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Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 02:23 AM

Hey guys!, probably you all remember my flying v, the black and white one featured on a couple of my latest lessons, i really love that guitar, but i didn't liked the color combination, and overall the look of the guitar, so i decided to customize it

Here is a pic of the guitar, before the make over:



now, here is the new headstock, with the logo of my rock band (recording our first album now):


This is the body of my beauty, all custom parts made specially for that guitar:


A very old gibson pickup on the neck (not sure about the model or year):


And my fav humbucker on the bridge, the joe's FRED:


All electronics are dimarzio and the frets are XL jumbo dunlops, the only thing that's missing are the spertzel locking tuners (on the mail now).



Im in love with this guitar, and i wanted to share it with you, hopefully you guys will like it too

Posted by: JVM Feb 28 2010, 02:26 AM

Awesome! It looks to me like a rolls royce. When can we expect it's lesson debut?

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 02:33 AM

thanks bro!, yeah i think it looks like a deluxe car too hahaa i love it
well i wanna make something special this week for the debut of this guitar on gmc

Posted by: ZakkWylde Feb 28 2010, 02:37 AM

Wow awesome!
Have you also upgraded the pickups or are they stock with a gold cap on them?

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 02:41 AM

thanks zakk, ur comment means a lot (i know you have a super good/strict taste on guitars )
the bridge is a dimarzio fred, and the neck is a very old gibson, not sure about the model or year of this one (very very old), but it's kind of dying now

Posted by: ZakkWylde Feb 28 2010, 03:12 AM

It might be one of the legendary early Gibson humbuckers that were still handwound!
You can send the humbucker to get repaired if you think it's worth the effort...

Tim from Bareknuckle pickups for example can fix those old babys to work like new without altering the tone:
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=19378.0

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 03:37 AM

that's a great tip zakk, next time i open yup the guitar (to replace that pickup) i will take it out and post a photo and sound test, so maybe you guys can help me with the id.

if it's worth it i will send it to this guy for sure!

by the way do you know a good pickup to match the fred?, i like a lot dimarzio but i always try to test some new brands/gear, i'm looking for a bluesy jimmy page kind of neck sound, that's compatible in volume and overall feel with the fred, medium output you know what i mean .

and if it helps i wanna leave the gold cover on the bridge, i kinda like how it looks, but if it will suck out the tone of course i'll take out (like i did with the fred)

Posted by: ZakkWylde Feb 28 2010, 03:46 AM

DiMarzio Paf Pro Neck! You will love it!
A classic Paf sound but not too vintage voiced so it matches the volume of the fred. You could also try the Paf Joe (another Satriani Pickup) by DiMarzio; it's basicly a Paf Pro with more output and a little bit more fluid sounding for shred...

Posted by: jafomatic Feb 28 2010, 04:02 AM

First, maybe second, time I've ever seen gold/brassy/whatever colored hardware actually look really amazingly good on a guitar. I don't love that pickguard shape for the flying-v body and yet this one wears it VERY well. Can't wait to see it with a little road-wear to soften it some.

Looks amazing, let us hear it soon!

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 04:30 AM

Hey yeah i think the paf joe would be a good match for it, can't find so many sound samples tho (besides satriani ones), do you think it will work for rock/blues?.

on the other hand i already know and love the sound of the paf pro on the neck, my jem got one (pre evo jem), maybe a little variety would be nice



Hey jafo, woaa that's a great compliment, i dont like a lot of guitars with mirrored hardware neither, but this one just looks right to me , by the way the idea comes from the lenny kravitz limited signature guitar. Yeah the guitar paint is already weared out so i just gotta wait

Thanks for the comments guys!

Posted by: ZakkWylde Feb 28 2010, 04:44 AM

Like I said the Paf Joe is basicly a Paf pro with a little bit more output, adding the mids and warmth of the mahagony of your V will sound diffrent from the Paf Pro in your basswood Ibanez...

You can always go for lower output humbuckers in the neck OR go for some handmade humbuckers and try a Bareknuckle Blackdog Set of humbuckers for a great Zepplin Blues/Rock tone

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 05:05 AM

Bareknuckle uh? i heard a lot of those lately, i think im going to give em a try, thanks for the tips zakk!

Posted by: Crazy_Diamond Feb 28 2010, 08:50 AM

That guitar really looks awesome... usually I don't really like flying V guitra but yours as something special.... Nice makeover you have done on it...

