's what the (production model) T-Bird is for...
I definately love th Gib V's; they remind me of a mazarratti!!...Fun to play!!!

Here's the 81 V with birdseye top and kahler tremelo!!...along with the Moonstone 5-string V (This thing sounds like a grand piano!!..)
 

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#15
Susqmike said:
If you go to Sweetwater of AmericanMusicalSupply, they usually let you break the payments up into three payments..
I got mine for 1389 at Sweetwater.

Didnt really buy it to play it-that's what the (production model) T-Bird is for...
I definately love th Gib V's; they remind me of a mazarratti!!...Fun to play!!!

Here's the 81 V with birdseye top and kahler tremelo!!...along with the Moonstone 5-string V (This thing sounds like a grand piano!!..)
Click to expand...

Hah! I cannot afford even 3 payments under my current situation. :( To each his own to be sure, but I do like the Vs for what usually people hate them for: their playability. Easy fret access, easy to play sitting down (to me, it is!), etc. I can see why you love the TBirds, though I personally prefer the Explorer for a Gibson long-scale, if I had the money and somebody forced me to choose one of the two. My Epihone knock-off has Thunderbird pickups, though the sound must be so different (and less output, since they are vintage replicas) than the Gibson V reissue, given that it has modern TBird pickups. Hope you get your hands on that Silverburst Explorer soon. :) Thanks for sharing your beautiful basses! I see you have no qualms about V basses. :) Take care; perhaps one day I can afford my own Gibson V, before they take it out of the market.
 
#16
Susqmike said:
If you go to Sweetwater of AmericanMusicalSupply, they usually let you break the payments up into three payments..
I got mine for 1389 at Sweetwater.

Didnt really buy it to play it-that's what the (production model) T-Bird is for...
I definately love th Gib V's; they remind me of a mazarratti!!...Fun to play!!!

Here's the 81 V with birdseye top and kahler tremelo!!...along with the Moonstone 5-string V (This thing sounds like a grand piano!!..)
Click to expand...

holy hell that birdseye is an 81 gibson?!
 
#20
Bought one this week at GC, brand new for $899.
The sound I like for any 2 vol1 tone bass is easy to dial in and was exactly as expected, clear, defined, warm and with punch on the E String.
Think Andy Fraser on the Free albums for tone.
I always use Fender amps when testing basses and then I know what to expect when I get home.
Can't wait to push it through my Marshall VBA.
 

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