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Though its origins may lie in the blues, the Flying V found a home in rock and roll, too. A fleet of three Vs gassed Jimi Hendrix's jams 'til he kissed the sky. The guitar humbucked up T. Rex’s roar and gave the Scorpions enough wind to "Rock You Like a Hurricane." Metallica's monolithic wall of sound has a vein of V at its igneous core, and Zakk Wylde has blasted his signature model on-stage and in the studio with Ozzy.
It’s been a half-century of evolution and innovation since the original Flying Vs landed in the hands of musicians. We may still be waiting for our jet packs, but the Flying V took off long ago.
Gibson Flying V Faded Electric Guitar; There's a reason V's have been a mainstay for the last 50 years. So ahead of its time with its incredible shape, tone and access to all the frets, the original V came out in '58 and has been a powerhouse guitar ever since. The Gibson Faded Flying V is a reproduction of the '67 model with all the features and specs that made it the guitar it was in its glory days. The look of the Faded V is like no other guitar made before or after. With unlimited neck access, powerful out put and worn finish; this Faded Flying V is sure to be a favorite with fans and players worldwide. Gibson Faded Flying V Features Mahogany body and neck Rosewood fingerboard Dot inlays 496R and 500T ceramic magnet pickups Chrome hardware American Musical Supply - an Authorized Gibson Internet Retailer AmericanMusical.com has been selected as one of Gibson's very few Authorized Internet Retail Sites in the United States. As one of these select few Internet sites, AMS offers an unparalleled selection of all of Gibson's premium brands, all covered by Gibson's Limited Lifetime Warranty - only available from Authorized Gibson retailers. Gibson is recognized as one of the most respected guitar builders in the world. AMS is proud to have a decades-long history with them and honored that Gibson has chosen us to bring their world-class instruments to you. Look for more new product announcements, special events and promotions in the coming months. Gibson - Pure.
Gibson Les Paul Studio 60s Tribute Electric Guitar, Worn Cherry Sunburst Review
Gibson SG Special Electric Guitar,Worn Cherry Satin Review
The best combination of features and value in the SG line-up.
Faded Finish Process
 A thicker, rounder, time-honored neck profile emulates the neck shapes of the iconic late '50s Gibson models. |
 Industry-standard Tune-O-Matic bridge and 490 pickups. |
'50s Rounded Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The more traditional '50s neck profile on the SG Special is the thicker, rounder profile, emulating the neck shapes found on the iconic 1958 and 1959 Les Paul Standards. The neck is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest--including the final sanding--is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.
Dot Inlays
Over the years, the classic dot inlay has been one of the more traditional features of many Gibson models, including the SG. A figured, swirl acrylic gives these inlays that classic "pearl" look. They are inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn't require the use of fillers.
Gibson's 490 (R) Rhythm and (T) Treble Pickup
The mid to late 1960s saw the emergence of a very different type of music coming from the clubs of England. It was an interpretation of the blues that hadn't been heard before, and it was much harder, more rocking, and definitely louder than anything else before it. As such, this new genre's players were demanding more powerful amplifiers with increased volume outputs to satisfy their sonic explorations. This led to a call for a more versatile pickup that could split coils through a push/pull knob, and prevent microphonic feedback from occurring when the volumes were turned up to maximum levels. Gibson answered this call with the introduction of the revolutionary 490T and 490R pickups ("T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm). The 490R is a humbucker with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The 490T bridge pickup is calibrated to match the 490R, with pole pieces aligned a little further apart to accommodate the spacing of the strings at the bridge, which is different than the spacing of the strings at the neck.
Solid Mahogany Body
Probably the most central of all the SG Special's features is its solid mahogany body--lightweight, strong, with a thick, warm tone. The mahogany goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the Gibson factories. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This ensures all woods are dried to a level of "equilibrium," where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, in addition to reducing the weight. It also helps with improving the woods' machinability and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that a Gibson guitar will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.
