The Epiphone 1958 Flying V is an electric guitar modeled after Gibson's iconic Flying V design. First introduced in 1958, the Flying V's radical shape instantly became a classic. With its angular, symmetrical "wings", the Flying V looks like no other guitar and remains one of the most recognizable guitar designs today.

Epiphone's take on the Flying V captures the spirit of the original while adding some modern updates. The double-cutaway mahogany body provides access to all 24 frets for advanced soloing. Epiphone also equipped the guitar with Alnico Classic humbucker pickups for the classic rock and metal tones the Flying V is known for. The result is an affordable version of one of the most striking guitars ever made.

Appearance

The Epiphone Flying V brings back the classic V-shaped body of the original 1958 Gibson Flying V guitar, featuring smooth rounded edges and elegant curves for a timeless and distinctive style. It retains the aggressive aesthetic that made the Flying V famous while incorporating modern refinements for comfort and playability.

The signature Flying V arrow shaped body is made of solid mahogany, with a classy Natural gloss finish that allows the wood grain to shine through for an organic look and feel. It sports a smooth white pickguard that complements the body shape and provides protection from pick scratches. The headstock incorporates Epiphone's Kalamazoo-style shape with a classic mustache bridge.

Overall the Flying V offers an iconic body style and finish options that pay homage to vintage designs while incorporating subtle contemporary updates. It combines retro appeal with modern playability for guitarists who appreciate tradition with a flair for rock-and-roll attitude.

The Vangoa VA21CE NT12 electric guitar also features a distinct V-shaped body for a bold and aggressive look. It is constructed with a basswood body and maple neck for balanced tone and sustain. The VA21CE NT12 comes in an eye-catching Transparent Black finish that allows the wood grain to show through, complemented by chrome hardware for a sleek appearance.

This Vangoa model sports 22 medium frets with dot inlays on a rosewood fingerboard for smooth playability. It is equipped with two Vangoa VH-S single coil pickups that provide crisp, articulate tone across genres from rock to blues. The electronics include master volume and tone knobs plus a 3-way pickup selector switch for sonic versatility.

The hardware consists of a hardtail bridge and sealed die-cast tuning machines to keep the guitar in tune through dynamic performances. The slim neck profile and smooth fret ends facilitate easy chord changes and solos up and down the fretboard. Weighing just 7.7 lbs, the VA21CE NT12 is comfortable for long practice or gigging sessions.

For guitarists seeking an affordable, high-performance electric guitar with an iconic V design, the Vangoa VA21CE NT12 delivers bold rock attitude with flexible sound. Its sleek style stands out on stage while its comfortable build makes it a joy to play.

Hardware

The Epiphone Flying V has high quality hardware that gives it great tone and playability. The hardware components all work together to help the guitar produce a bold, aggressive sound that the Flying V is known for.

Bridge

The guitar features a Tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece, a classic design known for solid intonation and sustain. The bridge transfers the strings' vibrations nicely. This combination helps provide excellent tuning stability and resonance.

Tuners

It uses Grover tuners which do an excellent job of keeping the guitar in tune. The tuners are mounted on an angled headstock which provides good string tension and tuning stability. Quality tuners are essential for keeping the guitar in tune during playing.

Pickups

It's equipped with two Alnico Classic humbucker pickups that provide a warm, rich sound. The pickups are wax potted to minimize feedback at high volumes. There's also a 3-way pickup selector switch for choosing between the bridge, neck or both pickups. The pickups and selector switch allow for versatility in tone.

Overall, the hardware on the Epiphone Flying V is designed to produce the powerful, growling tone people expect from the Flying V shape. Hardware is one of the most important factors in shaping an electric guitar's tone and performance. For guitarists looking for an affordable Flying V with professional-grade hardware, the Donner HUSH-I EC1783 is a great option to consider. It features a basswood body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, dual humbuckers, and chrome hardware. The Donner Flying V delivers an aggressive rock sound and fast playing feel that belies its budget-friendly price point. While not an exact Epiphone clone, the Donner Flying V provides excellent hardware and electronics that mimic the tone of more expensive models. It's a great choice for beginners and intermediate players who want the Flying V style without breaking the bank.

Neck

The Epiphone 1958 Flying V has a solid mahogany neck with a 60s slim taper "D" profile that is very comfortable and easy to play. The neck has a rosewood fretboard with 22 frets and pearloid block inlays.

The slim taper neck profile provides a nice rounded shape that fits nicely in the hand. The mahogany neck is smooth and allows for fast playing across the rosewood fretboard. The rosewood fingerboard has a 12" radius and medium jumbo frets, providing a good mix of speed and comfort.

Overall, the neck is one of the standout features on this Flying V. The 60s slim taper profile feels great and makes playing easy. Combined with the rosewood fretboard, the neck offers a smooth and fast playing experience. Players looking for speed will appreciate the profile and radius, while the mahogany and rosewood provide substance and durability.

Sound

The Flying V produces an aggressive, cutting tone that is ideal for hard rock and metal. The dual humbucker pickups provide plenty of output and sustain.

