Gibson Flying V model details
1984–1985 Gibson Designer Series Flying V
Gibson's Designer Series offered factory graphic finishes for the Flying V. The Artist Originals were individually painted and initialed, while Custom Graphics used three repeatable line-pattern designs. The contemporary Gibson price lists document Flying V graphics in June 1984 and January 1985; a Gibson-made Style 30 example is documented from 1985. The exact production span and quantities have not been published.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Graphic designs | Artist Originals: Blue Splash, Wavelength, Swirl, Fireworks, Galaxy, and Lido. Gibson described each as individually painted and initialed over an Ebony or Alpine White base coat. |
| Custom Graphics | Styles 30, 31, and 32, offered on Ebony or Alpine White Flying Vs. These were separate from the individually painted Artist Originals. |
| Years offered / made | Flying V graphics appear in the June 1984 and January 1985 Gibson price lists; the June 1985 list no longer includes Flying V graphics. A Gibson NOS Custom Graphics Style 30 Flying V is documented as manufactured in 1985. Best-supported range: 1984–1985; exact factory start/end dates and production totals are unknown. |
| Base finish | Ebony (black) or Alpine White, with the selected graphic applied over the base finish. |
| Body / finish on documented Style 30 example | Mahogany body; gloss nitrocellulose lacquer. These are the published specifications of Gibson's 1985 Alpine White Style 30 example, not a confirmed specification for every Designer Series guitar. |
| Neck / fingerboard on Style 30 example | Mahogany SlimTaper set neck; rosewood fingerboard, 12-inch radius, 22 medium-jumbo frets, dot inlays; 24.75-inch scale and 1.69-inch Corian nut. |
| Pickups / controls on Style 30 example | Two Dirty Fingers humbuckers; two volume controls, master tone, and a three-way toggle switch. The three knobs are grouped in an offset triangular/arc layout, not a straight line. |
| Bridge / hardware on Style 30 example | Kahler Flyer bridge; Grover Rotomatic tuners; no pickguard; chrome hardware. |
| Period price information | The June 1984 list added $50 for Artist Originals or $85 for Custom Graphics above the regular Flying V price. Those are finish surcharges, not the full guitar MSRP; a reliable base MSRP has not been confirmed here. |
Sources cited
The Designer Series name covered multiple finish designs rather than one distinct hardware configuration. Detailed specifications above are identified as those of Gibson's documented 1985 Style 30 example; they may not apply to every 1984–1985 guitar. Production totals and full guitar MSRP are not confirmed.
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