Flying V Medallion #132 (Schaller tuners added, gold top hat knobs added). As of 2008, this Medallion V is owned by Kirk Hammett of Metallica. The reason he bought it....Michael Schenker. Incidentally, he also owns Gary Moore's famous 1959 Les Paul Burst.
Additional info about Kirk Hammett added May 2019. Thanks Alan.
Flying V Medallion #140 (Mid 70's pickguard added, guitar has been partially oversprayed).
Flying V Medallion #142 (Tuners changed to Schallers, pickups changed to Bill Lawrence high output pickups and the pickguard has been replaced. Also, it includes a mid-1970s Ibanez yellow-lined case. This V recently surfaced at a pawn shop in New York City). Posted August, 2022. Thanks Wil.
Flying V Medallion #145 (Visible overspray on the upper wing, overspray has since been removed and the upper wing was refinished. Schaller tuners were installed years ago then later replaced with original 70's era Gibson Deluxe tuners). Posted October, 2013.
Flying V Medallion #148 (coil tap toggle switch added then later removed, Grover tuners added, gold top hat knobs added)
Flying V Medallion #150 (completely refinished, Maestro tremelo added then later removed, Grover tuners added then later replaced with original Gibson Deluxe tuners, non-original pickguard added, non-original truss rod cover added)
Flying V Medallion #155 (completely refinished, mid-70's pickguard added, non-original truss rod cover added)
Flying V Medallion #158 (non-original pickguard added, extra strap button added at crotch, Grover tuners installed)
Flying V Medallion #162 (Grover tuners added, all else is original) Added April, 2017.
Flying V Medallion #166 (Owned by Danny Marks. He told me that he replaced the original pickguard with one from a 1975 Flying V, tuners changed to metal-end Gibson Deluxe tuners used from 1974 through 1978). Thanks Danny.
Flying V Medallion #169 (Body was oversprayed in the 1980's. Pickup mounting rings added then later removed, pickup covers removed, Schaller tuners added)
Flying V Medallion #172 (Grover Imperial tuners added, pickup covers removed, pickup rings added, Rhythm/Treble disk added at pickup switch selector. Posted January 2019. Thanks Jacques.
This guitar was stolen from its owner (Jacques) in 1987 in Matane, Canada (eastern Canada). If you have any information on its whereabouts please contact Jacques directly at [email protected]
Flying V Medallion #173 (Pickup mountings added, Schaller tuners added, rhythm-treble disk and gold top hat knobs added). Thanks Orest. Added July 2015
Flying V Medallion #177 (A picture is worth a thousand words).
Flying V Medallion #178 (This Medallion V use to be owned by Keith Scott, the guitar player for Brian Adams. Keith has been playing guitar for Brian Adams ever since 1976. This V was featured on the Brian Adams, Wembley 1996 Live album. It has since been sold to a collector who provided me with these pictures. The tuners have been changed to newer Kluson style single line tuners). Thanks Dalton. Posted April 2019.
Flying V Medallion #182 (After-market pickguard installed. Looks like it had some sort of tremelo installed at one time. The current owner has had the guitar since 1974). Thanks Peter. Added December 2020.
Flying V Medallion #187 (Tuners changed to Schallers. Purchased by the original owner from Washington Music Center in 1971. The guitar went up for sale in 2017 and sold several months later. The decal has since been removed and original era tuners have been installed.)
Flying V Medallion #188 (Non-original pickguard added. Extra strap button added then removed. ABR-1 posts dialed for Harmonica bridge then re-drilled for ABR-1 posts)
Flying V Medallion #189 (Grovers added, Dimarzio pickups added, pickup rings added, bridge swapped). The current owner has owned this V since the late 1970's. Thanks Gregg. Posted May 2022.
Flying V Medallion #191 (non-original pickguard added, Grovers added, original pickups removed, non-original pickups installed). The current owner has owned this V since 1974. Thanks Gil. Posted August, 2019
Flying V Medallion #194 (Formally owned by Matthias Jabs of the Scorpions, Grover tuners installed then later replaced with original Gibson Deluxe tuners)
Flying V Medallion #197 (oversprayed with some sort of cheap laquor, Schaller tuners added, non-original pickguard added, headstock volute shaved down to hide a headstock crack). This coin was later removed and installed on a "coinless" Medallion V
Flying V Medallion #198 The current owner does not want to provide any pictures. However, he did say it was refinished white and had an added Kaylor tremelo, plus, non-original tuners, pickups and pickguard. Added November, 2021.
