Perhaps the coolest standard finish that was used on the late 1960's Flying V guitars was Sparkling Burgundy. This is my favorite of the four standard factory finishes. All of the Sparkling Burgundy Flying V's were produced in Batches #3 and #4. I estimate that 30 to 35 were made with this finish. Most of the Sparkling Burgundy Vs (except for four of them) have Natural finishes on the back of their necks and black stingers on the back of their head stocks. This combination can also be seen on many of the Gibson Melody Makers from the same era. Two of them have all natural necks with no black stingers. Two others left the factory with the entire back of the neck finished in sparkling burgundy with no stinger.
When exposed to lots of light over long periods of time, many guitars with this finish will permanently fade to a salmon color or an orangish color, or copper color, or rusty root beer color, or gold. When photographed, and depending on the amount of light, the finish seems to change color. Most of the Sparkling Burgundy Vs that I have seen have the dreaded Stop Bar Tailpiece mod or Grover mod. Pictured below are several Sparkling Burgundy examples. ___________________________________________________________________________
Serial number: 955102
This is one killer V ! Back in April, 2017, I drove to West Virginia and bought this beauty from Paul, the previous owner, who bought it "used" in 1980. The only issue is an added strap button. Thanks to Paul and his brother, Mike for making this deal happen. Posted April, 2017.
Notice the natural neck treatment with no black stinger. Most of the Sparkling Burgundy Flying Vs have the natural neck treatment with black stinger on the back of the headstock. I have seen three others with no stinger. A few sparkling burgundy SG Melody Makers from the late 1960's have the same style of neck finish (natural neck and no black stinger).
Original untouched Tuners ! This one escaped the dreaded Grover modification.
My 1967 Sparkling Burgundy Twins
Here is my newly-acquired 940050 (top) pictured with its twin: 955102.
Serial Number: 940151
This V is pictured on the top of the Home page of this website. I purchased this guitar in June 2011. It took me almost 10 years to acquire it from the previous owner. After I found out that he had it I contacted him once every 9 to 12 months to see if he was willing to sell it. Finally, after almost 10 years, he sold it to me. What a gem ! He originally bought it at a pawn shop in Ohio in the early 1980's for $385. It has only minor fading on the body front and no fading on the back. The only issue is that it had Grover Imperial tuners installed when I bough it. It has its original case.
I sold this fantastic Flying V to Mark Smolen, a fellow V collector, in October 2016. I now own Sparkling Burgundy 955102, which is also featured in this section.
Notice how the finish takes on a peculiar hue in indirect sunlight. Very cool.
Notice the Natural neck finish and black stinger neck combination. This combination was used on most of the Sparkling Burgundy Flying V's. Also notice the V-shaped neck shelf and the Grover Imperial tuners.
It now has its original Kluson tuners re-installed.
The damage from the Grover Imperial tuners is still there.
Serial number: 940031
Here is a beautiful and well-worn Sparkling Burgundy V from Batch #3 that has faded to a beautiful copper-gold color due to excessive light exposure. This one is totally original except the nut and frets were replaced. Also, the pickguard is an after-market pickguard. However, the original guard is still with the guitar. What a beauty ! The serial number on this V is two digits way from K.K. Downing's old 1967 V which he sold a few years back. Thanks Kris. Posted: June, 2022.
Serial number: 932042
Here is a beautiful totally original and unmolested Sparkling Burgundy V from Batch #4 that has faded to a cool salmon color due to exposure to light. The original case is missing. Posted: July 2018
Serial number: None
Here is a beautiful Sparkling Burgundy Flying V from Batch #4 that has faded to a goldish-copper color due to heavy exposure to light on the front of the body. This one also has Grover tuners that have been added. According to the owner, this V does not have a serial number. Thanks Steve. Posted: Nov. 2012
Serial Number: 940xxx
This one has also turned a copper-gold color. Notice the filled-in Stop Bar Tailpiece holes. This is another one with the Natural neck and stinger combination.
There is a possibility that the V pictured below is the same one shown directly above. One of the previous owners is fairly certain it's the same guitar before it received a lot of additional wear.
Serial Number: Unknown
Flying V pictured below has also turned to a cool copper color. It was once owned by Todd Rundgren. He traded it away in 1970. The current owner has owned it since 1971. Notice that the configuration of the knobs and toggle switch have been changed for ease of use. Todd also had a '67 Sunburst Flying V that he changed the configuration of the knobs and toggle switch to match the V pictured below. Added Nov. 2020. Thanks Gerry.
Serial number: 007380.
This V was originally special-ordered by Todd Rundgren in 1969. This 1969 post Batch 5 Sparkling Burgundy Flying V recently showed up on the Les Paul Forum in March 2015. As it turns out, the friend of an older gentleman had been bugging the older gentleman, whose name is Joe, for about 20 years to acquire this V. Joe, who was the original owner, broke the pickguard 30+ years ago. So, he then wrapped the V in a blanket and put it in his shed for 30+ years. WOW! Can you believe it ? He had previously sold the original case way back in 1973 with a Moserite guitar. Fast-forward to March 2015........The older gentleman, Joe, put it on Craigslist and the Les Paul Forum in early March, 2015 for a few days just to see what kind of offers he would get. I contacted him but it was too late. He had already sold it to his friend that had wanted it for 20 years for somewhere in the $10,000 range. The neck was originally all sparkling burgundy with a black headstock front. Due to excessive wear the owner sent it to Gibson in the early 1980's and had the back of the headstock stingerized and back of the neck refinished in natural like all of the other sparkling burgundy Vs from the 60's era (except two others). All it needs is a pickguard and it would be a $20,000 guitar. Notice how it has faded to a copper color.
