• From: London, UK
  • Registered: 2011-04-01
  • Posts: 313

Topic: Why a Flying V?

I notice that when Joe plays Just Got Paid, he uses a flying V, any reason for this?

Guitars:
Epiphone Les Paul Junior Black + Gold Hardware, PRS SE Santana Yellow, Ovation Double-Neck Semi-Acoustic, Ovation Celebrity CC44 Honeyburst, Gibson 2008 Les Paul Standard Heritage Cherry Sunburst (#10), Gibson Robot Les Paul Studio 2012 Limited, Gibson 1976 Les Paul Custom Heritage Cherry Sunburst
  • Devan
  • Devan
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: Why a Flying V?

Because it is a simply awesome ROCK guitar...  big_smile   cool

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: Edwardsville, IL
  • Registered: 2010-05-17
  • Posts: 656

Re: Why a Flying V?

Devan wrote:

Because it is a simply awesome ROCK guitar...  big_smile   cool

Basically this^

Joe is all about putting on a performance that you can remember...It's all part of the spectacle of the show...

my guitar playing. http://www.youtube.com/user/09ncowan?feature=mhee
  • From: Sussex UK
  • Registered: 2009-07-12
  • Posts: 1,465

Re: Why a Flying V?

one word: tone

My YouTube channel with plenty of my Joe's videos dating from 2009 inc his first Hammersmith Odeon ones:
http://www.youtube.com/ian916fun

Ian916's Website

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Why a Flying V?

Devan wrote:

Because it is a simply awesome ROCK guitar...  big_smile   cool

This

one word: tone

and this.

  • Registered: 2006-04-22
  • Posts: 1,168

Re: Why a Flying V?

I remember seeing Michael Shenker open for Rush when I was 8 years old ( thanks Dad) at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.   He came out with the white and black V and I thought it was the coolest guitar ever. He also played like no one I ever heard.  Blinding speed and technique.   I then discovered Albert King and Lonnie Mack.  Billy Gibbons played an original V as did Dave Davies from the Kinks.   So you can see I  have always had an affinity for V's, Korina ones especially.  So you can imagine my excitement to have Michael as support for BCC in the UK.. !!  One of my heros...!! If he gives me any shite though... I will remind him I did see him when I was 8.  LOL   cool
Joe B

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: Why a Flying V?

I still love Explorers. Probably because of Allen Collins and Ricky Medlocke. If I could ever find a korina Gibson Explorer that's affordable, I'd jump on it quick!

  • Registered: 2009-10-10
  • Posts: 438

Re: Why a Flying V?

Upper fret access!  Cruise on up to the top of the neck and nothing gets in the way. I recently sold my Les Paul and went back to a Gibson Flying V. I got hooked on Michael Schenker's playing and Flying V's back in his UFO days and his solo career.  (I was a little older than eight though). Back in the hair metal days of the early 80's, Michael really stood out for me.  Most of the other players were more into guitar gymnastics and seeing how many strange noises they could get out of their guitar, while Michael played with a beautiful sense of melody and tone, and speed when appropriate.  Give Michael a Marshall and a wah pedal, and he made beautiful music.

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Why a Flying V?

HoosierRock wrote:

Upper fret access!


i think an SG has the best fret access of all guitars. Those and LP Jr.with the 22nd fret right at the cutaway.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 163

Re: Why a Flying V?

Wow!  My 2 favorite guitarists-Bonamassa and Schenker.  I even have a Schenker V.  Just don't have the JBLP YET.

  • From: Ridgeland, MS
  • Registered: 2009-08-12
  • Posts: 1,248

Re: Why a Flying V?

I would love to see a MSG/BCC show!

12 Reply by dknight16 (edited by dknight16 2011-05-31 17:50:19)

  • Registered: 2006-05-08
  • Posts: 1,996

Re: Why a Flying V?

Joe Bonamassa wrote:

I remember seeing Michael Shenker open for Rush when I was 8 years old ( thanks Dad) at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.   He came out with the white and black V and I thought it was the coolest guitar ever. He also played like no one I ever heard.  Blinding speed and technique.

