Jonesing for this Epi ‘58 Korina Flying V

[Texsunburst59]

I have an ‘ 80 Gibson Explorer I bought new back in the day, and it’s a killer guitar.

I’ve always wanted a Flying V to pair with it, but I really don’t want to spend Gibson $$$ on V.

I don’t play out anymore, so this would just be for around the jamming.

I can get this for $1050 shipped to my house with a HSC

If anybody here has one, what are your thoughts on these guitars?

I’m just an old Phukr trying to get his Michael Schenker on. LOL

Here’s a pic and the specs.

 

[VonBonfire]

I have an ‘ 80 Gibson Explorer I bought new back in the day, and it’s a killer guitar.

I’ve always wanted a Flying V to pair with it, but I really don’t want to spend Gibson $$$ on V.

I don’t play out anymore, so this would just be for around the jamming.

I can get this for $1050 shipped to my house with a HSC

If anybody here has one, what are your thoughts on these guitars?

I’m just an old Phukr trying to get his Michael Schenker on. LOL

Here’s a pic and the specs.

View attachment 463183View attachment 463184

Not sure what the "1958 flying v neck profile" is like.

I had a white custom shop '58 Epiphone V I bought used in 2012 for about $350. It was beautiful with gold hardware but the neck was like a radiused 2x4. The largest neck I've put hands on before or since. It was basically unplayable as a result. It was a nice wall hanger. I know most of the previous Epi 58 V's had slim tapers. Regardless, no way would I dump over a grand into that guitar in spite of it's claim of a solid korina body. It's not the same korina as the original.

I would take my time and hunt down a Gibson faded cherry V. It probably won't cost you much more used than that Epi is new and if you decide you don't want it you'll get your $ back. Here you go, even has burstbuckers installed:

https://reverb.com/item/102662781-gibson-flying-v-2002-2012-faded-cherry

 

[VonBonfire]

Looks like it's a slim taper C shape....

$300 is a steep markup for burstbuckers and CTS pots IMO vs the usual model listed below equipped with probucker 2 and 3 pickups. I had those in a Sheraton II pro and they were good pickups, similar to '57 classics. Burstbuckers are pretty affordable on the used market regardless. I guess I am suggesting you carefully consider your options.

https://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone-flying-v-vice-city-blue-exclusive?view=epiphone

 

[Texsunburst59]

Looks like it's a slim taper C shape....

$300 is a steep markup for burstbuckers and CTS pots IMO vs the usual model listed below equipped with probucker 2 and 3 pickups. I had those in a Sheraton II pro and they were good pickups, similar to '57 classics. Burstbuckers are pretty affordable on the used market regardless. I guess I am suggesting you carefully consider your options.

https://www.gibson.com/products/epiphone-flying-v-vice-city-blue-exclusive?view=epiphone

Thanks brother.

I will look around, and maybe I can audition some of these options in person.

I sure don’t want to to get stuck with a wall hanger I’ll lose my ass on when trying to resell it.

 

[VonBonfire]

Thanks brother.

I will look around, and maybe I can audition some of these options in person.

I sure don’t want to to get stuck with a wall hanger I’ll lose my ass on when trying to resell it.

For the record it was just the neck thickness that made my 58 a wall hanger. The pickups were mudbuckers but the guitar played fine. Not sure why they chose to equip that particular model with a massive baseball bat neck. It was huge.

I'm an Albert King enjoyer so I've had a few V's, a cheaper Hamer Vector (was a sweet axe but had hot hot hot pickups), an Epi 58, and the faded Gibson, but I like to practice on the couch which meant I ultimately sold them all, lol. The Gibson faded was the best of the bunch. I'll tell you something sad....I bought the Gibson in 2005 for about $400. It even had the ebony board with the single crescent moon inlay. Those can run close to 2k today....

 

[DanTravis62]

There are so, sooo many cheap gibson v's around. I wouldn't get this unless you are a massive Bonermaster fan or something.

There's a red Gibson Trad pro with emgs for like 1400 that's been the classifieds for months, I bet he would take 1200.

Trad Pro has binding, better everything, and you can put whatever pickups you want in it. As VBF said, cherry fadeds aren't expensive at all, either. You can find Gothics for 1300-1500 too.

I guess I just don't see how 1050 is a good deal for this.

 

[Texsunburst59]

VBF & Dan, you guys are both right about looking for a Gibson V, and forget the Epi nonsense altogether.

I’m going to be keeping an eye on FB and CL between San Antonio & Austin, and see if a V is posted for sale or trade.

I have 45+ guitars in my collection, so I could put a package together for the right one.

Here’s a pic of my ‘80 Explorer, and I’d REALLY like to find a V in this color , or I’d take a black one but still favor a cream one.

 

[DanTravis62]

VBF & Dan, you guys are both right about looking for a Gibson V, and forget the Epi nonsense altogether.

I’m going to be keeping an eye on FB and CL between San Antonio & Austin, and see if a V is posted for sale or trade.

I have 45+ guitars in my collection, so I could put a package together for the right one.

Here’s a pic of my ‘80 Explorer, and I’d REALLY like to find a V in this color , or I’d take a black one but still favor a cream one.

View attachment 463201

Absolutely killer man!

Yeah dude, there's nothing wrong with epiphones nowadays QC and quality wise, it's just for that price you can get a much better made gibson one

If that Joe B korina V was say, 600 bucks? Now were talkin. But at 1050 you're just way, way too close to the price range of trad pros, fadeds, gothics, and even a screaming deal on a 70s or 80s V.