Posted by: ItsMe Feb 28 2010, 11:33 AM

get your hands on a Stan Hinsley Kashmir for the neck. great pickup.

http://www.stanhinesleypickups.com/

or post an e-mail to stan and ask him for advise. he is great

Posted by: stratman79 Feb 28 2010, 12:55 PM

Wow man the guitar looks great!!!

Love the scratch plate & the truss rod cover, really transforms it.

You should def look into Bareknuckle. Tim the guy who runs it is a great chap and there service is 2nd to none, plus there handwound in Devon (my homeland!!).

They do all sorts of different covers. (I would get frd covered too) Maybe the burnt chome covers would look phat one that guitar, if not stick with the Gold.

here's a link to the site and it has the different covers on show: http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=40

You also know that they will rewind your dying Gibson pickup for you? You could get fred covered (inc spacing and wax potting) & your Gibby rewound for £85... snot bad!!

Anyway once again.. love the geetar!!!

Posted by: Sensible Jones Feb 28 2010, 01:07 PM

Looks great Adrian!

I would also recommend contacting Bareknuckle about rewinding the Gibbo!!!

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Feb 28 2010, 02:46 PM

Very good job on pimping that guitar, actually I was thinking about something similar myself, also about modifying a black and white V... if I decide to do it I will upload soem pics too ;-)

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 03:48 PM

thanks crazy!, i didn't liked a lot V's until i got mine, now i'm in LOVE with the shape, the sound, everything!




Hey ItsMe, great link bro!!, i'm checking those pups up





Hey stratman, so 2 votes for barenuckle uh?, amazing, these pups should be something then, i think i will have the fred without cover and the one on the neck with it, i kind of like how it darks up the sound on the neck, some jimmy page guitars have it like that

Considering the rewind of the gibson too, but first i gotta be sure it's something real and not an old imitation




Hey thanks sensible jones!, im considering it, just gotta see if it's real





Thanks marcus bro, what do you wanna do on ur V?

Posted by: playaxeman Feb 28 2010, 04:34 PM

Very cool looks

A Flying V is a cool shaped guitar... see my avatar

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 06:11 PM

im loving it more every second , nice one in ur avatar!

Posted by: Fran Feb 28 2010, 06:19 PM

It's looking great Adrian! enjoy

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Feb 28 2010, 06:44 PM

she's my new girlfriend bro!
but i got a mind problem now, you know.. i'm a strat dude i feel like cheating on my strats/super strats

maybe a les paul will be nice now (im a traitor)

Posted by: Shime Feb 28 2010, 10:16 PM

Respect Adrian, your axe looks awesome! Flying V's have so much character. Everyone should have his own flying V project!

I'm curious to hear what will happen to the neck pickup - lots of useful ideas given in the forum here...

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Feb 28 2010, 10:23 PM

Awesome guitar man, did you made it all by yourself?

Posted by: Karl-ss Feb 28 2010, 10:30 PM

As a V Fanatic.. I have this to say. OMNOMNOM! That is one Sexy Beast!

Posted by: JVM Feb 28 2010, 10:39 PM

Ahhhh you guys are making me want a gibson again A flying V would be awesome... or maybe one of those explorer pros....

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 1 2010, 01:14 AM

Hey shime, thanks man they do have character, i think im going to go with the kashmir pickup for now




Thanks ivan!, nah i can't make something that good, i ordered custom made parts




This IS a sexy thing





They are superb guitars, this is not a gibson tho, this is a early 70's Greco guitar, still the quality is AWESOME, much better than today's gibsons i think, but probably the 70's gibsons are the real deal

Posted by: NoSkill Mar 1 2010, 04:07 AM

Awesome looking man! My brother has a "V," from the 80's. He doesn't play electric anymore but my attempts to relieve him of it have all failed. I'm going to break into his house and steal it some day! That's a great looking guitar man!

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 1 2010, 05:04 AM

thanks a lot NoSkill!, man steal that guitar right now!
super glad everybody is liking the V!

Posted by: earman Mar 1 2010, 05:19 AM

Man Adrian I'm not really a huge 'V' fan but that guitar is SICK! I want to customize my Strat one day when I'm worthy of a custom guitar.

Posted by: JVM Mar 1 2010, 05:47 AM

You have me looking at Warmoth guitars now, custom V or explorer would be veeery interesting... I wonder if a maple neck/fretboard on a V would be too much?

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 1 2010, 02:20 PM

hey thanks earman, do it man!, if you like how a guitar looks you will be playing it more, and you will get better, so no wait is really needed.
AND, it's a lot of fun to customize a strat, done it so many times , you can find a LOT of good stuff.




