In addition to the guitar of this article, a Flying V can refer to a now illegal American football maneuver, where the ball carrier is protected by a wedge of offensive players (also called the Flying Wedge). It may also be a reference to the flight of migratory birds, which obtain great efficiency of movement by a V-shaped formation flight.

The Flying V is an interestingly shaped, solid body electric guitar that gained popularity in the 1960s partly due to usage by famous electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix (who usually used the Fender Stratocaster, however). The body of the guitar is shaped like an inverted letter V. Other famous users include Noel Gallagher (lead guitarist of English rock group, Oasis), Dave Mustaine of Megadeth, Kirk Hammett of Metallica and Lenny Kravitz.

The shape originated with the Gibson Flying V. The first Flying Vs were produced in 1958 (although some prototypes left the factory in 1957). They were made of korina wood, which is similar to but lighter than mahogany, and had a Tune-O-Matic bridge. They were part of a modernist line of guitars designed by then-president Ted McCarty that included the Explorer, the Firebird, and the never-released Moderné. The modernist design of the guitars was meant to change Gibson's stodgy image, but they didn't sell well, and were eventually retired. Gibson first reissued the design in 1967. It was the 1967 Gibson Flying V that was owned and popularized by Jimi Hendrix.

External links

• http://www.flyingvintage.com/gcmag/Korina.html