 

[VonBonfire]

I’m going to be keeping an eye on FB and CL between San Antonio & Austin, and see if a V is posted for sale or trade.

I think buying Gibson is the right move vs Epiphone. You must not live far from me if that's there area where you are hunting. I'm about halfway between those places.

Here you go:

https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/austin-gibson-2017-flying/bye897AiRKwtebVXDB8FBP

There are a couple more over in Houston if you were willing to make the drive. I'd def be scouring GC used as well. Good luck brougham.

 

[VonBonfire]

@DanTravis62 what's the sad emoji for bro?

 

[Texsunburst59]

I think buying Gibson is the right move vs Epiphone. You must not live far from me if that's there area where you are hunting. I'm about halfway between those places.

Here you go:

https://www.craigslist.org/view/d/austin-gibson-2017-flying/bye897AiRKwtebVXDB8FBP

There are a couple more over in Houston if you were willing to make the drive. I'd def be scouring GC used as well. Good luck brougham.

Yea brother, that V does look very interesting.

I’ve never seen a maroon V in person, though I’d prefer it to a cherry or fade V’s which I don’t really care for.

Thanks for the heads up VBF.

By the way I live in Corpus Christi , but have a sister in - law who lives in SA.

It’d be easy for my wife to go and spend a weekend with her and snag a guitar in the SA and Austin area.

 

[DanTravis62]

@DanTravis62 what's the sad emoji for bro?

Crazy you guys have so many great guitars on Craigslist/marketplace/etc

It's a desert here

 

[VonBonfire]

Yea brother, that V does look very interesting.

I’ve never seen a maroon V in person, though I’d prefer it to a cherry or fade V’s which I don’t really care for.

Thanks for the heads up VBF.

By the way I live in Corpus Christi , but have a sister in - law who lives in SA.

It’d be easy for my wife to go and spend a weekend with her and snag a guitar in the SA and Austin area.

Right on. Jose usually gigs out that way on the weekends I don't have anything booked for us. I'll check with him on a white V for you. There is an Epi futura in Austin $850, an Epi '58 V from the late 90's with upgraded tuners listed for $750 and someone down in San Antone has a black carbon fiber pickguard special edition V for $1200. Your white V is down there in Gainesville. 1983 but the dude wants $3960, ooof.

Crazy you guys have so many great guitars on Craigslist/marketplace/etc

Austin-San Antonio is pretty good for used gear but a lot of the sellers are stuck on covid era pricing like morons. I scored a killer deal on a nice Cornet last December, LOL. The nice thing about the south is CL is still a thing here and a lot of gear still gets listed there. I notice it is basically dying a death up north in favor of FB marketplace. My last sale was through FB...it seems to be gaining more traction here now. Things change more slowly here though.

 

[Texsunburst59]

Right on. Jose usually gigs out that way on the weekends I don't have anything booked for us. I'll check with him on a white V for you. There is an Epi futura in Austin $850, an Epi '58 V from the late 90's with upgraded tuners listed for $750 and someone down in San Antone has a black carbon fiber pickguard special edition V for $1200. Your white V is down there in Gainesville. 1983 but the dude wants $3960, ooof.


Austin-San Antonio is pretty good for used gear but a lot of the sellers are stuck on covid era pricing like morons. I scored a killer deal on a nice Cornet last December, LOL. The nice thing about the south is CL is still a thing here and a lot of gear still gets listed there. I notice it is basically dying a death up north in favor of FB marketplace. My last sale was through FB...it seems to be gaining more traction here now. Things change more slowly here thoug

Thanks for all the V heads up VBF.

Man I’d LOVE to snag that ‘83 V in Gainesville, but not at $4K.

At $2K, , I’d definitely move some guitars and find a way to snag if it was around your area.

I’m just going to be patient and wait it out, until the right one gets in my way.

 

[VonBonfire]

I’m just going to be patient and wait it out, until the right one gets in my way.

That's the way to fly IMO. Get you the right guitar at the right price.

Jose just texted me this link:

https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1100371442978020/

 

[Texsunburst59]

That's the way to fly IMO. Get you the right guitar at the right price.

Jose just texted me this link:

https://m.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1100371442978020/

Thanks for the link bro.

That’s a beautiful V.

I decided to look online, and there’s a V just like that here at my local GC.

With what their asking plus the 10% discount and tax, I can get it for $1919 out the door.

I’m going to go buy and see if I like the neck and the sound .

If I like the it, I’ll make sure all the neck profiles are the same on all these 70’s models.

If they are, I’ll see If that guy in Austin will do a little horse trading.

 

[VonBonfire]

Thanks for the link bro.

That’s a beautiful V.

I decided to look online, and there’s a V just like that here at my local GC.

With what their asking plus the 10% discount and tax, I can get it for $1919 out the door.

I’m going to go buy and see if I like the neck and the sound .

If I like the it, I’ll make sure all the neck profiles are the same on all these 70’s models.

If they are, I’ll see If that guy in Austin will do a little horse trading.

Hey you are most welcome man. Glad you checked GC, tbh they are competitive with a lot of these CL/FB dudes still aiming for the fences with covid pricing, plus you can take it back if doesn't work out for you. That's probably gonna be a pretty sweet axe, lemme know how it works out.