The Gibson Flying V is a Gibson electric guitar, currently around $2033.59. Close alternatives include the Dean V and the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul. It pairs well with the Randall Lynch Box and the Mesa Boogie Mark I.
Gibson Flying V
Gibson · electric guitar
The Gibson Flying V was one of the two radical shapes Gibson launched in 1958, originally in korina and so unpopular that fewer than a hundred shipped before it was withdrawn. Two humbuckers, a string-through-body V-plate tailpiece and almost no upper-body mass give it a bright, tight attack with less of the Les Paul's midrange bloom, and the shape only found its audience once hard rock arrived a decade later.
- tight
- clean
- sustain
- dynamic
- attack
- aggressive
- ballsy
- classic paf tone
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Gibson Flying V is commonly used in
- Rock
- Hard Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Blues
- Metal
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Gibson Flying V
Randall Lynch Box
Randall
27% matchThe Flying V's tight, dynamic sustain suits the Lynch Box's own thick, cutting metal rhythm voicing.
Mesa Boogie Mark I
Mesa Boogie
26% matchThe Flying V's tight, aggressive attack pairs with the Mark I's midrange-forward preamp for a focused, cutting lead voice.
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
25% matchOne documented rig runs a Flying V into a JTM45 — the amp's classic British clean-to-crunch gives the V's tight, dynamic attack real headroom. — also used together by 1 artist
Krank Krankenstein
Krank
20% matchWhat Gibson Flying V brings here leans toward tight — that's worth building a pairing around
Blackstar HT Stage 100H MK III Snakeskin
Blackstar
19% matchGibson Flying V's own tight character is the real reason this is worth trying
Blackstar Id:core Stereo 150 2x10''
Blackstar
17% matchGibson Flying V leans toward tight, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module pushes a higher-gain pedal harder
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone HRM 50 gives a crunchy tone lead focus with a mid push
Pedals that stack with the Gibson Flying V
Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3
Carl Martin
28% matchThe Flying V's PAF-style pickups feed the Hot Drive'n Boost's dual gain stages plenty of snap, so the crunch stays articulate instead of muddy.
Electro-Harmonix Glove
Electro-Harmonix
28% matchThe Flying V's tight, dynamic pickups give the Glove's Muff-voiced, bluesy gain a sustaining front end to push into.
Friedman Buxom Boost
Friedman
tonal matchGibson Flying V leans into a high-gain amp's front end, precisely the platform Friedman Buxom Boost wants
Fortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects
Fortin Amplification
tonal matchFortin Amplification Tempest Overdrive Signature Architects is voiced for a high-gain amp's front end — Gibson Flying V gives it exactly that
Keeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz
Keeley
tonal matchKeeley Angry 4-in-1 Distortion/Fuzz pushes a crunchy tone into singing lead gain
Matthews Effects Architect
Matthews Effects
tonal matchMatthews Effects Architect pushes a crunchy tone into singing lead gain
Spaceman Spacerocket II
Spaceman
tonal matchSpaceman Spacerocket II pushes a crunchy tone into singing lead gain
Ibanez SD9 Sonic Distortion
Ibanez
tonal matchIbanez SD9 Sonic Distortion pushes a crunchy tone into singing lead gain
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Dean V
Dean
70% similarity“The Dean V is Dean's take on the V shape, distinguished from Gibson's by the elongated pointed headstock Dean adopted in the late 1970s”
Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
Gibson
96% similaritysimilar tone character
G&L Rampage
G L
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-350T
Gibson
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Charvel Jake E. Lee San Dimas
Charvel
95% similaritysimilar tone character
1974 Fender Stratocaster USA
Fender
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gibson Flying V (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson Flying V?+
The closest matches in character are the Dean V, the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul, the G&L Rampage. Budget picks: Fender Stratocaster American Standard, Gibson SG Standard, Danelectro 59 DC Electric Guitar. Boutique upgrades: 1955 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, Gibson Es 335 Dot.
What pairs well with the Gibson Flying V?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Randall Lynch Box, Mesa Boogie Mark I, Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head — The Flying V's tight, dynamic sustain suits the Lynch Box's own thick, cutting metal rhythm voicing..
How much does the Gibson Flying V cost?+
Around $2033.59 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).