Set-Neck Construction
Like all classic Gibson guitars, the necks on SG Specials are distinguished by one of the more traditional features that have always set them apart--a glued neck joint. Gluing the neck to the body of the guitar ensures a "wood-to-wood" contact, no air space in the neck cavity, and maximum contact between the neck and body, allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The result? Better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.
Tune-O-Matic Bridge
The Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954. At the time, it was a true revelation in intonation, and set a standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. This pioneering piece of hardware provides a firm seating for the strings, allowing the player to adjust and fine-tune the intonation and string height in a matter of minutes. It also yields a great union between the strings and body, which results in excellent tone and sustain. It is combined with a separate "stopbar" tailpiece, essentially a modified version of the earlier wraparound bridge. To this day, the Tune-o-matic remains the industry standard. It is the epitome of form and function in electric guitar bridge design, and is one of the most revered and copied pieces of guitar hardware ever developed.
The Gibson Faded SG Special is an electric guitar that maintains the tradition of looks, functionality, and value for which the SG guitar is known. Under its attractive faded finish, the Faded Special SG is still the traditional SG, with mahogany body and neck, Tune-O-Matic/stopbar bridge, and alnico 490 pickups. The guitar's faded finish gives it the look of an electric that started its rockin' days in the '60s. A Little SG History In 1961, the Les Paul was redesigned with a thinner body and 2 sharp cutaway horns that made the upper frets more accessible while lowering production costs. The new guitar was popular, but Les Paul the guitarist behind the original Les Paul did not like it and asked to have his name removed. Gibson renamed the model the "SG" which was short for "solid guitar". Though Les Paul's name was officially removed from the model in 1961, the plastic Les Paul nameplates (positioned between the rhythm pickup and fingerboard) were in abundance in the Gibson factory and SG models having these nameplates were built and sold by Gibson up to the end of 1963. SGs have been the choice of world-class artists such as Pete Townsend, Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi, and Angus Young.
Gibson SG Standard Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherry Review
A New Classic for Rocking Through the Twenty-First Century
Available Finishes
 A thicker, rounder, time-honored neck profile emulates the neck shapes of the iconic late '50s Gibson models. |
 Set-neck construction for better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks. |
 Gibson's 490R AND 498T pickups for screaming tone. |
Exquisite Mother-of Pearl and Acrylic Inlays
Among other key distinctions, the SG Standard stands out from its no-frills kid sister, the SG Special, because of the fine mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and holly inlays that decorate its headstock. The SG Standard also boasts figured acrylic trapezoid inlays along its rosewood fingerboard.
'50s Rounded Neck Profile
No guitar neck profiles are more distinguishable than the neck profiles employed on the Gibson models of today. The more traditional '50s neck profile--found on the SG Standard--is the thicker, rounder, more time-honored profile, emulating the neck shapes of the iconic late '50s Gibson models. The neck is machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. But once the fingerboard gets glued on, the rest--including the final sanding--is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.
Set-Neck Construction
Like all classic Gibson guitars, the necks on Les Pauls and SGs are distinguished by one of the more traditional features that have always set them apart--a glued neck joint. Gluing the neck to the body of the guitar ensures a "wood-to-wood" contact, no air space in the neck cavity, and maximum contact between the neck and body, allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The result? Better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.
Gibson's 490R AND 498T Pickups
The mid to late 1960s saw the emergence of a very different type of music coming from the clubs of England. This new genre's players were demanding more powerful amplifiers with increased volume outputs to satisfy their sonic explorations. This led to a call for a more versatile pickup, and Gibson answered the call with the 490T and 490R pickups ("T" for treble, and "R" for rhythm), humbuckers with the tonal characteristics of an original PAF, but with a slight increase in upper mid-range response. The Gibson 498T bridge pickup is the 490's ideal complement. Taking the 490 one step further, the 498 swaps the Alnico II magnet to an Alnico V, thus making it slightly hotter with emphasis on mid-ranges and highs. The pole pieces on the 498T are also aligned a little further apart to accommodate the spacing of the strings at the bridge, which is different than the spacing of the strings at the neck.