Owner does not want to provide pictures of #198.
Flying V Medallion #200 This one is still in the possession of the original owner. Grover tuners added, pickup covers removed, support washer added at input jack. Thanks Charles. Added November 2015.
Flying V Medallion #209 (The refinished black and white Medallion V use to be owned by Rudolph Schenker. He used it extensively in the mid to late 1970's and early 1980's. He then gave it away. It sat in a basement for over 20 years and then re-appeared. It was recently sold in March of 2014)
Rudolph Schenker and #209 "airborne."
Flying V Medallion #210 (Grover tuners installed, pickup covers removed, pickup mounting rings added, headstock cracked, back of headstock painted black. Several years later, original era Gibson Deluxe tuners were added, original pickguard replaced with one from a 1975 Flying V)
Flying V Medallion #211 (#211 was purchased second-hand in Ontario in 1975 and sold in Toronto in 1981. No additional information is available. No Pictures Available
Flying V Medallion #212 (completely refinished to the Michael Schenker "German V-2 rocket" flip flop color combination)
Flying V Medallion #213 Before and after. (gold harmonica bridge and stop bar added, gold Grover tuners added, brass pickup mounting rings added, pickup covers removed, new jumbo frets installed). The guitar later ended up at a dealership in Japan who restored it to some of its former glory by removing all of the gold hardware and installing era correct hardware. The original pickguard was pretty-much ruined due to all the mods. The new pickguard is a newer replacement.
Flying V Medallion #223 (large headstock crack and repair, additional strap button added on upper wing)
Flying V Medallion #224 (This one could be all original. The headstock area looks unmolested and unbroken but I do not have any additional data).
No Photo Available.
Flying V Medallion #228
#228 was stolen in 1984 in the Boston area. If you have any information on its whereabouts please contact Joe directly at [email protected]
(No Photo Available)
Flying V Medallion #229 (Updated September, 2020: This Medallion has seen several different finishes over the years. It started out as factory cherry. Then, about 25 years ago it was refinished natural. About 10 years ago it was refinished white. As of September, 2020 it has been refinished back to cherry and restored to its former glory). Thanks Steve. Posted September, 2020.
Pictured below: Here is 229 after being refinished and restored back to cherry as of September, 2020. It looks fantastic.
Flying V Medallion #232 (headstock crack, strap button added on upper wing, pickup covers removed, pickup mounting rings added).
Flying V Medallion #233 (Previously owned by K.K. Downing of Judas Priest (retired), Grover tuners added, Maestro short vibrola added then later removed, pickup covers removed, pickup mounting rings added). This guitar was sold at auction (Bonham's) in London, England, December 2018 for $109,000 USD including 25% hammer fee. Thanks to Garth for the info. Posted Dec. 2018.
Flying V Medallion #235 (refinished sunburst, embossed Gothic pearl letter "M" added behind stop bar tailpiece, later restored with wood patch, Grover tuners installed, routed for a third pickup, then later restored, non-original pickguard from 1975 era added. Guitar was later stripped and refinished cherry as shown)
Flying V Medallion #237 (Grover tuners added, pickup covers removed, cream colored pickup mounting rings added. Posted April 2015.
Flying V Medallion #239 (non-original pickguard installed).
Flying V Medallion #241 (More info coming).
Flying V Medallion #243 (Grover tuners added, then later replaced with original Gibson Deluxe tuners with slightly over-sized bushings).
Flying V Medallion #249 (The one has several modifications. It was routed for a left-handed player then converted back to a right-handed player. Also has a headstock repair, refinished black, frets shaved, neck scalloped, non-original clear plastic pickguard, new nut, KMD bridge pickup, non-original bridge and knobs). The current owner bought it for $80 back in 1991. Thanks for the info Steve. Added April 2020
Flying V Medallion #252 (All original except Schaller tuners were installed years ago. Also missing its original Medallion case). Sold in April 2017 by the original owner. Added April 2017.
