Gibson Heritage Korina Flying V
1981–1984

The Heritage reissue brought the Flying V closer to the original 1958 design, using Korina (African limba) for its body and neck. The raised molded Gibson logo and the direction of the wood grain across the body wings are among the identifying details noted in the historical material collected here. Gibson has not published a confirmed production total; one collector/dealer estimate places the entire Heritage run at about 100 guitars.

This page brings together the year-by-year Heritage series history, all of the photographs from the former overview page, and a documented 1981 example with its own full-size photographs. The 1982 Frankfurt Messe FF-82 is a distinct special and remains on its separate FF-82 page. Select any photograph to open its full-size version.

1981

The Heritage was offered in Candy Apple Red and natural Korina. Natural-finish examples are reported with mostly white pickguards and a few black ones. Serial numbers were inked on the back of the headstock in a letter-plus-three-digit format, such as A 034 or B 071.

1981 Heritage Korina Flying V with white pickguard
1981 Heritage Flying V with white pickguard
1981 Heritage Korina Flying V with black pickguard
1981 Heritage Flying V with black pickguard
Gibson Heritage Korina Flying V from the 1981 series
1981 Heritage series example

Documented 1981 Example

The following photographs document one 1981 Heritage Korina Flying V. The serial visible on the back of its headstock reads E 002. Its details are presented as this individual guitar’s record, not as a specification claim for every year of the series.

Model / yearGibson Heritage Flying V, 1981 example
Body and neckKorina (African limba)
FingerboardRosewood with dot inlays
Bridge / stringingGold-finished tune-o-matic bridge; strings anchor through the body
Serial shownE 002, inked on the rear of the headstock
1981 Gibson Heritage Korina Flying V in its purple-lined case, front view
Front view in the purple-lined case
Back of the 1981 Gibson Heritage Korina Flying V
Back of the guitar
Close-up of the E 002 serial number on the Flying V headstock
Headstock serial: E 002
Close-up of the Korina body and string-through construction
Back body and string-through construction
Close-up of the Flying V neck heel and body joint
Neck heel and body joint

1982

Heritage Korina Flying Vs were offered in natural Korina and black. The FF-82 Frankfurt Messe special is documented separately on its own page.

1983

Reported finishes included natural, Candy Apple Red, black, and white. The photographs include a comparison of two-piece and three-piece body wings.

Comparison of two-piece and three-piece Heritage Flying V body wings
Body construction comparison: two-piece and three-piece wings
Black Gibson Heritage Flying V
Black finish
Natural Korina Gibson Heritage Flying V
Natural Korina finish
Red Gibson Heritage Flying V
Red finish

1984

White was listed as an available finish.

Back to the Gallery
LinksTerms of Service