Solid Mahogany Body
Probably the most central of all SG features is its solid mahogany body. The mahogany goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts before it enters the factories. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This ensures all woods are dried to a level of "equilibrium," where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also improves the woods' machinability and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that the SG will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.
Like the landmark Les Paul before it, the SG Standard shattered all perceptions of what a guitar could be when it was first introduced in 1961. Today, it stands as one of the most popular and best-selling of all Gibson guitars. Its distinct twin cutaways, pointed horns, and beveled edges have made it one of the most inspired and iconic designs in the history of guitar-making. And not only is it one of the most eye-catching guitar designs, it is also one of the most functional and effective.
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus Electric Guitar, Heritage Cherry Sunburst Review
The World's Most Legendary Guitar
New Asymmetrical Neck Profile
The 2008 Les Paul Standard debuts Gibson's newest neck profile--an asymmetrical design that makes it one of the most comfortable and playable necks ever offered on any guitar. The new ergonomically-correct profile is tapered, and designed to be thicker on the bass side, and thinner on the treble side, closely outlining the natural form of the hand as it grips the neck. The 2008 Standard necks are machined in Gibson's rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts. Once the rosewood fingerboard gets glued on, the rest--including the final sanding--is done by hand. That means there are no two necks with the exact same dimensions. So while it still has the basic characteristics of its respective profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.
 Gibson Burstbucker Pro pickups and chrome Tune-o-matic bridge. |
 Locking Grover tuners for tuning stability. |
 Custom-made, gold-plated potentiometers manufactured by Bourns. |
Chambered Mahogany Body
Every new 2008 Les Paul Standard will benefit from Gibson's proven chambering technique, which leaves each guitar with perfect tone, balance, and weight. Prior to gluing the maple cap on top of the mahogany body, the expert craftsmen at Gibson USA carve out carefully mapped-out chambers in the body using a Computer Numeric Controlled (CNC) router. The positioning of the routes was established after careful examination of the resonant characteristics of the Les Paul. Gibson approached this process with the awareness that every change to the formula would have repercussions on the instrument's sound. So, in addition to relieving the stress on a player's back and shoulder, these lighter Gibson guitars also enhance the tone palette in a manner unique only to these guitars. The results are comfortable, lightweight guitars that are acoustically louder, with increased sustain and resonance.
TonePros Locking Tune-o-matic Bridge and Locking Stopbar Tailpiece
The Tune-o-matic bridge was the brainchild of legendary Gibson president Ted McCarty in 1954, setting the standard for simplicity and functionality that has never been bettered. The 2008 Les Paul Standard features TonePros locking Nashville Tune-o-matic in a chrome finish, which has saddle adjustment screws on the pickup side, and pre-notched saddles for quick installation. The chrome locking stopbar tailpiece is also from TonePros. These parts come with locking studs designed to secure both components firmly to the body so that there is no lean, yielding a great union between the strings and body which results in excellent tone and sustain.
Pickups: Gibson Burstbucker Pros
Gibson's drive to recapture the magic of the original "Patent Applied For" humbucker pickups of the 1950s culminated with the introduction of the Burstbucker line in the early 1990s. In 2002, Gibson followed up this innovative accomplishment with yet another breakthrough in pickup design--the Burstbucker Pro, designed specifically for the new Les Paul Standards. The Burstbucker Pro features an Alnico V magnet (instead of the Alnico II), which offers slightly higher output and allows preamps to be driven a little harder to achieve a more natural break-up. Like all Burstbuckers, the Burstbucker Pro has asymmetrical coils--true to the original PAFs--which supply a more open sound. The Burstbucker Pro Neck is wound slightly less than the original PAFs, while the Burstbucker Pro Bridge is slightly overwound for increased output. The Burstbucker Pro pickups are also wax potted to allow loud volume pressures with minimal feedback.