My first concert ever was Rush with UFO (while Michael was still in the band) in 1977.  Michael sported a white Flying V, had the blazing blond hair, and offset both with an all black spandex jumpsuit.  I've never seen anybody look more rock and roll in my life.  He blazed away and honestly changed my musical life.  It's easy to see why:

http://www.beatsworking.tv/UFO/actionMichael.jpg

  And yeah, I have both a Schenker Flying V and a Bonamassa LP (along with a few other guitar hero model guitars)  I even owned a 1983 Korina Flying V Reissue just like Joe's.  I'll always regret selling that baby.  It was light as a feather, baseball bat neck, and had tone to die for . . .

Gibson 60th Anniversary 1959 Les Paul Reissue, Gibson LP Standard Faded CSB, Gibson Gary Moore LP Standard, Epi Joe Bonamassa GT LP, Epi Zakk Wylde LP, Dean Michael Schenker Flying V, Jackson Randy Rhoads V, ESP/LTD George Lynch Kamikaze, EVH Striped Series R/B/W, Fender/Squire John 5 Telecaster, Fender Joe Strummer Relic Telecaster
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Why a Flying V?

I had an 88 or an 89 model that was just black that I got used.  I was trying some Epiphones out of the same style and a salesman whom I had bought from before pulled me aside and made me play this beat up gibson.  Pickups were changed out from the originals and it had been to a couple of gigs to say the least.  I can still remember playing it for the first time sitting down saying "How do you keep this "F"ing thing in your lap?  That guitar when I held it always made me play out of my comfort zone and was always what I used for heavy rock.  Gave it to my dad at some point and he traded it for a Telecaster that was then traded for a Les Paul Studio plus top tranparent black.  Later we took that Les Paul to be autographed by our hero Joe Bonamassa.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Registered: 2008-03-07
  • Posts: 508

Re: Why a Flying V?

I had bought my tickets for Glasgow to See BCC and then found out

Michael Schenker was supporting, man that made my day  big_smile  listen to

Rock Bottom, live  from album strangers in the night  album totally one of the best improvised

solos IMO . JCM 800 ,DELAY AND A WHA set halfway on . I always thought there was a tinge of MS in

Joes playing especially just got paid solo .  I am looking out for a second hand Flying V, thing is they can be

got relatively cheaply. for an awesome sounding guitar  also sitting down to play them is easy just stick one

of the V between your legs.

"Everybody's entitled to my opinion. wink
  • From: Harrison, Arkansas
  • Registered: 2006-04-21
  • Posts: 3,155

Re: Why a Flying V?

xavier wrote:

I notice that when Joe plays Just Got Paid, he uses a flying V, any reason for this?

Why not?  smile

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

My ReverbNation page for Dees & Friends - check us out!
www.reverbnation.com/deesfriends
  • Registered: 2010-11-16
  • Posts: 366

Re: Why a Flying V?

dknight16 wrote:
Joe Bonamassa wrote:

I remember seeing Michael Shenker open for Rush when I was 8 years old ( thanks Dad) at the Utica Memorial Auditorium.   He came out with the white and black V and I thought it was the coolest guitar ever. He also played like no one I ever heard.  Blinding speed and technique.

My first concert ever was Rush with UFO (while Michael was still in the band) in 1977.  Michael sported a white Flying V, had the blazing blond hair, and offset both with an all black spandex jumpsuit.  I've never seen anybody look more rock and roll in my life.  He blazed away and honestly changed my musical life.  It's easy to see why:

http://www.beatsworking.tv/UFO/actionMichael.jpg

  And yeah, I have both a Schenker Flying V and a Bonamassa LP (along with a few other guitar hero model guitars)  I even owned a 1983 Korina Flying V Reissue just like Joe's.  I'll always regret selling that baby.  It was light as a feather, baseball bat neck, and had tone to die for . . .

That's quite a set of boots.  hmm

conorb