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musical instrument details
1976 Gibson? Flying V
Estimated price for orientation: 800 $
Category: Gibson Flying V Electric Guitar
Class:
Description Condition: Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition Brand: Gibson
For Sale: A possible 1976 Gibson Flying V. Get ready for a lengthy explanition. I say possible because I bought this guitar on ebay about 15 years ago from a seller in California. He stated it was a 1976 Gibson which had been refinished, had a fret job with new nut, machine heads and electronics replaced. A hardshell case was included.After receiving the guitar I noted the features and other changes, but could not find the serial number on the back of the headstock. Fearing a counterfit, I immediately took it to Kellys Music in Roanoke VA. They inspected it and beleived it to be a Gibson, although it was not disassembled to authenticate. I was told, due to the refinish, the serial number that Gibson put on an oval decal for guitars of that peroid (75-77) had probably been removed. As the electronics had been replaced I could not authenticate that method either. The pickups had been changed to Seymore Duncan, and the controls changed to push pull pots. I had Rocket Music in Blacksburg VA install Gibson pots and replaced the pickups with an era correct Tbucker for the bridge and a Tim Shaw for the neck. The old selector switch sometimes looses contact so I have included a new switch to install.The truss rod adjustment style is another mystery. I was informed by a Gibson rep that they always have used a traditional style truss rod,an 5/16 acorn nut with a metal halv washer behind it, and is adjusted with a socket style tool. A Gibson lutherier stated that they used the acorn nut, a hex or allen key, or a screw type for adjustment. A web site Guitarrepairbench.com also agree that Gibson used the three types, depending on year and type of guitar. This guitar uses the allen/hex type for adjustment.
The bridge appears to be an orginal Gibson Tune-o-Matic and matches the Gibson style posts. The posts have no slots at the top and use only the wheels to adjust string height as Gibson designed. Other companies like Epiphone use slots for adjustment. Both posts measure .154 in diameter, close to Gibsons .157 spec..The tailpiece and studs appear to be orginal Gibson although they should have a more tarnished worn look, with the guitar being refinished, which was a big mistake,they may have been replaced for cosmetic purposes.
The machine heads cannot be identified, they have no markings, but function well.The neck has a new nut and has been refretted with jumbo frets. The fret height is .040-.045 from the board, kind of high for my taste but a professional job, frets are uniform with no sharp edges, the guitar intonates perfectly using a strobe. Width at the nut is 1.795", at 12th fret 2.075" and the 22nd is 2.250". A slighty wider neck than a Les Paul or SG. The neck is slim with the thickness at .925 at the 5th fret. The headstock has no volute and the breakangle is 14/17 deg. All these measurements are approximate taken with dial calipers.The finish of the guitar is in good shape except for minor wear marks. The guitar has one chip in the lower wing on the back and a hole where the back strap button was relocated. The upper wing appears to have been broken and repaired at some point. Evidence of it can be seen through the finish. An expensive procedure that most likely would not have been done on a cheap guitar.With all the changes made, this guitar has been a mystery, with some factors suggesting an authentic Gibson. The neck specs are very close, since they were hand done, no two were exactly the same in that era, the bridge posts are correct diameter and without slots, the control and pickup cavities were not painted,Gibson did not paint the control cavities,present is only overspray from the refinish job. The ground wire to the tailpiece stud is correct as Gibson would have done. As for not being legitimate, the truss rod style adjustment, which is not Gibsons traditional style, although the rod could have been replaced during the refret. The volute introduced in the early 70s to strengthen the neck joint is not present, though an older style neck may have been used from older stock to deplete inventory.The guitar is setup with 9-42 gauge strings, intonated and comes with a period correct Gibson hardshell case.That is all the information I can collect on this instrument, and since I cannot 100% authenticate that it is a 1976 Gibson I am NOT selling it as a Gibson, only as a piece that could possibly be.
Please feel free to contact with any questions or concerns. More pics available. Thank you
Description
| Condition: | Used: An item that has been used previously. The item may have some signs of cosmetic wear, but is fully operational and functions as intended. This item may be a floor model or store return that has been used. See the seller’s listing for full details and description of any imperfections. See all condition definitions- opens in a new window or tab ... Read moreabout the condition | Brand: | Gibson |
For Sale: A possible 1976 Gibson Flying V. Get ready for a lengthy explanition. I say possible because I bought this guitar on ebay about 15 years ago from a seller in California. He stated it was a 1976 Gibson which had been refinished, had a fret job with new nut, machine heads and electronics replaced. A hardshell case was included.After receiving the guitar I noted the features and other changes, but could not find the serial number on the back of the headstock. Fearing a counterfit, I immediately took it to Kellys Music in Roanoke VA. They inspected it and beleived it to be a Gibson, although it was not disassembled to authenticate. I was told, due to the refinish, the serial number that Gibson put on an oval decal for guitars of that peroid (75-77) had probably been removed. As the electronics had been replaced I could not authenticate that method either. The pickups had been changed to Seymore Duncan, and the controls changed to push pull pots. I had Rocket Music in Blacksburg VA install Gibson pots and replaced the pickups with an era correct Tbucker for the bridge and a Tim Shaw for the neck. The old selector switch sometimes looses contact so I have included a new switch to install.The truss rod adjustment style is another mystery. I was informed by a Gibson rep that they always have used a traditional style truss rod,an 5/16 acorn nut with a metal halv washer behind it, and is adjusted with a socket style tool. A Gibson lutherier stated that they used the acorn nut, a hex or allen key, or a screw type for adjustment. A web site Guitarrepairbench.com also agree that Gibson used the three types, depending on year and type of guitar. This guitar uses the allen/hex type for adjustment.