Revolutionary Plek Set Up
The 2008 Les Paul Standard is one of the first models from Gibson USA to utilize the revolutionary Plek machine in setting up the guitar. The Plek is a German-made, computer controlled machine that carefully measures each fret, along with the fingerboard height under each string, and then automatically dresses each fret, virtually eliminating string buzz and greatly improving the overall playability of the guitar. This pioneering process does in minutes what it takes a luthier several hours--sometimes even days--to accomplish. Every fret is accurately aligned, and the guitar is properly intonated, leaving the instrument "Plek'd" and amazingly playable.
Locking Neutrik Jack
Neutrik has been making superior electronic interconnection products since 1975, making them the logical choice to supply the performance safeguarding jack in Gibson's 2008 Les Paul Standard. Like many Neutrik products, the jack in the 2008 Les Paul Standard is manufactured from strong, high-grade thermoplastics and housed in a rugged diecast nickel shell. A retention spring inside the jack ensures optimum grip on any guitar cable, thus avoiding the chance of lost connection.
Locking Grover Tuners
The 2008 Les Paul Standard is outfitted with locking tuners from Grover, which deliver ease of use through a standard tuner and positive locking mechanism that securely locks each string in place. Simply insert each string through the string hole, turn the dial on the bottom of the tuner to lock the string, and begin tuning. Each string can be tuned to pitch in less than one complete revolution of the post. These Grover machine heads feature completely sealed components with an improved 18:1 tuning ratio.
Gold-Plated, Custom-Made Potentiometers by Bourns
The 2008 Les Paul Standard features all newly designed controls, including custom-made, gold-plated potentiometers manufactured by Bourns, one of the industry's leading makers of guitar electronics. These new potentiometers deliver accuracy and high reliability, while giving the Standard '08 a new level of sonic clarity and intensity never before seen in a Les Paul.
New Enlarged Neck Tenon
The 2008 Les Paul Standard sports a revolutionary enlarged neck tenon designed by Gibson's team of pioneering engineers. The expanded neck tenon features an innovative interlocking joint that allows the neck to be dropped into the body from the guitar's top side, as opposed to sliding the neck in from the rim. When the glue is added, a solid unyielding bond is created that maximizes the wood to wood contact between the neck and the body, offering increased stability and superb transfer of vibration for enhanced tone, improved sustain, and superior resonance. It is also the largest neck tenon in the history of the Les Paul.
The 2008 Les Paul Standard Plus Heritage Cherry Sunburst continues to alter - and inspire - the sounds of today's ever-changing musical landscapes. It features a hand-carved, beautifully figured maple top with matched chambered mahogany back outlined with single-ply binding. The neck is crafted from a single piece of mahogany then carefully glued into the neck cavity of the body, which allows the neck to function as a single unit with the body. Additionally, the neck's asymmetrical shape is the most comfortable neck offered on a Les Paul Standard. From the sweetest jazz to the heaviest rock and metal, the Les Paul can do it all-it is one of the most powerful and versatile instruments of all time. Crank up a 2008 Les Paul Standard Plus today and experience the power and performance of more than 40 years of craftsmanship and innovation.
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Gibson 1959 Les Paul Standard VOS Electric Guitar, Washed Cherry Review
The most highly acclaimed, widely recognized solid body electric guitar in the entire world.
History
 Gibson's legendary Burstbucker pickups and Tune-o-matic bridge. |
 22-fret rosewood fingerboard outfitted with acrylic trapezoid inlays matching the size of color of the originals. |
Unfortunately, sales of the new Les Paul Standard continued to dip, and after shipping only 643 guitars in 1959 and another 635 during the early part of 1960, Gibson once again instituted another redesign of the guitar, abandoning the Les Paul design as we know it today and creating the SG Standard. No one could have imagined, however, that those 1,278 Les Paul Standard guitars--especially the 643 from 1959--would become the most sought after guitars in the world.
