CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 The Flying V, Explorer, and Moderne were all released in 1958, designed by Ted McCarty. They were considered too futuristic at the time. They were all available in a natural Korina finish. 1958 Explorer http://www.americanmusical.com/images/b/p27242b.jpg 1958 Moderne http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/595/798955/photo1.jpg In 1963 they introduced the Firebird which is also futuristic looking. The original Firebirds are referred to as "reverse-body" because they resembled a flipped Fender. Also the tuning machines were on the bottom of the headstock, opposite that of a Fender. In 1966 Gibson changed the design to be flipped over and these are referred to as "non-reverse" models. Reverse body Firebird http://www.halkans.com/images/611gibson.jpg Non reverse Firebird http://www.mondoguitars.com/assets/images/firebirdIII_full_body.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 QUOTE (SiriusRushFan @ Nov 3 2005, 09:36 PM) QUOTE (sullysue @ Nov 2 2005, 05:53 PM)http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/GibsonFlying-V.jpg For you Flying V lovers. Gibson, Inc. Flying V (1958) Gibson president Ted McCarty (who also helped develop the Humbucker pickup for Gibson) wanted guitars that would appeal to younger players, so he designed three futuristic guitars to draw the new rock crowd. The models were the Flying V, Explorer and Moderne. The Moderne was never produced, but dealers loved displaying the Flying V, even though the design proved to be too bizarre for the time and most went unsold. Thus, Gibson halted production of the V after 2 years. A revived interest in the Flying V in the 70s and 80s led to reissues. Gibson put out the Flying V in 1958? It really was too far ahead of it's time. Never knew that. Good info there sullysue. I think the original is the most beautiful of all the Flying v's. The wood was some unique African something or another. I'll find out, and post it here tomorrow. I left the book at work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Nov 3 2005, 10:56 PM) 1958 Moderne http://www.gbase.com/files/store_images/595/798955/photo1.jpg I've been dying to see the Moderne! Cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CygnusX-1Bk2 Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 (edited) Let me also add that Paul Stanley had a lot to do with the popularization of Flying V's, Explorers and Firebirds. On the cover on KISS Alive! he is pictured with his Firebird that he had painted black at his father's furniture store. He later was seen playing a rhinestone covered V (there are some pictures of this guitar with rhinestones in spots, as he did this over the course of a tour). That guitar was stolen and never recovered. Both he and Ace Frehley were pictured using Explorers in photos from the Destroyer tour. Edited November 4, 2005 by CygnusX-1Bk2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 QUOTE (CygnusX-1Bk2 @ Nov 3 2005, 11:02 PM) Let me also add that Paul Stanley had a lot to do with the popularization of Flying V's, Explorers and Firebirds. On the cover on KISS Alive! he is pictured with his Firebird that he had painted black at his father's furniture store. He later was seen playing a rhinestone covered V (there are some pictures of this guitar with rhinestones in spots, as he did this over the course of a tour). That guitar was stolen and never recovered. Both he and Ace Frehley were pictured using Explorers in photos from the Destroyer tour. I like how the designers at Gibson came up with headstocks that complemented the body design. Very, very innovative. I think Ted McCarty died recently, didn't he. He was a true pioneer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonnaWanna Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 heres pix of the 5 string Bass I got Indy a few yrs ago for Xmas http://img498.imageshack.us/img498/5493/p10100725pr.jpg http://img498.imageshack.us/img498/4586/p10100737gh.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hentorstrat Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 QUOTE (sullysue @ Nov 3 2005, 10:58 PM) QUOTE (SiriusRushFan @ Nov 3 2005, 09:36 PM) QUOTE (sullysue @ Nov 2 2005, 05:53 PM)http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/GibsonFlying-V.jpg For you Flying V lovers. Gibson, Inc. Flying V (1958) Gibson president Ted McCarty (who also helped develop the Humbucker pickup for Gibson) wanted guitars that would appeal to younger players, so he designed three futuristic guitars to draw the new rock crowd. The models were the Flying V, Explorer and Moderne. The Moderne was never produced, but dealers loved displaying the Flying V, even though the design proved to be too bizarre for the time and most went unsold. Thus, Gibson halted production of the V after 2 years. A revived interest in the Flying V in the 70s and 80s led to reissues. Gibson put out the Flying V in 1958? It really was too far ahead of it's time. Never knew that. Good info there sullysue. I think the original is the most beautiful of all the Flying v's. The wood was some unique African something or another. I'll find out, and post it here tomorrow. I left the book at work. Korina is the wood used on the Moderne, and the original Flying V and Explorer. Korina is actually similar to Mahogany. It's also