Gibson Flying V Pro 2016 T – Modernizing A True Classic

Body And Neck:
Electronics:
Hardware:
Sound:
Value:

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In 2018, the Flying V will see its fiftieth anniversary, and there’s no better way to celebrate Gibson’s iconic show-stopper than with their awesome Flying V Pro 2016 T – packed with traditional style and modern components, as well as Gibson’s superior attention-to-detail. Used by everyone from Kirk Hammett to Jimi Hendrix, the Flying V clearly has an army of admirers – let’s see what all the fuss is about.

Body And Neck

The Flying V was launched in 1958 and the instantly recognizable body shape hasn’t changed much in the Gibson Flying V Pro 2016 T. There’s a solid mahogany V-shaped body, that comes in either Ebony or a delicious Wine Red – both dressed in a high-gloss nitrocellulose finish. The shape allows for full, unhindered access to every single fret of the thick 22-fret rosewood fretboard, that’s been hand oiled for a slick performance right off the shelf. This fretboard sits upon a glued-in mahogany neck with a Slim Taper profile and original neck width of 1 11/16” at the nut, making it perfect for serious shredding. You can’t fault the looks, which are simple but completely faithful to the original V.

Hardware

While there is nothing extraordinarily different, the Flying V Pro 2016 T isn’t lacking when it comes to hardware. Fixed to the traditional arrowhead headstock are six traditional Mini Grover ‘Green’ locking tuners with a 14:1 ratio, for great tuning stability, At the other end, you’ll find a classic chrome-plated tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece, for excellent anchoring and added stability. It’s worth adding that this guitar comes with a free Gibson-branded padded gig bag – for such an expensive guitar you may have expected a hard case, but you can always upgrade!

Electronics

The electronics on this rock-fueled Flying V are tailored to give you a wide spectrum of classic vintage tones and cement this model as a real rock legend. The tone comes from the two powerful zebra pickups: a '57 Classic humbucker at the neck, along with a BurstBucker 3 humbucker at the bridge, both offering Gibson’s special Alnico II magnet. These are complemented by a three-way pickup selector switch, along with two individual volume control knobs – tending to each of the humbuckers individually – as well as a single master tone control.

Sound

Whether you’re playing classic rock rhythm or really showing off with Hammett-inspired shredding, the Flying V Pro 2016 T gives you the sound to get it done. The '57 Classic humbucker offers a warm and even tone with plenty of crunch, that’s seen as the ‘true Gibson tone’, while the BurstBucker 3 – which is slightly overwound – has a smokin’ hot output and is perfect for intense soloing. Heavy metal and classic rockers will feel right at home with this guitar, whatever their set-up.

Conclusion

With traditional looks, classic sound, and a modern feel, it’s hard to find a flaw with the Flying V Pro 2016 T, which exhibits Gibson’s ethos for delivering the highest quality. With a hefty price-tag you would expect this guitar to display nothing but quality and it doesn’t disappoint in terms of sound, playability or craftsmanship. A real work of art, and worth considering for all serious guitarists with modern and classic metal at heart.

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