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Guitarists contributing to making this guitar famous include Albert King, Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Gibbons, Pete Townshend, and Yngwie Malmsteen.
While undergoing a number of changes, The Flying V has continued to keep its unique aerodynamic shape. Surprisingly, many people find the guitars are very easy to play, despite appearing awkward. The guitar can be secured fast in a relatively playable position when rested against the player's leg.
Initial prototypes of the uniquely shaped "Flying V" guitar first appeared in 1957. These designs were meant to add a more futuristic aspect to Gibson's image, but, they didn't sell well and, after the initial launch in 1958, the line was sadly discontinued by 1959. Fortunately, a couple of amazing guitarists, Albert King and Lonnie Mack, really loved the guitar - and these guitarists influenced other players on the scene. This renewed interest created an overwhelming demand for Gibson to reissue the model.
Gibson reissued the guitar in 1967, shipping some models with a short Vibrola tailpiece and updating its design with a different pickguard. The hardware was changed, along with the volume control knob and switch locations. In the late 1960s, guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, in search of a distinctive looking guitar with a more powerful sound, started using the guitars.
During the 1970's, the guitar became associated with the heavy metal genre, which was growing during that time. June 2000, a 43 feet long, enlarged playable replica of a Gibson Flying V was built, a world record registered in Guinness World Records. Gibson announced a Lenny Kravitz Signature model in 2002.
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