Gibson 67 Flying V Reissue Vibrola

Gibson 67 Flying V Reissue Vibrola review

The Gibson 67 Flying V Reissue Vibrola is a USA-made Custom Shop guitar built around the look and layout of the 1967 model. Its mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, and Sparkling Burgundy finish give it a distinctive profile, while the Maestro Vibrola adds period styling and light vibrato capability. At a listed price of 4555, expectations for fit, finish, and setup are high. Owner reports describe an instrument with plenty of appeal, but also point to quality-control concerns that are difficult to ignore at this level.

Construction and specifications

The V-style body has no separate top, and the set of core materials is straightforward: mahogany for the body and neck, rosewood for the fingerboard. The neck has an authentic 1967 medium C profile. It carries 22 frets and a 628 mm scale, which gives the guitar a compact feel compared with a standard 25.5-inch-scale electric guitar. The reported owner found the instrument light and comfortable to play, and praised the neck's feel.

Hardware is nickel, with an ABR-1 bridge and Maestro Vibrola. The guitar includes a case and certificate. It has been available since May 2020, and its item number is 486005. The listed model designation is 1967 Flying V. These details support the instrument's vintage-inspired brief, though the Vibrola's practical performance deserves separate consideration.

Pickups and sound

The two Custombucker Alnico III humbuckers are paired with Bumblebee capacitors. In one owner's comparison with a modified Epiphone Flying V, the Gibson's neck and middle pickup positions did not impress at first, and the bridge pickup was described as lacking treble. The player ultimately bought the guitar because of its weight, playability, and appearance, with the intention of trying other pickups. That account is a useful reminder that pickup preference is personal, especially when the comparison guitar has already been modified.

A separate owner described the Custom Shop humbuckers as delivering familiar Gibson sounds, citing Led Zeppelin, Canned Heat, and Chuck Berry as reference points. Taken together, the reports suggest a guitar capable of classic rock and blues tones, but not one whose stock pickup sound will suit every player. If possible, audition it through an amp you know before buying. Pickup descriptions alone cannot predict how the guitar will respond with your rig, playing style, and preferred settings.

Vibrola and reported issues

The Maestro Vibrola is a visual feature and can provide light pitch movement, but one owner reported that using it caused the guitar to go out of tune quickly. That player found it adequate for subtle vibrato, but unsuitable for songs requiring more pronounced or repeated use. If stable tuning under regular tremolo use is a priority, this is a significant limitation to check in person.

Owner reports also raise concerns about setup and finish consistency. One buyer noticed that the neck appeared wider than the fingerboard, with lacquer filling the transition and creating an orange-peel texture that could be felt by hand. The report does not establish whether this is a production defect or a feature of that particular instrument, but it is worth inspecting closely before purchase.

Another buyer received an instrument with an intermittently cutting-out neck pickup and crackling noises, then exchanged it. The replacement reportedly arrived without those electrical problems, but needed a substantial setup. A guitar shop also found that the Vibrola arm would not tighten properly because its threaded section was too long. The owner replaced it with a shorter arm from a vintage example. These are individual experiences, not proof that every unit has the same faults. Still, they make a careful inspection and a full setup check sensible steps for a high-priced instrument.

Verdict

The Gibson 67 Flying V Reissue Vibrola has the ingredients many Flying V fans want: a light mahogany body, a comfortable medium C neck, Custombucker pickups, and a striking Burgundy finish. The sound reports range from underwhelming pickup impressions to strong praise for classic Gibson tones. The main reservations concern the Vibrola's tuning stability and inconsistent reports about finish, electronics, and setup.

At 4555, the specific guitar matters. Check the fingerboard and neck edge under good light, test both pickups at different volumes, listen for crackling, and confirm that the Vibrola arm fits securely. Ask for a proper setup before deciding. For a collector or devoted Flying V player who values the Custom Shop build and appearance, it may be an appealing purchase. For a player seeking dependable tremolo use or the best performance for the money, the reported issues warrant caution.