Gibson 2023 70s Flying V, Ebony, Custombuckers, Hardshell Case - Used
The Gibson Flying V arrived in 1958 and immediately became one of the most recognizable silhouettes in the history of electric guitar — a radical, forward-looking design that only 81 players took home that first year, and that has spent the decades since then in the hands of everyone from Albert King to Jimi Hendrix to Dave Mustaine. The 70s Flying V takes that foundation and adds the appointments and aesthetic of the instrument's second great era — when it came back into production in 1966 and became a fixture of hard rock through the 1970s. The mahogany body and neck combination delivers the Flying V's characteristic voice: focused, present, with natural sustain and a midrange authority that suits everything from blues to hard rock.
This one has had a thoughtful series of upgrades by a previous owner that are worth laying out clearly. The stock Burstbucker pickups have been replaced with Gibson Custombuckers — a significant upgrade worth calling out. The Custombucker is the hand-wired, unpotted pickup found on Custom Shop instruments, voiced for a slightly more open, vintage PAF-like character with more dynamic range and sensitivity than the standard production pickups. A new set of Custombuckers runs around $500, and players who know Gibson pickups will understand immediately what that means for the voice of this guitar. The bridge has been upgraded to TonePros — a locking Tune-O-Matic and tailpiece system that locks saddle and tailpiece posts in place for improved sustain and tuning stability. The nut has been replaced with bone. The tuners have been upgraded to Grover Roto-Grip locking tuners — the kind that grip the string without winding, dramatically simplifying string changes while holding pitch reliably under hard use. All hardware has been upgraded to gold throughout. The result is a Flying V that plays better and sounds better than it left the factory, with every functional upgrade going in the right direction.
Playing great and strung with Paradigm 9s. Set up with comfortable action.
Condition is Very Good and we are being specific about two things. There is a finish crack on the treble side of the body near the nut — the finish is disturbed and cracked in that area. We checked carefully: flexing the headstock does not open the crack, indicating this is a finish issue rather than a structural one. It is cosmetic and localized. The back of the guitar also shows some wear consistent with a played instrument. Check the full photo series carefully before purchasing. Everything else is in good shape.
- Make: Gibson
- Model: 70s Flying V
- Year: 2023
- Country of origin: USA (Nashville, Tennessee)
- Body: Mahogany, V-shape, Ebony gloss finish
- Neck: Mahogany, set neck, SlimTaper profile
- Fingerboard: Rosewood, dot inlays
- Scale length: 24.75"
- Nut: Bone (upgraded from stock)
- Nut width: 1.695"
- Frets: 22, medium jumbo
- Neck pickup: Gibson Custombucker humbucker (upgraded from stock Burstbucker)
- Bridge pickup: Gibson Custombucker humbucker (upgraded from stock Burstbucker)
- Controls: Volume 1, volume 2, master tone, 3-way toggle
- Bridge: TonePros locking Tune-O-Matic (upgraded from stock)
- Tailpiece: TonePros locking (upgraded from stock)
- Tuners: Grover Roto-Grip locking (upgraded from stock)
- Hardware: Gold throughout (upgraded from stock)
- Strings: Ernie Ball Paradigm 9s
- Weight: 8 lbs 0 oz
- Modifications: Gibson Custombuckers installed; TonePros locking bridge and tailpiece; bone nut; Grover Roto-Grip locking tuners; all hardware upgraded to gold
- Includes: Hardshell case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
