NGD - Quincy Texas Flying V

rocktron

https://i.imgur.com/siJns7n.jpg

This Quincy Texas Flying V was delivered at home yesterday. It was purchased from 19music, an eBay seller, for £169.00. I believe the seller is a family run business out of Manchester.

It is a replica of a Gibson Flying V 2006 year model.  

I decided not to get a second-hand Epiphone due mainly to the fact that I couldn’t find a good one within my budget near to where I live, and also due to buyer collect only stipulation for those that were available.

As you are no doubt aware, there are several differently styled Flying V guitars produced by Gibson and Epiphone over the years.

1. some with more rounded, or sharper pointy headstock and fins,

2. differently cut shoulder angle where the body meets the neck,

3. differently shaped pickguards,

4. different control knob arrangement,

5. either stopbar or string-thru-body tailpiece.

 

First impressions of the quality are very favourable:-

1. The high gloss paint finished in red is flawless – no bleeding and air bubbles.

2. The pickguard seems to be faithful (or very close) to the original shape.

3. This one has a white truss rod cover – some came in black.

3. The hardware is in mirror finished chrome.

4. The tuning keys seem stable, thus far.

5. The frets are bevelled smooth.

6. The neck is smooth and slippery fast.

7. The nut is well cut - no string slippage

8. The thickness and other dimensions are of a standard Gibson Flying V template.

 I didn’t have the time to test the guitar plugged in to an amp. I left it to acclimatise before playing through some riffs unplugged. The guitar sounded really good, and has audibly good sustain from its poplar wood body – a sign that it would sound good plugged in to an amp.  

The lower three strings didn’t need retuning as the tuning keys held firm, but the first three strings needed some fine tuning as they stretched after I had played some bends. It appears that the tuning keys are of good quality, but they need to settle in.

Overall, I would say that this is an excellent, very good quality Flying V guitar for the money.      

Here is the left handed version (the right hand ones are sold out – I got the last one):-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flying-V-electric-guitar-Red-Quincy-Texas-authentic-shape-lefty-left-handed-rock/173532868656?epid=21023144776&hash=item28675d7030:g:sdAAAOSwx5hbmmdV

and a video:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o7ikg_Hi6E

skullfunkerry

That looks great! Fantastic price as well. Will be interested to see how you've found it after a few months 

mbe

I have one of these and they're not bad for the money. I've had it over 6 months and it is quite stable. Pots and switch work well.

I made the action lower by opening up the holes in the scratchplate for the bridge so the bushes now sit on the body not the scratchplate. 

I had some Epiphone pickups and changed them for the stock ones. Not that there's anything wrong with the standard pickups, the Epi pickups had chrome covers and I just preferred the look of them. I also changed the tuners for a cheap set of Kluson-a-likes, a tenner from China, again purely for the look.

For years I always wanted a V and I'm very pleased with it.

longjaw

Quite fancy one of these, problem is the case will be massive!

rocktron

longjaw said: Quite fancy one of these, problem is the case will be massive!

I recommend the standard Flying V padded case from Thomann, which is a steal at the price:-

https://www.thomann.de/gb/thomann_gigbag1_fv.htm

It is about 7" longer that a padded case for a Strat or LP, but is wider at the base due to the V shape.  

The bag has thick padding at the front, back, and sides to absorb accidental knocks, and it fits the guitar like a glove, so it isn't huge. It offers more than adequate protection for a guitar when travelling by car, buses, and trains, but it isn't suitable for taking a guitar on a plane in the cargo hold. 

BTW, the right hand version of the Quincy Texas guitars are sold out, but you can contact the seller to check if and when they are expecting any more. You can also check Amazon for a Beaton Florence 35 Flying V Guitar, but this one has a bolt-on neck (whereas the original Gibson V has a set neck). 

Amazon also have a Beaton Warsaw 66 Guitar which has EMG pickups. I understand that Dimebag Darrell of Pantera presented Zakk Wylde with a similar guitar made by Dean. However, the Beaton guitar has a BC Rich headstock.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=guitar+which+dimebag+darrell+gave+to+zakk+wylde&view=detail&mid=F71DB5B183D0FDB2A718F71DB5B183D0FDB2A718&FORM=VIRE   

The above are some of the cheapest, good quality Flying V guitars that I know of which are sold legally in the UK. The quality of budget guitars these days is just amazingly good.   

You may be able to import a Chinese made one directly from the manufacturers, but I have no idea what happens when they arrive at UK Customs. If anyone knows, perhaps they can pass on any information. 

You can try:  https://www.dhgate.com/w/flying+v+guitars.html#listing_his-flying+v+guitars  ;

longjaw

I see these are back on sale on eBay for £169.

As they look like copies of the 1967 V, I'm strongly tempted to get a black one and mod it so it looks like the Gibson Hendrix signature:

https://reverb.com/uk/p/gibson-custom-shop-flying-v-jimi-hendrix-psychedelic-black-2006

Any more opinions on Quincy Flying Vs? 

Tat2dstesh

Whats the neck like on these? 

rocktron

Tat2dstesh said:

Whats the neck like on these? 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Quincy-Flying-V-Electric-Guitar-Classic-Shape-Design-Authentic-Headstock/392948697093?epid=19023144904&hash=item5b7d914805:g:QesAAOSw6rxfckBP ;  

The previous batch of these guitars were also available in a gorgeous green, similar to a Flying V played by Ritchie Faulkner of Judas Priest.

https://reverb.com/item/5039490-quincy-texas-flying-v-shape-style-electric-guitar-2017-green

On the latest batch, the Quincy logo is not on the headstock, but printed on the truss rod cover. This can be replaced with a Gibson V truss rod cover as they are about the same shape and size, or a plain white one (but I wouldn't try to pass it off as a Gibson). 

The neck is colour coded at the back, and is smooth and slippery fast with no baulking.

• Body : Poplar with a classic black finish
  
• Neck : Maple
  
• Neck construction : Set-in
  
• Fingerboard : Indonesian Blackwood, 22 Frets
  
• Pick-up : Hi-gain Humbucker, Ceramic
  
• Controls : 2 Volume, 1 Tone, 3-Way Switch
  
• Hardware : Chrome
  
• Machine Head : Diecast
  
• Neck Profile : 628mm Scale / 43mm Nut Width / 21mm 1st Fret Thickness / Modern C Shape / 350mm Radius
  
• Weight : 4.4kg
  
• Comes fitted with Daddario strings

mbe

Tat2dstesh said:

Whats the neck like on these? 

C shape neck is similar to Slim Taper Epiphone, not like their dreadful D shape with the awkward shoulders.

skullfunkerry

Reading how pleased you are with these guitars is making me think (again) about having a punt on the guitar in this thread:

https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/191219/even-harley-benton-gets-bootlegged-nowadays

It’s the same seller...