The original owner told me that Todd Rundgren, originally ordered this guitar from Manny's Music in New York City in 1969. But since no more were available in that color, he would have to wait until it was built. When the guitar finally arrived at Manny's Music in April 1970 Rundgren had lost interest or had changed his mind. So, the folks at Manny's put the V back on the showroom floor and the older gentleman (Joe) bought it. Incidentally, it is definitely a 1969 V due to the very small neck joint shelf that was also used on all 35 walnut Flying Vs from 1969. It also has a three-piece neck. What a cool story. Thanks Joe. Added April, 2015.
Todd Rundgren use to own a 1967 Sunburst Flying V. It can be seen in a video from 1968 that is now on Youtube called "Open My Eyes" by the Nazz. This may be the earliest video featuring an artist playing a 1967 Flying V. See the Sunburst section to see the video.
Update.......this guitar appeared on E-bay in January of 2016. It now has an original 67 V pickguard and has been reunited with its original 1969 yellow-lined square case. Pretty cool. Black light pictures indeed show that the entire neck and headstock (front and back) were refinished, then clear-coated with newer, darker hue overspray. This really brought the value of the guitar way down. Added Feb. 2016.
This guitar was built in 1969. Notice the very small neck shelf. This same neck shelf that was used on all of the Batch #5 Walnut Flying Vs.
Here is the same V as it appeared on E-bay in January 2016 with an original 67 V Pickguard. It sold for $12,000.
K.K. Downing's 1967 Flying V
Serial Number: 940029
Below are some pictures from the mid-1970's to early 1980's of K.K. Downing of Judas Priest with his Sparkling Burgundy 1967 Flying V. He purchased the V in 1973. Notice how his V has faded to a splotchy gold color with some burgundy still visible on the wings. Also, the Vibrola tremelo bar was removed and a stop bar tailpiece added. Unfortunately, he had this guitar refinished in the early 1980's, probably in 1983 or 84.
Update: The V was sold at auction (Bonham's) in December 2018 for $190,000 USD including a whopping 25% hammer fee.
Here is a picture of K.K's refinished 1967 sparkling burgundy Flying V that fetched $190,000 USD at Bonham's Auction House in London, England, December 2018. Thanks to Garth for the info and picture. Posted Dec. 2018.
Serial number: 932596
This beautiful V is one of only three with the burgundy finish that have surfaced over the years that is totally original and unmolested. No issues, no stories. This guitar was in a private collection for many years and was recently purchased by another V collector. Posted May 2019.
Serial Number: 920xxx
Here is another 1967 Flying V with a beautiful sparkling burgundy finish. This V is stunning. This one had a coil tap switch at one time. Posted August, 2012.
Serial Number: 9xxxxx
Here is a beautiful Sparkling Burgundy V that Craig Brody of the Guitar Broker sold to a Japanese customer back in the 1990's. Notice the alternate Gibson vibrola bar. Picture used by permission. Posted June, 2023.
Serial Number: Unknown
Here is an early Batch #3 Sparkling Burgundy V that had its wings clipped. The Serial number has been lost.
See the "Restored" link for a peek at the on-going restoration job that the owner is currently doing to this Batch #3 Flying V. Thanks for the pics Christoph.
Serial Number: 920855
Here is a picture of one of only three Sparkling Burgundy Flying Vs with the natural neck treatment and no stinger. Only three have surfaced since 1998. In addition to this one (920855), I own one of them and Jeremy Spencer of Fleetwood Mac owned one of them back in the late 1960's to early 1970's. Posted February, 2006.
Serial Number: 920xxx
This cool V has been in the hands of its current owner since 1970. It has been played alot over the years and has considerable wear. Grover tuners have been installed and the guitar has been refretted twice. This is one cool V ! Thanks Jim. Posted September, 2022.
Serial Number: 940050
This cool V recently surfaced in Nashville, TN. Prior to that it spent several years on the west coast where it was on display in a music theatre for over 30 years. This would explain its incredible condition. It once had Grover tuners but the original tuners are back on.
Update: I purchased this incredible V in October, 2022. Update: I sold this V in October 2023.
After I purchased the V, I took several more pictures when I got it home. Here are a few of them. Notice how the color has faded to a beautiful copper-orange color.
Here is my new V, 940050 (top) with its twin brother (955102) on the bottom.
Back Views: 940050 (top) has the black stinger whereas 955102 does not.
This cool Flying V was previously owned by Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash. This picture is from the mid-1970's. Notice the custom tailpiece and gold knobs. This V was eventually traded to Rudolph Schenker of the Scorpions in the late 1970s. As of 2010 it was still in the Schenker Flying V collection.