When Gibson introduced the Flying V and Explorer in 1958, solidbody design changed forever. Suddenly, a guitar could be more or less any shape at all. And in the process, Gibson created two future collectables when the original pair failed to make a mark with guitarists.
Of course, these radical designs overcame that early commercial failure to inspire a new generation of players and encourage new takes on the original designs. For some guitarists, there’s still nothing quite like a V or an Explorer.
Gibson has built many different styles of Flying Vs and Explorers through the decades since they first appeared, and in this timeline we’ve detailed many of the most important, interesting, and unusual models and variations. (And as usual in these Timelines, we have omitted Custom Shop and signature models.)
Gibson’s Modernistic experiment begins with this guitar: V-shape korina body, natural finish, korina neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard, dot markers, 22 frets, triangular headstock shape, raised plastic logo, three knobs (volume per pickup, master tone) in straight line with selector on long white-face pickguard (a few early versions black), two humbuckers, Tune-o-matic bridge, strings anchor through body in V-shape anchor plate, gold-plated metalwork (some nickel-plated 1962–63). Gibson logs 1958–59 show 98 shipped; 1962–63 models assembled from leftover parts.
Second Modernistic model to appear, just after the V: Angular korina body with wedge-shape base and elongated lower-cutaway horn (an X companion for the V), natural finish, korina neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets, dot markers, scimitar-shape headstock curving to treble side (a few with V-shape head), raised plastic logo, three knobs (volume per pickup plus master tone) in straight line with selector on long white-face pickguard, two humbuckers, Tune-o-matic bridge plus stopbar, gold-plated metalwork (some nickel-plated 1962–63). Gibson logs 1958–59 show 22 shipped; 1962–63 models assembled from leftover parts.
Into the Norlin era, and the Kalamazoo factory produced the second major V design: mahogany body, knobs in triangular layout, larger pickguard, short-Vibrola trem, chrome-plated hardware. Known as Flying V Medallion (1971) with numbered “Limited Edition Model” disc on bass-side leg, stopbar tailpiece. Gibson logs 1966–70 show 175 shipped (two in 1966 probably prototypes), 1971 Medallion logs show 350 shipped.
First reissue of Explorer bearing some of the original style: mahogany body and neck (some korina 1976; alder body 1981–83; maple neck 1981–83), ebony fingerboard option (1983), bridge plus stopbar (optional vibrato, 1983). Also known as Explorer I (1981–82), Explorer 83 (1983).
Effectively a continuation of the 1971 Medallion V—without the disc: mahogany body, dot markers (some with blocks 1979–81), knobs in triangular layout, bridge plus stopbar (vibrato options).
Redesigned Explorer: five-layer walnut and maple body, walnut or maple top option, bevelled body edges, walnut/maple neck, unbound ebony fingerboard, many with “E/2” on truss-rod cover, two coverless humbuckers, bridge plus fine-tune tailpiece, gold-plated metalwork. Also known as Explorer E II, Explorer II.
New-look V: five-layer maple/walnut body, bevelled top and back, walnut or maple top option, walnut/maple neck, ebony fingerboard, dot markers, “V2” on truss-rod cover, three knobs in straight line, selector switch between knobs, two boomerang-shape humbuckers (later regular humbuckers), bridge plus new V-shaped tailpiece, gold-plated metalwork. Also known as Flying V V2.
A response to the popularity of Gibson-influenced models by Dean and others: maple body (some mahogany), bound figured maple top, maple neck, ebony board, some with “E/2” on truss-rod cover, two coverless humbuckers, bridge plus fine-tune tailpiece. Also known as Explorer CMT.
A matching Dean-alike V to accompany The Explorer: maple body (some mahogany), bound figured maple top, ebony fingerboard, controls in offset line (selector between two knobs), no pickguard, two coverless humbuckers, bridge plus stopbar (vibrato option). Also known as Flying V CMT.
Reissue intended to recall original ’58/’59-style features: korina body and neck, pearloid tuner buttons (some metal buttons), rear-head serial: 1/space/four digits (some regular eight-digit only), gold-plated metalwork. Also known as Explorer Korina.
Reissue aiming at the look of original ’58/’59 model: korina body and neck, rear-head serial: letter/space/three digits (some reportedly eight-digit only), gold-plated metalwork. Also known as Flying V Korina.
A revised look for the V placing three controls in arc layout (selector above, jack below) and losing pickguard: alder body (later mahogany), maple neck, unbound rosewood or ebony fingerboard, coverless humbuckers, bridge plus stopbar (some with wrapover bridge/tailpiece 1983; vibrato units optional), chrome-plated hardware. Some with Designer Series custom graphic finishes (1984). Also: Flying V 83 (1983) with ebony board, controls in offset line (selector between two knobs).
A revised Explorer placing controls (volume per pickup, master tone) in triangular layout with selector nearby and losing pickguard: alder body (later mahogany), maple neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard (ebony optional 1984–86, ebony 1987–88), bridge plus stopbar (optional vibrato), chrome-plated metalwork (black option 1985). Some with Designer Series custom graphic finishes (1984). Also: Explorer III (1984–85) with two knobs (volume, tone) and two pickup selectors, three P-90s.
The clue’s in the name: Flying V body with Explorer scimitar-shape headstock; otherwise regular features for the period.