Flying V Medallion #254 (All original except added strap button hole on inner edge of upper wing)
Flying V Medallion #254 changed ownership in March of 2015. On the left is your web host. On the right is the new owner, Meyer R.
Flying V Medallion #257 (Tuners replaced with three-on-a-strip style tuners)
Flying V Medallion #261 (Bigsby style tremelo unit has been added. The current owner has had this V since 1973. Everything else appears to be original). Thanks Warner. Posted October, 2018.
Flying V Medallion #263 (Except for the Grover mod, this Medallion is all original and pretty clean. The Grover tuners have been removed and original tuners re-installed). Purchased by a collector in Switzerland from the original owner in 2008.
Flying V Medallion #269 (busted pickguard corners, tuners changed to Sperzel tuners circa 1985. Original tuners installed at a later date).
The owner of #269 also owns three other Medallions. They are #87, #88 and #235. They are pictured below. Thanks Dean.
Flying V Medallion #277 (This one popped-up on the open market in March, 2024. It had Schaller tuners at one time (visible screw holes on the back of the headstock) and the pickguard has been replaced with an early 1975 pickguard. Posted March, 2024.
Flying V Medallion #278 (This one popped-up on the open market in January, 2022. It had a headstock repair and the pickguard is not original). Posted February, 2022.
Flying V Medallion #279 (This one has been stripped and refinished natural. It has a headstock repair and a coral colored pickguard. It also has a combination of chrome and gold hardware. Thanks Mike. Posted June 2020.
Flying V Medallion #280 (refinished candy apple red, many parts changed)
Flying V Medallion #290 (busted pickguard corners, other than that, this one could be all original)
Flying V Medallion #299 (Grovers added, pickup rings added, p/u selector ring added, top hat knobs added). Posted June 2019. Thanks Brian
Flying V Medallion #300 (non-original pickguard installed)
No Photo Available.
Flying V Medallion #304 (This is one of Rudolph Schenker's old Medallion Flying Vs that he used back in the late 1970's and early to mid-1980s. It has undergone several changes of the years. The headstock was previously black but has been refinished to white. Rudolph Schenker has been playing with The Scorpions for 55 years. He started The Scorpions back in 1965. This V, along with some of Michael Schenker's equipment were in a private collection for years. This Medallion surfaced in Germany in September, 2020). Posted September, 2020
Here is the same guitar as pictured back in the early 1980s with the headstock painted black and Sperzel tuners installed.
Flying V Medallion #306 (white pickup mounting rings added). The original owner of this Medallion still owns the guitar. It was purchased new from Manny's Music in New York City in April, 1973 for $375. The pickup rings were added the day after it was purchased and have never been removed. Thanks for the info Steven. Posted November, 2014. Updated July, 2020.
Flying V Medallion #317 (Maestro short vibrola installed at one time then later removed, pickup mounting rings added, pickup covers removed)
Flying V Medallion #323 (routed for third pickup)
Flying V Medallion #326 (The current owner purchased this V back in 1973. Over the past 31 years it has seen constant use, mostly at outdoor blues gigs. It has also been used on several albums and recordings, some of which were made at Muscle Shoals Studios in Alabama. This guitar is a "warrior" and is still being used extensively today. According to the owner the headstock has been repaired 9 or 10 times, and it has been re-fretted 4 times. Info and pictures updated October, 2020. Thanks Dave.
Flying V Medallion #327 (refinished, non-original pickguard added, non-original gold hardware added, Grover tuners added. Somewhere between Medallion 323 and 327 the number lettering etching on the coin changed. Notice the different lettering on the coin)
Flying V Medallion #331 (headstock repair, non-original pickguard, and non-original tuners installed. This one has been played pretty hard during its life. The current owner bought it from the original owner many years ago, Thanks Frank. Posted June, 2019.
Flying V Medallion #333 (All original except pickguard. Also routed for center pickup. Nice wood grain. Added April, 2017. Thanks Brian.
Flying V Medallion #335 (Non-original mid-1970's pickguard added, Schaller tuners added, pickup cover removed, pickup mounting rings added, body has been refinished).