The bridge pickup delivers a sharp, biting tone with excellent clarity and definition. It has just the right amount of twang and bite for aggressive rhythm playing. The neck pickup is a bit warmer and smoother, great for solos and lead work. There's good balance between the two pickups.

When cranked up with distortion, this guitar sings. The humbuckers easily handle heavy overdrive without getting mushy. Palm mutes explode with tight chunkiness. Sustained notes bloom nicely without turning to mush. There's excellent note separation even when playing complex chords at high gain.

The tone stays muscular throughout the frequency range. The Flying V avoids getting shrill at higher volumes. Treble is clear and defined rather than harsh. The mahogany body contributes some midrange punch, giving riffs extra oomph.

Overall the sound is aggressive yet controllable. The Flying V is tonally versatile enough for various rock and metal styles. From classic rock crunch to extreme metal, this guitar delivers the goods.

Playability

The Epiphone Flying V is designed for comfort, with well-balanced weight distribution thanks to its short stubby body shape. The contoured design allows the guitar to fit snugly against your torso when playing seated.

Fret access is excellent across the neck, aided by the deep double cutaway design that lets you easily reach even the highest notes on the 24-fret neck. String spacing at the nut is comfortable as well, making chord changes smooth and effortless.

The medium C-shaped neck profile offers a fast feel that is ideal for shredding and lead playing, while still being comfortable enough for rhythm work. The 12" radius maple fingerboard has jumbo frets to allow for easy bending and vibrato techniques. Overall the Flying V is an extremely playable and ergonomic guitar.

Reliability

The Epiphone 1958 Flying V Electric Guitar lives up to its name as a reliable rock n' roll machine. The construction quality is top notch, with sturdy materials that can withstand years of enthusiastic playing.

The mahogany body and neck feel solid and durable, built to last through intense jam sessions and live performances. The hardware including theTune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece are study and keep the strings stable and in tune. Players report the guitar holding its tuning remarkably well even during heavy tremolo usage or aggressive string bending.

The smooth nitrocellulose lacquer finish not only looks beautiful but also protects the wood from scratches and dings. Overall the Flying V appears to be very well made with attention to build quality that ensures it will hold up gig after gig. This is a reliable guitar built to rock hard and keep rocking.

Value

The Epiphone 1958 Flying V offers excellent value, with a fantastic price to performance ratio. Though not as expensive as the Gibson Flying V, the Epiphone model still provides impressive quality and playability at a more affordable price point.

For guitarists on a budget or just starting out, the Flying V is an iconic, high-end looking guitar without the premium price tag. It provides many of the same visual style and tonal characteristics as pricier Gibson models, but in a more accessible package.

Considering the mahogany body, set neck construction, and Gibson-designed pickups, the Epiphone Flying V punches well above its weight class in terms of components and appointments. This allows budget-focused players to get their hands on professional level hardware that can keep up with regular use and gigging.

The Flying V shape is a classic that has been used by numerous famous guitarists over the decades. Now Epiphone has made this signature model achievable for many more players. Overall, it's hard to beat the quality you get with the Epiphone 1958 Flying V for the reasonable retail price. It's an amazing value guitar with vintage vibe.

Alternatives

When looking at alternatives to the Epiphone 1958 Flying V, there are a few comparable options on the market in a similar price range:

• The Gibson Flying V is the original guitar that the Epiphone is modeled after. It features higher quality materials and craftsmanship, but comes at a significantly higher price point.

• The Jackson King V and Jackson X Series King V are similar single cutaway "V" style guitars made by Jackson. They have a slightly more metal/rock oriented look and feel compared to the retro styling of the Epiphone Flying V.

• The ESP LTD Arrow 401 is another "V" shaped electric guitar with a more modern, aggressive design. It has a mahogany body and set neck construction with an ebony fingerboard.

• For those wanting something even more budget friendly, the Dean ML79 Rusty Cooley Signature Electric Guitar has a similar pointy shape and comes in around half the price of the Epiphone Flying V.

• The Ibanez RGIX6DLB Iron Label Electric Guitar also has the classic "V" body shape but with modern appointments like a thin and fast Wizard III maple neck.

When considering alternatives, pay close attention to the construction, materials, pickups, neck profile, fretboard, and overall style/aesthetic of the guitar to find the right match for your musical needs and preferences. The Epiphone Flying V hits a nice balance across these factors for guitarists drawn to its iconic design.

Summary

The Epiphone 1958 Flying V guitar offers an iconic, classic design and solid construction at an accessible price point. This guitar captures the vibe and tone of vintage Flying V models, bringing that unique style to more players.

Pros:

• Iconic, eye-catching design stands out on stage
• Quality materials and hardware for the price
• Produces bright, cutting rock tones
• Lightweight and comfortable to play
• Slim neck profile great for fast playing
• Tuning stability from quality machine heads

Cons:

• Not as high-end as Gibson Flying V models
• Stock pickups are just decent, could be upgraded
• Some quality control issues reported
• Case not included

For guitarists looking for the classic Flying V shape and sound on a budget, the Epiphone 1958 model is a great option. It provides top-notch playability and delivers those searing lead tones the Flying V is known for. Upgrading the pickups could make this an even better guitar. Overall, it's a quality instrument that captures the spirit of the Flying V legend.