The mighty warmoth dude, those are QUALITY, explorers are great guitars and love the metal feel, but a V is an icon of rock n roll, both are good choices.

About the maple neck, it could be... i'm very used to strats and light wood guitars, and i find the flying v a liiiiil bit too mid rangy (can be my ears playing tricks on me), so a maple neck could give it somehow a spark on the highs

Keep us posted man!

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Mar 6 2010, 07:14 PM

Actually I plan something very similar, I would go for a chrome pickguard though and I would also add pickup-frames on top of the regular pickguard, something like Michael Schenker had it on his old V's. I also plan to get binding on the neck (maybe even the headstock) and I will also go for Les paul Custom like block inlays... as I said, I will upload some picks when the guitar is done About the pickups I am unsure still, I might go for EMG's again or for Duncans... or I'll stick with the original Gibsons... well, I'll think about it some more ;-) By the way, what did you do to the jack for you plugging the cable, I can't see it on the pickguard anymore. Thats actually another thought of mine, moving it to the upper wing of the V, like in a Randy Rhoads

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 6 2010, 09:21 PM

hey marcus that will look sick man!, with all the bindings and the inlays would sooo good, a flying v custom , amazing.
One friend o mine got a '99 gibson V with 81-85 emgs, and the thing SINGS for metal, for my taste it is a little bit too much, cause the v is already a heavy sounding guitar, but i gotta admit the thing sounds very good.

Yeah i moved the jack, i really hate it on the pickguard, too much cable everywhere (cause i like to take the cable between the strap and the guitar first), so yeah i put it on the upper wing, very close to the strap button, gotta be very careful tho, cause u have to drill a whole into the pickguard cavity to make it happen, a LONG hole in ur precious mahogany

good luck with ur project man, hope u can get it sounding as good as ur les pauls, post some photos as soon as you have em, maybe a before after!

Posted by: audiopaal Mar 7 2010, 06:41 AM

Nice, cool guitar mate

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Mar 7 2010, 12:50 PM

Well, and EMG 81 is definitely designed for Metal, so it might be a bit too much for "normal" rock, but well, since I play in a metal band... The good thing about pimping my guitar is that I don't have to do it myself There is an awesome Gibson Customshop just about 20 minutes from my place, so I don't take the risk of ruining my guitars myself

Posted by: Keilnoth Mar 7 2010, 01:17 PM

She looks beautiful even though I am not a V shape fanatic.

Posted by: Vasilije Vukmirovic Mar 7 2010, 01:38 PM

Look coool!

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 7 2010, 05:11 PM

Thank you audiopaal!, much appreciated!



yeah!, of course, i heard some blind guardian stuff, will suit perfectly for sure, in fact im in love with the a les paul custom with emg's now, probably im going to buy it

by the way, do you already have the guitar? or are u getting the whole thing done from the custom shop?, that sould be QUALITY man, congratulations!



Thanks keilnoth bro!




Thank you Vasilije !

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Mar 7 2010, 08:37 PM

Wow guitar looks great mate! Can't wait to hear it in action! Some lessons with it in plan?

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Mar 8 2010, 11:27 AM

No, I don't have the guitar yet, and actually I am not exactly sure myself if I will just get a normal one and have it pimped or if I will have it built from scratch, I'm still thinking about that. And a Les Paul Custom with EMG's is an absolut killer, trust me, I have 2 of them

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 8 2010, 03:39 PM

Thanks bogdan!, i got recorded already one lessons with this baby, will be up sometime next week i think, (gotta edit video and stuff)



Will get the les paul, i used to be 100% strat, but let's see

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Mar 10 2010, 01:48 AM

geez man, it looks flamant! very good job!

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 10 2010, 02:41 AM

thanks daniel!!!

Posted by: Dennizzz119 Mar 14 2010, 12:03 PM

One word! MARVELOUS! Im absolutely in love with that guitar!

Posted by: Adrian Figallo Mar 14 2010, 04:35 PM

hey thank you man!, btw nice to meet you

Posted by: Marcus Siepen Mar 14 2010, 04:59 PM

I can already tell you what will happen... you willl be 100% Les Paul very soon, thats what happened to me right after I bought my first one And this addiction never faded since then

Posted by: Dennizzz119 Mar 14 2010, 05:28 PM

Its a pleasure, I loved Your Zeppelin video, shame you didnt do the V before the Zepp vid