The Epiphone Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V is an eye-grabbing re-creation of the iconic instrument Hendrix wielded onstage and — allegedly — in the studio from mid-1967 until early 1969, when he gave the guitar away to Eire Apparent’s Mick Cox. This mind-bending solidbody electric guitar features a mahogany “V”-shaped body, which is adorned with a stunning replica of the original’s hand-painted psychedelic artwork. The Hendrix Flying V includes a one-piece, rounded “C”-shape mahogany neck with a historic long heel and an easy-playing 22-fret Indian laurel fingerboard. A set of unpotted, Alnico III-loaded Gibson USA Custombuckers equips this Epiphone with a period-accurate tone inspired by early PAF pickups. You also get a LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge with a short Maestro Vibrola tailpiece for added expression, along with deluxe tuning machines with double-ring keystone buttons. Witch hat knobs, mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays, and a durable gloss finish contribute to a head-turning look that’s guaranteed to inspire creativity every time you pick this guitar up. A true stunner, the Epiphone Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V offers you an accessible opportunity to get your hands on one of the psychedelic era’s boldest symbols.
Nobody is entirely sure when or where Jimi Hendrix obtained his 1967 Flying V. However, the consensus is that he bought it sometime during the summer of 1967, possibly when he was staying in New York City. Regardless of the specifics, Hendrix began appearing onstage with the Flying V, which he had hand-painted with distinctive psychedelic artwork, in July 1967. This Flying V quickly became one of Hendrix’s go-to guitars during live performances, second only to his famous Olympic White axe. The guitar is also alleged to have been used on studio recordings, notably “All Along the Watchtower,” “Little Miss Strange,” and select BBC radio sessions, but these claims are largely speculative. Despite his obvious affection for the instrument, in January 1969, Hendrix gave his ’67 Flying V to Mick Cox of the Irish band Eire Apparent, who stripped its finish and resold it in 1973. The guitar floated around for decades, eventually landing in the hands of David Brewis, the co-founder of the rock’ n’ roll memorabilia brokerage Rock Stars Guitars, who painstakingly re-created Hendrix’s artwork using old photographs. An acetate transfer of Brewis’ re-created artwork was later supplied to Gibson to help ensure that their replicas, such as this Epiphone Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V, are as faithful to the original as possible.
The Epiphone Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V doesn’t just look like the iconic original; thanks to its Gibson USA Custombuckers, it delivers period-correct tone as well. Loaded with Alnico III magnets, Gibson’s Custombuckers are one of the company’s most accurate PAF replicas to date. The warm, sweet sound of these pickups will transport you back in time, arming you with the unrivaled sonic characteristics of what are arguably the most cherished humbuckers of all time. Boasting historically accurate 42 AWG wire, unbalanced coils, and an unpotted design, Custombuckers strive to be an absolute spot-on re-creation of the original PAF humbuckers. The Hendrix Flying V includes two volume knobs and a master tone knob, which are bolstered by CTS potentiometers and a Mallory capacitor.
Even at a glance, it’s evident that Epiphone exerted due diligence on the historically accurate details when they designed the Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V. Its mahogany body flaunts the iconic “V” shape, along with graphics inspired by the original guitar’s hand-painted psychedelic artwork. The Hendrix Flying V is also outfitted with a set one-piece mahogany neck carved into a rounded “C” shape and joined with a historic long heel. Top-shelf hardware abounds, namely a LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge, a short Maestro Vibrola tailpiece, and deluxe tuning machines with double-ring keystone buttons. Other eye-catching appointments include witch hat knobs, mother-of-pearl fingerboard inlays, and a hard-wearing gloss finish. Hendrix’s ’67 Flying V has long epitomized the psychedelic era’s innovative spirit, and the Epiphone Hendrix Flying V enables today’s players to take the stage, brandishing one of that era’s most iconic instruments.
Jimi Hendrix™ is widely regarded as the most innovative guitarist of the rock era, a player who took the instrument to places no one else had ever gone before. Now, Epiphone, in partnership with Gibson Custom and the Hendrix family, is proud to introduce the Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V™, an Inspired by Gibson Custom recreation of a guitar that Jimi played extensively from 1967-1969. Originally a Sunburst, Jimi Hendrix customized his Ebony-refinished Gibson™ Flying V with psychedelic graphics that he hand-painted, which are recreated here. The Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V also features a mahogany body, a one-piece mahogany neck with a rounded C profile, a laurel fretboard, and 22 medium jumbo frets. An Inspired by Gibson Custom logo and reproduction of Jimi’s signature adorn the back of the 1967-style Flying V headstock. Epiphone Deluxe tuners anchor the strings at the headstock, while a short Maestro™ Vibrola™ anchors them at the other end. The electronics are first-rate, with a pair of Gibson Custombucker humbucker™ pickups wired to CTS® potentiometers, a Mallory™ tone capacitor, and a Switchcraft® 3-way pickup select switch and 1/4” output jack. An Epiphone hardshell case with Inspired by Gibson Custom and Authentic Hendrix™ logos is also included.
Body Type | Solidbody |
---|---|
Body Shape |
Jimi Hendrix "Love Drops" Flying V |
Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
Number of Strings | 6 |
Accessories |
None |
Body Material | Mahogany |
Neck Material | Mahogany |
Body Finish | Gloss Polyurethane |
Color | Ebony |
Binding |
None |
Neck Shape | Rounded C |
Fingerboard Radius | 304.8mm / 12" |
Fingerboard Material | Indian Laurel |
Fingerboard Inlay | White Dots |
Number of Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
Scale Length |
628.65 mm / 24.75 in |
Nut Width | 43.0mm / 1.693" |
Nut Material | Graph Tech® NuBone® |
Joint |
Glued in; Set Neck |
Hardware Finish | Chrome |
Tuners | Epiphone Deluxe |
Pickguard | 4-ply White/Black |
Bridge | Maestro Short Vibrola |
Tailpiece | LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge |
Control Knobs |
Black Top Hat with Nickel Dial Pointers |
Neck Pickup | Gibson Custombucker Humbucker |
Bridge Pickup | Gibson Custombucker Humbucker |
Strap Buttons |
2 - bottom and back of heel |
Controls | 2 x volume, 1 x tone |
Switching | 3-way Epiphone toggle pickup switch |
Strings | Gibson, .010-.046 |
Case Included | Hardshell Case |
Manufacturer Part Number | ECJHFVEBNH3 711106091655 |