Flying V Medallion #338 (The current owner purchased it in January, 2021 from the second owner who bought it back in 1973 and is now retired. This one has Grovers installed. Other than the tuner mod it is really clean. According to the new owner it sounds incredible). Thanks Mike. Posted January, 2021.
Flying V Medallion #340 (formally owned by Matthias Jabs of the Scorpions. pickup covers removed, pickup mounting rings added). The new owner, Franz-Peter sent this new picture. Posted May, 2021.
Flying V Medallion #342 (Golden Grover tuners installed, pickup covers removed, Original case is missing). Added Jan, 2017.
Beautiful wood grain.
Flying V Medallion #345 (Gover tuners installed then later replaced with original era Gibson Deluxe tuners, non-original pickguard added)
Flying V Medallion #351 (This is the only known photo of 351. It was purchased used back in the 1970's at Clyde Peters School of Music in Levittown, Pa. It was traded away back in the 1980s). Thanks Joe. Posted Dec. 2018.
Flying V Medallion #354 (bogus) (this one is a bit of a mystery. It has what appears to be a case coin that was installed on the guitar and was crudely etched with #354. Only 353 Medallions were made. Pickup covers removed, pickup mounting rings installed).
Flying V Medallion - Unknown Coin # (Pickup rings added, headstock crack, broken corner at pickguard). Added March 2018.
Flying V Medallion - Unknown Coin # (Grover tuners added at one time, originals back on. Serious headstock repair, nut replaced, non-original case). Added March 2021.
Flying V Medallion - Unknown Coin # (Refinished white many years ago. This guitar is located in Japan. No additional info is available), Posted January, 2022.
Flying V Medallion - Unknown Coin # (Grover Imperial tuners added, pickup rings added, Dimarzio pickup installed in the bridge position, speed knobs added. No additional info is available), Posted February, 2024.
Flying V Medallion - Unknown Coin # (This guitar has been owned by Rick Knotts, the guitarist for the band Rail, for at least 50 Years. Refinished blue in 1980 (or before). Also has lots of mods. This one is a stage workhorse). Added March, 2024.
_____________________________________________________________________ The Coinless Medallions (Coins removed over the years)
Coinless Medallion #1 (fretboard replaced, Grovers installed then later replaced with newer Gibson tuners). I use to own this one.
Coinless Medallion #4, This one had a wood patch and a funky paint job added to the coin area. The guitar was also refinished natural. Also missing its original case. Added July 2017.
Coinless Medallion #5 (Was refinished white many years ago with coin area filled in with putty. Recently refinished to natural (2020), tuners replaced, pickguard replaced, Seymour Duncan pickup in the neck position. Thanks Mike. Posted January, 2021
Coinless Medallion #6 (Refinished white with lots of modifications. The coin was also removed many years ago and painted over). Thanks Martin. Added January, 2024.
Notice the hump on the side of the neck. This is indicitive of the Medallion.
The White Medallion: Here is an odd ball. This is definitely an early 1970's Flying V. It has all of the classic "earmarks" of the Medallion Flying V, including the neck humps where the sides of the body meet the neck. It also has the unmistakable Medallion headstock shape. It is not known if the coin was removed and filled in or if the guitar was shipped from the factory as shown here. It was modified for a Kaylor tremelo unit at one time. It also has a pickguard and truss rod cover from the late 1970s to early 1980s. It has also been re-fretted and has a newer nut. Posted May 2020.
Here is a rare picture of Stevie Ray Vaughan playing a '71 Medallion Flying V. Notice the front pickup has been turned around. Pretty cool. Does anyone know the coin number? Posted May 2020.
______________________________________________________________________ The "Class of 1975"
I might as well mention the 1975 Flying V since it was a take-off of the 1971 Medallion Flying V. There were a few subtle differences in the 1975 design. The headstock was pointier. It had a thinner body, and no neck heel bumps. The factory finishes were white, black, sunburst and natural.
1975 Flying V shipping totals:
White: 154 Black: 143 Sunburst: 103 Natural: 1472
My personal collection of 1975 Gibson Flying Vs are pictured below.
To be redirected to the 1967-1971 Gibson Flying V Website "Home Page" click on the web link below. click here ----->>> 1967-1971 Gibson Flying V Website