Gibson Launches the Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V

Following up the recent news of another Greeny Les Paul replica, Gibson has announced the latest creation in their ongoing collaboration with Metallica’s Kirk Hammett.

The Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V – a recreation of the guitarist’s first-ever Gibson axe – is now available worldwide via Premium Gibson dealers and Gibson.com.

Priced $14,999, the Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V joins the ranks of the highly collectible Custom Shop artist models – many of which have appreciated in value over the years.

Check out this 2010 limited-edition Gibson Custom Shop aged/signed Kirk Hammett Flying V replica listed at $16,500, for example.

Limited to just 200 instruments worldwide, Gibson’s latest batch of Kirk Hammett guitars was crafted in Nashville, Tennesse at the Custom Shop and expertly aged by the Murphy Lab. Each comes with a Certificate of Authenticity photo signed by the Metallica star.

Considered one of the most important electric guitars in the history of metal, Hammett’s original 1979 Gibson Flying V appears all over Metallica’s earlier albums, including Kill ‘Em All, Ride the Lightning, Master of Puppets, …And Justice for All, and Metallica a.k.a. The Black Album.

Inspired by V-toting metal guitarists like K.K. Downing of Judas Priest and Michael Schenker of Scorpions, the young musician purchased his Flying V because, according to Gibson, he was “looking for a fuller sound.”

Featuring a single-piece mahogany body finished in Murphy Lab aged Ebony nitrocellulose lacquer, the Kirk Hammett 1979 Flying V boasts a Kirk Hammett V Profile neck with an Indian Rosewood fretboard.

Hardware includes M6 Schaller tuners, a custom replica bridge and a '79 V truss rod cover, while Hammett’s “full” signature tone is provided by a pair of T-Type humbuckers. Comes with an SKB Flying V case.

Visit Gibson for more information.