Flying V Explorer Firebird

Product Description

Until the launch of the Flying V & Explorer in 1958 electric guitars were supposed to look like guitars. Suddenly Gibson turned conventional design upside down almost literally by using straight lines & angular body shapes changing the way electrics could look & in the process creating a set of rare future collectables. Flying V Explorer Firebird" tells the story of those first peculiar instruments & goes on to describe Gibsons second attempt at non-standard designs with the Firebird of the early 60s. The book shows how most of these were a commercial failure at first & goes on to detail the influence of the designs on guitar-makers such as Hamer Jackson Dean Ibanez & BC Rich all of whom embraced Gibsons original weird-is-good design ethic. In parallel with the story of the makers is an absorbing account of the players who discovered these odd-shaped instruments including Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society) Edge (U2) & Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick). Interviews with players & makers illuminate the story of this fascinating assortment of electric guitar innovations alongside specially commissioned images of every key model & brand & an enviable collection of guitar memorabilia plus a gallery of leading guitarists photographed in action with their instruments. If its weird & has strings its in " Flying V Explorer Firebird"."