My Gibson Flying V collection as of June, 2022. Since March 2021 I've added several. This includes: 1971 Medallion #151, 1971 Medallion #258, 1981 Holly Green, 1981 Cardinal Red, another 1975 Natural and a 2006 Hendrix Love Drops 1967 Flying V Reissue # 208. I have also sold a few.
Group picture of my Gibson Flying V collection. Picture taken in December 2011.
This is one of only two Flying Vs that I have ever seen with this cool finish. The other one is owned by a collector in Japan. There may be a third one somewhere else in the midwest. Over the last 40 years there has always been a rumor that a 1980-81 Holly Green Flying V was owned by someone in the Chicago area. Well, the rumors were true. Thanks to my website and this weblink, the owner of the Chicago Holly Green Flying V contacted me and we worked out a deal. The owner purchased the V new in 1981. I had been looking for a 1980-81 Holly Green Flying V for over 22 years. This is without-a-doubt the rarest of the rare. Thank you Jim for selling me this awesome V. Posted March, 2021.
This particular color and Holly Green are the two rarest Flying V custom colors that Gibson produced in the 1980-1982 era. This is only 1 of 2 Cardinal Red Flying Vs that I have ever seen. The other one has a Kaylor tremelo unit. Cardinal Red is considerably darker than Gibson's Ember Red finish. Posted June, 2021.
Here is a picture of both rare birds together; Holly Green & Cardinal Red.
Here is a picture of my Cardinal Red V and my Ember Red V side-by-side. This is a good comparison picture that shows the two different shades of red. Both of these same custom colors were also used on the Gibson Firebirds from 1963 to 1969.
1980 Gibson Flying V, Silver Sky. I have had this one since 2003.
1981 Gibson Flying V, Bahama Blue. I have had this one since 2003.
My two Bahama Blue 1981 Flying V and Flying V2 twins. Posted April 2020.
1982 Gibson Flying V, Candy Apple Red. Near mint with the 1 11/16" nut width. I have had this cool V since 2003. 1982 was the year Gibson eliminated the volute that was first instituted in 1969. They also started using the wider nut width that same year.
1981 Gibson Flying V2, Bahama Blue Sparkle, Rare. I have had this gem since 2002.
1980 Gibson Flying V, Ember Red. This is the second one of these I have had. I've owned this one since 2009. I sold my other one in 2005 and regretted it, so I had to find another.
As you can see I bought another 80 Ember Red V in 2016 so I now have a pair of them. Love that color.
1981 Gibson Flying V, Heritage Cherry. I have had this one since 2009.
1981 Gibson Flying V, Cherry Sunburst. I bought my first one way back in 2003. It had lots of issues so I dumped it and bought a super clean one from a guy in Europe in 2016.
The Rarest of all Gibson Les Paul Finishes: Holly Green
This is my 1980 Gibson Les Paul Standard with the super-rare Holly Green finish. It compliments my Holly Green Flying V shown above. This is one of only four Les Paul Standards that I have ever seen with this cool finish. One of them is pictured in Tony Bacon's Les Paul book. The other two owners contacted me through this website. They both saw this weblink that you are currently looking at and sent me an e-mail.
Here is a picture of my Les Paul and Flying V together.
My three Les Paul "Players" 1978 Cherry, 1982 Black, 1978 Gold Top