Body
While the full impact of the 1959 Les Paul Standard was still several years away from being realized, its influence on guitar design was already well underway. Besides its exceptional tone and playability, the 1959 version of the Les Paul Standard was renowned for its two "bookmatched" pieces of maple wood that made up the top of the guitar. While most of the Les Paul Standard tops in 1958 were considered "plain," some of the maple tops in 1959--and into 1960--were "flamed" or "figured," adding a three-dimensional, cosmetic element never before seen on any solid body guitar. The beautiful patterns, however, went largely unnoticed at the time, with Gibson paying no particular attention to selecting wood with distinct grain patterns. Other cosmetic changes on the 1959 Les Paul Standard included a slightly thinner neck profile, a smaller heel, and a change to larger "jumbo"-sized frets, which are still in use today.
Finish
The guitar's new Cherry Sunburst finish also saw its first full year of use in 1959, despite problems with the consistency of the red pigment used to paint it--a problem that wasn't corrected until late 1960. This caused the finish on many guitars to fade to some degree of amber, honey or yellow hue, further adding to the beauty and mystique of the instrument.
Famous Players
One of the first guitarists to recognize the potential of the 1959 Les Paul Standard was The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards, who obtained a 1959 model in 1964 that had been outfitted with a Bigsby tremolo tailpiece. Around 1966, emerging British guitarist Eric Clapton--himself influenced by the early 1950s Les Paul models played by Freddie King and Hubert Sumlin--also recognized the Les Paul Standard's exceptional tone and playability, and began playing them almost exclusively. Before long, the Les Paul Standards of the late 1950s had found their way into the hands of future guitar legends Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Duane Allman, Peter Green and Michael Bloomfield, among others, eventually helping to reshape the sound of a worldwide musical movement, while forever changing the standard by which all other electric guitars are measured.
Near-perfect Recreation
The 1959 Les Paul Standard reissue produced today by Gibson Custom is true to all of the original instrument's features and characteristics, including Gibson's traditional hand-carved "figured" maple top and solid, non-weight relieved mahogany body. The headstock is made from Holly head veneer, as opposed to fiber, just like it was in 1959, and the vintage-style tulip tuners are mounted in a straight line, also as they were on the original. The 24 3/4-inch scale length neck is made from one solid piece of mahogany, and attached to the body using a long neck tenon--one of the Les Paul's more distinguishing characteristics of the 1950s. The neck is topped by a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard outfitted with acrylic trapezoid inlays matching the size and color of the originals. Of course, two of Gibson's legendary Burstbucker pickups deliver all the subtle variations of true, classic "Patent Applied For" humbucker tone by using historically "unmatched" bobbin windings and Alnico II magnets. Other historical appointments include CTS potentiometers, bumble bee capacitors, rolled creme-colored fingerboard binding, single-ply creme-colored binding around the body, and a period-correct thin toggleswitch washer and jackplate. The 1959 Les Paul Standard comes in either a V.O.S. or Gloss finish, and with the standard Gibson Custom case, custom care kit and certificate of authenticity. They are available in Faded Tobacco Burst, Washed Cherry Burst and Iced Tea Burst.
In 1959, the Les Paul Standard made a change to wider, fatter jumbo frets which made it a more facile guitar. The significance of this change wouldn't be felt until the late '60s when Clapton, Bloomfield, Peter Green, and other emerging guitarists discovered its warm, thick BurstBucker voice and fast, smooth and easy-playing neck. Then the Les Paul began its ascent toward ultimate icon status. Like all VOS (Vintage Original Spec) Series instruments, the 1959 Les Paul Standard VOS is handcrafted for comfort and playability in the Gibson Custom Shop. The construction, neck profile, hardware, and electronics are period accurate, and a special nitrocellulose finish treatment gives it the patina of a gently aged vintage guitar. Includes Gibson Custom Shop case and a certificate of authenticity.
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