I have had this V for well over a year and a half so that is long enough for me to make a fair review. I am a Strat guy. Love the sound of one, the way it makes you work, playability, etc. It's what i am used to. When i got this V and had given it a run for a while i guess the only complaint i had was it was just too easy to play. Really took me a while to get used to that. Came away thinkin "I now remember why some folks play Gibsons" although this aint my 1st one. Just been a while. Really, an absolute joy to play. I made some adjustments to lower (slightly) the action and this thing really plays well. Would put it up against anything. Soundwise? It will smoke a tube amp. If your lacking that humbucker/mahogony thump in your sound, this will more than cover it. Regardless of genre. Like a reviewer said earlier, there is some magic with the 2 pups together on lead. Especially with the tone backed down and your amp dimed. Very inspiring and i now have a hard time putting this one down. I have several guitars in my collection. All different and all of em are nice instruments. Top grade. The playability and sound of this V is just impossible to ignore and has made it's way to the front of the pack. I got mine early when they were cheaper. Easily the best Guitar buy i have ever made in my life. Thank you Gibson!!

This guitar is absolutely great I don't actually own it but I am borrowing one from a friend of mine for a week or two. It sounds absolutely great. The neck pickup sounds like it should, jangly and clean. BUT... when you add distortion it has enough punch to actually use for rhythm (I usually use the bridge pickup for rhythm) but you can back up the tone a little if the distortion is a tad too much. it shouldn't be. The bridge pickup sounds great to. Plenty hot, but not too hot. It is perfect for U2 stuff (considering he used an explorer which is very similar). Something magical happens in the middle. You get a really cool sounding, bluesy tone that makes you want to slide in open g all night long. Truly amazing. little to no fret buzz and the neck feels so nice in your hand. for 950, you can not get any better. Buy this guitar now. (do give consideration to fenders too. I can't live without both).

This guitar amazes me. I've been playing guitar scene I was 17 and have always wanted this axe, however unfortunate circumstances lead to a great delay. The sound is perfect for what I'm looking for. When I plugged it in I knew exactly how certin bands got their sound. I've already become very attached to it and dont like playing anything else. This is a great guitar to grow your talent with. Tt won't disappoint.

I used to think that I was a Les Paul guy, but then I played an SG and decided that SG was the way to go. I lived a few years under this disillusion, untill I played one of these. Playing guitar has always given me a sense of purpose and joy in life. I feel important when I play music, but when I wielded the Faded V I became somebody. Suddenly my life had reason, (aside from God) and I meant something to the world. It was hard to play at first because I swear that the grin on my face was so big that I could hardly see the fret board. I love this guitar with every fiber of my being and will not be truly happy until I come home with a Flying V in the trunk of my Toyota. I gave it a three on value not because I don't thimk that it is a good deal, but rather because I have to get a job just to save up for it.

Just got my V a few days ago. It is pretty light despite it's size and very playable in a sitting position. Just put your leg inside the V and put both feet on a small footstool while sitting in an armless chair, then move your legs/feet around 'till you feel comfortable. Absence of top horns is a real plus in this case 'cause you can really tuck this thing in close to your body. Neck/action are very good; pretty slim with frets dressed well and little/no buzz. Like the pickups; a bit less "toneful" than '57 classics but harmonics are easier to employ and the bite/clarity are great. Surprisingly versatile guitar despite its "metal" image, too! Run it through a TS808 Ibanez Tube Screamer into a Marshall or Fender and you can get great sounds from clean to distorted; Beatles/Stones all the way to Kiss/Judas Priest (and beyond) are doable on this thing. Intonation and tuning are also pretty good. I prefer the faded model 'cause I love the soft cherry. More importantly, the sound is better because the resonance is much improved with a thinner nitro coating (same goes for the SG faded). Maintaining the finish is easy, too; just rub it down with a detail cloth and lemon oil all over and let dry. Repeat occasionally and eventually it'll acquire a deep lustre that's more appealing (to me at least) than the high gloss models. Minor nicks/dings don't detract from the looks as much either. I'd also recommend replacing the black knobs for a set of the chrome-top ones; this is cheap, easy and dresses up the looks just a bit without losing the more spartan charm of this model. I own just about every axe worth having (Fender, Gibson, Gretsch, Rickenbacker, Schecter, et al) and I love 'em all. But this model is so unique and has such character that it really stands out! The vibe and punch it delivers make it hard to put down. ENJOY!!