The bridge appears to be an orginal Gibson Tune-o-Matic and matches the Gibson style posts. The posts have no slots at the top and use only the wheels to adjust string height as Gibson designed. Other companies like Epiphone use slots for adjustment. Both posts measure .154 in diameter, close to Gibsons .157 spec..The tailpiece and studs appear to be orginal Gibson although they should have a more tarnished worn look, with the guitar being refinished, which was a big mistake,they may have been replaced for cosmetic purposes.
The machine heads cannot be identified, they have no markings, but function well.The neck has a new nut and has been refretted with jumbo frets. The fret height is .040-.045 from the board, kind of high for my taste but a professional job, frets are uniform with no sharp edges, the guitar intonates perfectly using a strobe. Width at the nut is 1.795", at 12th fret 2.075" and the 22nd is 2.250". A slighty wider neck than a Les Paul or SG. The neck is slim with the thickness at .925 at the 5th fret. The headstock has no volute and the breakangle is 14/17 deg. All these measurements are approximate taken with dial calipers.The finish of the guitar is in good shape except for minor wear marks. The guitar has one chip in the lower wing on the back and a hole where the back strap button was relocated. The upper wing appears to have been broken and repaired at some point. Evidence of it can be seen through the finish. An expensive procedure that most likely would not have been done on a cheap guitar.With all the changes made, this guitar has been a mystery, with some factors suggesting an authentic Gibson. The neck specs are very close, since they were hand done, no two were exactly the same in that era, the bridge posts are correct diameter and without slots, the control and pickup cavities were not painted,Gibson did not paint the control cavities,present is only overspray from the refinish job. The ground wire to the tailpiece stud is correct as Gibson would have done. As for not being legitimate, the truss rod style adjustment, which is not Gibsons traditional style, although the rod could have been replaced during the refret. The volute introduced in the early 70s to strengthen the neck joint is not present, though an older style neck may have been used from older stock to deplete inventory.The guitar is setup with 9-42 gauge strings, intonated and comes with a period correct Gibson hardshell case.That is all the information I can collect on this instrument, and since I cannot 100% authenticate that it is a 1976 Gibson I am NOT selling it as a Gibson, only as a piece that could possibly be.
Please feel free to contact with any questions or concerns. More pics available. Thank you
The bridge appears to be an orginal Gibson Tune-o-Matic and matches the Gibson style posts. The posts have no slots at the top and use only the wheels to adjust string height as Gibson designed. Other companies like Epiphone use slots for adjustment. Both posts measure .154 in diameter, close to Gibsons .157 spec..The tailpiece and studs appear to be orginal Gibson although they should have a more tarnished worn look, with the guitar being refinished, which was a big mistake,they may have been replaced for cosmetic purposes.
The machine heads cannot be identified, they have no markings, but function well.The neck has a new nut and has been refretted with jumbo frets. The fret height is .040-.045 from the board, kind of high for my taste but a professional job, frets are uniform with no sharp edges, the guitar intonates perfectly using a strobe. Width at the nut is 1.795", at 12th fret 2.075" and the 22nd is 2.250". A slighty wider neck than a Les Paul or SG. The neck is slim with the thickness at .925 at the 5th fret. The headstock has no volute and the breakangle is 14/17 deg. All these measurements are approximate taken with dial calipers.The finish of the guitar is in good shape except for minor wear marks. The guitar has one chip in the lower wing on the back and a hole where the back strap button was relocated. The upper wing appears to have been broken and repaired at some point. Evidence of it can be seen through the finish. An expensive procedure that most likely would not have been done on a cheap guitar.With all the changes made, this guitar has been a mystery, with some factors suggesting an authentic Gibson. The neck specs are very close, since they were hand done, no two were exactly the same in that era, the bridge posts are correct diameter and without slots, the control and pickup cavities were not painted,Gibson did not paint the control cavities,present is only overspray from the refinish job. The ground wire to the tailpiece stud is correct as Gibson would have done. As for not being legitimate, the truss rod style adjustment, which is not Gibsons traditional style, although the rod could have been replaced during the refret. The volute introduced in the early 70s to strengthen the neck joint is not present, though an older style neck may have been used from older stock to deplete inventory.The guitar is setup with 9-42 gauge strings, intonated and comes with a period correct Gibson hardshell case.That is all the information I can collect on this instrument, and since I cannot 100% authenticate that it is a 1976 Gibson I am NOT selling it as a Gibson, only as a piece that could possibly be.
Please feel free to contact with any questions or concerns. More pics available. Thank you