known as Limba. The Moderne was never actually produced in the 50's. The production of these guitars was around 1983 when the Korina V and explorer reissues were built Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 QUOTE (hentorstrat @ Nov 4 2005, 01:09 PM) QUOTE (sullysue @ Nov 3 2005, 10:58 PM) QUOTE (SiriusRushFan @ Nov 3 2005, 09:36 PM) QUOTE (sullysue @ Nov 2 2005, 05:53 PM)http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/GibsonFlying-V.jpg For you Flying V lovers. Gibson, Inc. Flying V (1958) Gibson president Ted McCarty (who also helped develop the Humbucker pickup for Gibson) wanted guitars that would appeal to younger players, so he designed three futuristic guitars to draw the new rock crowd. The models were the Flying V, Explorer and Moderne. The Moderne was never produced, but dealers loved displaying the Flying V, even though the design proved to be too bizarre for the time and most went unsold. Thus, Gibson halted production of the V after 2 years. A revived interest in the Flying V in the 70s and 80s led to reissues. Gibson put out the Flying V in 1958? It really was too far ahead of it's time. Never knew that. Good info there sullysue. I think the original is the most beautiful of all the Flying v's. The wood was some unique African something or another. I'll find out, and post it here tomorrow. I left the book at work. Korina is the wood used on the Moderne, and the original Flying V and Explorer. Korina is actually similar to Mahogany. It's also known as Limba. The Moderne was never actually produced in the 50's. The production of these guitars was around 1983 when the Korina V and explorer reissues were built So, Gibson DID produce the Moderne, just not until '83? Or was it just the Flying V and Explorer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hentorstrat Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 The Moderne , the V and the Explorer were part of a trio called "The Modernistic" The V and The Explorer were the only models produced in the 50's. There were about 90 V's between '58 and '60, and only about 40 Explorers from thatperiod shippedfrom the Factory. The Moderne was built in '83 when they did the reissues, which are great by the way. The oiginal V's and Explorers are in excess of $100k. I happen to reallyt like the Moderne. It's kinda Gumby-ish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 (edited) QUOTE (hentorstrat @ Nov 4 2005, 01:46 PM) The Moderne , the V and the Explorer were part of a trio called "The Modernistic" The V and The Explorer were the only models produced in the 50's. There were about 90 V's between '58 and '60, and only about 40 Explorers from thatperiod shippedfrom the Factory. The Moderne was built in '83 when they did the reissues, which are great by the way. The oiginal V's and Explorers are in excess of $100k. I happen to reallyt like the Moderne. It's kinda Gumby-ish It is Gumby-ish. I didn't think Gibson ever made the Moderne, just a prototype. Anyway, it's a really nice-looking guitar. My company has a modified flying-V type guitar, but it's ugly IMO. I'll post a picture, and you be the judge. Edited November 4, 2005 by sullysue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/mrv6vbk.jpg The Renegade We couldn't give these monstrosities away. We have something like 75 in our warehouse. I guess I know what out Christmas bonues are going to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 QUOTE (sullysue @ Nov 4 2005, 01:58 PM) http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/mrv6vbk.jpg The Renegade We couldn't give these monstrosities away. We have something like 75 in our warehouse. I guess I know what out Christmas bonues are going to be. Horrible. It'll make a good weathervane, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drumnut Posted November 4, 2005 Share Posted November 4, 2005 (edited) QUOTE (sullysue @ Nov 4 2005, 10:58 AM) http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/mrv6vbk.jpg The Renegade We couldn't give these monstrosities away. We have something like 75 in our warehouse. I guess I know what out Christmas bonues are going to be. Edited November 4, 2005 by Drumnut Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullysue Posted November 29, 2005 Share Posted November 29, 2005 http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y111/ssullysue/IbanezIC300ArtistIceman.jpg IC300 Artist Iceman Ibanez Japan, 1978 Ibanez began making guitars in 1962, and in the 1970s made a name for itself by exporting fairly decent immitations of American guitars. So much so that Ibanez ended up in court over patent infringements. The outline of the Iceman is most recognizable to rock fans as the basis for a guitar played by Paul Stanley, who had one made with small pieces of mirrored glass glued to its top to appear as if it had been shattered. From "Dangerous Curves: The Art of the Guitar" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defrushfan01 Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/DefRushFan/firebird.jpg How bout some history on this on!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dreamline Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Pure and simple.... http://home.flash.net/~guitars/64daphnelrg.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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