Gibson flying v, non-pickguard?

[MortenP]

Hey guys
I'm just wondering if somebody can tell me what year standard series Gibson flying v that didn't have a pickguard, as I think they look a whole lot better.. I know that "The V" didn't have one, but weren't the v's produced without the pickguard for a couple of years?

[Newc]

83-85 I think, maybe to 86. Usually came with a graphic like pinstripes. Great guitars, and no pickguard means you can get a decent graphic put on them.

[SEEGERMANY]

From The Flying V, The Illustrated History, Page 46

The Flying V (no pickguard model, 1981-1989)

This guitar was the first Flying V produced by the Nashville plant and was designed to compete with lower priced import guitars. This instrument's controls are mounted directly to the face of the guitar. The features include two Dirty Fingers humbucking pickups with black mounting rings, chrome hardware, three knobs, one toggle switch, input jack, gold decal logo, maple neck, Tune-O-Matic bridge, stop tailpiece standard with Kahler Vibrato units optional, bell shaped truss rod cover, and a large control plate over the back.

[SEEGERMANY]

Additional Info.

The Flying V 83 model (1983-1984) was also created in the Nashville Plant and was a slight variation of the model mentioned above. It listed for the same price, however, they switched from mahogany to alder for the body but continued to use maple for the neck and ebony for the fretboard. The other difference is the control layout which was borrowed from the configuration on The "V."

The Flying V XPL (1984-1987) was the same body style as the Flying V (no pickguard model). It's easily recognized because it has an Explorer headstock.

[metalone]

I have an 84 but mine came with black hardware and a Kahler flyer
It was pastel pink[glam] and I bought it from a friend who owned a guitar shop for $425.00 new, no one wanted that color LOL!
I upgraded the Kahler with stainless rollers and block and later had super jumbo frets installed and painted it red
It is a great sounding guitar but I don't play it much any more, It has a really cool ebony board as it has a brown streak in it
I also had one of the Explorer head V's but it sounded hollow , never liked it
The V I wish I still had was a 73 Lake Placid blue one that sounded like Schenkers V's,kick myself for selling it all the time!!

[StukaJU87]

I had bought a brand new no pickguard Explorer of the same time period and it was only $425 brand new. They were not expensive at the time.

[metalone]

I had bought a brand new no pickguard Explorer of the same time period and it was only $425 brand new. They were not expensive at the time.

Most of them I saw back then where in the $600 range but that was at GC and a few local shops:dunno:

[StukaJU87]

I had bought a brand new no pickguard Explorer of the same time period and it was only $425 brand new. They were not expensive at the time.

Most of them I saw back then where in the $600 range but that was at GC and a few local shops:dunno:

I had bought mine at a shop on 48th street in NYC. Can't remember which one though. $425 plus tax including case. Rode home to Jersey on the bus with it.

[SEEGERMANY]

I had bought a brand new no pickguard Explorer of the same time period and it was only $425 brand new. They were not expensive at the time.

$425 was a lot of money back in the early 1980's. It's a lot of money today if you're broke!

[metalone]

I had bought mine at a shop on 48th street in NYC. Can't remember which one though. $425 plus tax including case. Rode home to Jersey on the bus with it.

That's awesome, Do you still have it?I was a real V lover till I got my Charvel 550XL,Now the V sits in the case
I still love it but it doesn't play like the Charvel

[StukaJU87]

That's awesome, Do you still have it?I was a real V lover till I got my Charvel 550XL,Now the V sits in the case
I still love it but it doesn't play like the Charvel

Nah, I got rid of it years ago. The Explorer I have now is a 1990 and it has the pickguard. I prefer them that way. V's too. My V has a pickguard also.

[ulijdavid]

$425 was a lot of money back in the early 1980's. It's a lot of money today if you're broke!

Back in 1983 I wanted a white Flying V with the block inlays. At that time, there were only a couple of Vees in the store - most being the hideuos V2's and a couple of the "designers". Me being a huge Michael Schenker fan thought they looked wrong. So I ended up walking out of the store with an 83' 58 reissue Korina V for $675.00. I continue to play it 26 years later - and I still have the "old taggers" for it. Incidentally, the 58 style was OK because I saw Rudolph Schenker play one.