Short-lived synth controller: hex pickup, 24-pin synth output for Roland guitar synthesizer systems; controls: guitar volume and tone, guitar/synth balance, three-way mode selector, VCF cut-off and resonance, LFO depth; plus two regular humbuckers, associated controls, jack out.
Mahogany body, maple neck, unbound ebony board, volume and tone knobs, push/pull volume for coil-tap, three pickup on/off switches, no pickguard, coverless humbucker (bridge) and two coverless single-coils, locking vibrato. Also known as Explorer 400.
The first revised Explorer model for Gibson’s new owner: mahogany body 90 percent of regular size, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, split-diamond markers, 25 1/2-inch scale, 24 frets, volume, tone, selector, push/pull volume for coil-split, no pickguard, single-coil (neck) plus humbucker (bridge), bridge plus strings-through-body lightning-bolt tailpiece (optional locking vibrato bridge).
Also: Explorer 90 (1988) with single humbucker only, single control.
A new V for a revived Gibson: mahogany or alder body 90 percent of regular size, mahogany or maple neck, ebony fingerboard, split-diamond markers, 25 1/2-inch scale, 24 frets, volume (push/pull for coil-split), tone, selector, black pickguard, single-coil (neck) and humbucker (bridge), bridge plus strings-through-body V-shape anchor plate (optional locking vibrato bridge).
Also: Flying V 90 (1988) with single humbucker only, single control.
Original-style straight-line control layout and long pickguard: mahogany body and neck, two coverless humbuckers, chrome-plated metalwork. Officially named: Explorer (1989); Explorer Reissue (1990); Explorer ’76 (1991–2002); X-Plorer (2002–08); Explorer (2009–14); Explorer 120 (2014); Explorer T/HP (2016–17) T with regular features; HP with G-Force tuning, zero-fret nut, contoured heel, covered humbuckers; Explorer 2018/2019 (2018–19).
Also: Explorer Gothic/X-Plorer Gothic (1998–2001) moon/star 12th fret is only marker; Explorer Voodoo/Voodoo X-Plorer (2002–03) swamp ash body in black with red filler; X-Plorer Studio (2003–04) poplar body 90 percent regular size, no pickguard; X-Plorer New Century (2006–07) full-body mirror pickguard; Explorer Pro (2007–08) ebony board, dot markers, flame maple top option; Faded versions (2008–16) with Gibson’s aged-look thin nitro finish.
Return to 60s-style V: mahogany body and neck, unbound fingerboard, three knobs in triangular layout, large white pickguard (mirror option 2002), two coverless humbuckers, bridge plus stopbar (vibrato option), chrome-plated metalwork (black option 1985).
Officially named: Flying V Reissue (1990), Flying V ’67 (1990–2003), X-Factor V/V-Factor X (2003–08), Flying V (2009–14), Flying V 1968 (2012); Flying V 120 (2014); Flying V (Pro) T/HP (2016–17) T with regular features, HP with G-Force tuning, zero-fret nut, contoured heel, covered humbuckers; Flying V 2018/2019 (2018–19).
Also: Flying V Voodoo/Voodoo V (2002–03) swamp ash body in black with red filler; Faded versions (2002–12) with Gibson’s aged-look thin nitro finish; Flying V New Century/X-Factor V New Century (2006–08) full-body mirror pickguard; Flying V Tribute (2019) black, two knobs.
Combining original ’50s-style straight-line control layout and pickguard with ’60s style headstock and truss-rod cover: coverless humbuckers, bridge plus stopbar (vibrato option), gold or chrome-plated metalwork depending on finish.
Also: Flying V ’98 Gothic (1998–2001) moon/star 12th fret is only marker.
A scaled-down model: mahogany body 90 percent of regular size, bound top, bound fingerboard, block markers, two coverless humbuckers.
Three-humbucker V: two knobs and chicken-head rotary selector, Faded finish; otherwise 60s-style features of this period.
Yes, Gibson really did make this retrograde V with its back-to-front body: V body opens toward neck, plus reversed V tailpiece, offset-V headstock, one knob, two humbuckers, gold-plated metalwork, good luck.
Seven-string version: mahogany body, unbound rosewood fingerboard, no markers, mini-Grover tuners, two active humbuckers.
Short-lived low-cost Gibson: maple body, mahogany neck, maple fingerboard, single control, one coverless humbucker, wrapover bridge/tailpiece.
Under a new owner, Gibson simplified and settled its model lines, including the Explorer and V: more or less full circle for the Explorer in Gibson’s Original Collection, this reissue of classic original-style model has mahogany body, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard, dot markers, scimitar headstock, three knobs in straight line, selector on long white pickguard, two covered humbuckers, Tune-o-matic bridge plus stopbar, chrome-plated metalwork.
Also: Explorer B-2 (2019) single volume and tone; 70s Explorer (2020–current) coverless humbuckers.
The V in Gibson’s Original series is a vintage-vibe reissue: mahogany body, mahogany neck, unbound rosewood fingerboard, dot markers, triangular headstock, three knobs in triangular layout with selector on long white pickguard, two covered humbuckers, Tune-o-matic bridge plus stopbar, chrome-plated metalwork.
Also: Flying V B-2 (2019) single volume and tone; 70s Flying V (2020–current) coverless humbuckers.
About the author: Tony Bacon writes about musical instruments, musicians, and music. His books include Legendary Guitars and Electric Guitars: Design & Invention. Tony lives in Bristol, England. More info at tonybacon.co.uk.