buying used Gibson pickups from Japan, what do I need to know?

[gtrguy]

I will have to fabricate a pick guard, which should not be too hard. I can trace one from a V2 guitar for sale that I know of. The 'cone' shaped head and the wood sandwich kinda remind me of an Alembic.

This German website (you can hit translate on your computer) has good recordings and pictures of this guitar.
https://www.amazona.de/zeitmaschine-gibson-flying-v-v2/2/

[adriaan]

Cool, I gather they're low-Z pickups.

[hankster]

I thought the same, but apparently they’re humbuckers.

[bigredbass]

Flying V2 from Norm's Guitars, all the particulars, 'Boomerang' pickups and all.

. . . . . though I got to admit, when he starts discussing the 'sandwich body', it looks like 'Laminating 101' or 'Sandwich Bodies for Dummies' after Alembic . . . . .

[mario_farufyno]

I thought the same, but apparently they’re humbuckers.

It can be inverted double coils like Precision splited single...

[gtrguy]

Considering Gibson was a pioneering company using a laminated maple cap on a solid mahogany body from clear back in the early 50's (think vintage Les Pauls) and getting some of the best tones in the world ever produced by an electric guitar, well, there you go...

[elwoodblue]

How's your V2 project going?


I saw a couple V2 straplocks on ebay,
 ...got straplocks? 

[gtrguy]

I am playing it with the humbuckers right now (it sound great!). I plan to make an original style pick guard and install the V shaped pickups in a bit. I am also gluing up the sides of the well worn case. I have also started a serial number database on the V2 and have the numbers on about 30 so far. I suspect that fewer than 500 were made.

[elwoodblue]

ahhh...Sweet! (I'm playing an old G&L now)


Nice that you have the case too.


thx for the pic.

[edwardofhuncote]

That's such a cool old guitar, David.

A newer (reissued?) Flying V recently came into the local store I do bass repair and setup work for, and I thought about yours. http://fretmill.com/product/gibson-the-v-1982/

The 'boomerang' pickups are specific to certain years? Or is it a special model of V here?

[cozmik_cowboy]

The Flying V2 was made 1979-'82; it used the V p/ups all but the last year, when they changed to "Dirty Fingers" humbuckers.

Peter

[edwardofhuncote]

Huh. Well, I've learned something today... Thanks Coz!   

I can count on the fingers of one hand the Flying V Gibson guitars that ever came through the doors there. And we used to be a dealer back in the day. Actually, we 'split' the dealership with another music store in town... Kelleys Music http://kelleysmusic.com across town carried Gibson electrics, and we carried their acoustic lines. There was a gentleman's agreement that all deals on used were fair game. Interestingly enough, both stores are still in business today, the only brick-and-mortar music instrument dealers in Roanoke.

Sorry for the thread hijack David! I'll see if I can snag the serial number for your V database. 

*actually, you can see it in the picture from the store's ad.

[gearhed289]

With that figured top and binding, "The V" looks like they took some cues from Hamer. Who of course "borrowed" the classic Gibson shapes in the beginning. Nice looking guitar!

[gtrguy]

Hijack OK! I love all that back in the day info!

[gtrguy]

I found this great Youtube video of someone playing a V2 in Germany. It really sounds like a Tele!

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/h3DbhgfbES8