The quintessential shapely guitar: guitarists who favor the Flying V type
If you got into guitar because you love genres like metal or hard rock, you’ve probably admired a Flying V at least once.
With its distinctive shape—an upside-down V that can look like an arrow in silhouette—the Flying V was introduced by Gibson in 1958 alongside the equally famous Explorer as part of their radical guitar designs.
However, the design was so ahead of its time that it was poorly received at first and reportedly didn’t sell at all.
In this article, we’ve gathered players who favor the Flying V—a guitar that made its mark in history as a pioneer of radical designs—not only from overseas but also from Japan.
You might be surprised by some unexpected names!
Enjoy the read.
The King of Radical Guitars: Guitarists Who Favor the Flying V Type (1–10)
Into The ArenaMichael Schenker
A German guitarist who made his mark as a member of globally renowned bands like Scorpions and UFO.
He’s famous for his trademark Flying V, refinished in a black-and-white two-tone.
While German HR/HM bands are often associated with a classical image, Michael Schenker’s orthodox playing style centered on the pentatonic scale contributed greatly to his bands’ success.
In Japan, he’s revered as a “god,” a legendary guitarist of the metal scene.
Mr. CrowleyRandy Rhoads
An American guitarist who was seen as a promising future genius but tragically died at the young age of 25 due to a plane crash that occurred during a tour.
In Japan, he is known as the first guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne—often called the Emperor of Metal—and his classical guitar playing had a major impact on the metal scene from the 1970s onward.
The striking Flying V with a black body and white polka dots remains synonymous with Randy Rhoads to this day.
There’s no doubt that, had he lived, the global rock scene would be different from what it is now—he is a guitarist who has been deified.
FalconFumihiko Kittaka
He first drew attention in his amateur days as a fast-playing guitarist and continues to perform as a member of Kenji Ohtsuki’s band, Kinniku Shojo Tai.
Ranging from highly technical passages to lyrical, emotive “weeping” guitar, his wide-ranging style—rooted in hard rock and metal—made a profound impact on Japan’s metal scene.
Beyond his trademark Flying V, his knack for handling 12-string guitars and mandolins shows why he’s still active on the front lines today.
A beautiful yet powerful guitarist who is indispensable when discussing Japan’s metal scene.
Lover ManJimi Hendrix
Known in Japan by the nickname “JimiHen,” he is a legendary guitarist familiar to anyone aspiring to be a rock guitarist.
Beyond his virtuosity as a performer, he is recognized as a musician who helped drive innovative advances in effects—now taken for granted—and in live performance.
While he’s often introduced as a master of the Stratocaster, it’s worth noting that he consistently played a Flying V when performing blues, so quite a few people may associate Jimi with the Flying V as well.
Though he passed away young at 27, he continues to influence guitarists around the world.
Are You Gonna Go My WayLenny Kravitz
A singer-songwriter known as a representative American musician with a deep musicality that isn’t bound to any particular genre.
A multi-instrumentalist who sometimes plays every instrument on his recordings, he showcases his talent beyond just the guitar.
His fully original Flying V has become a live-show trademark, proving that the Flying V isn’t only for metal guitarists.
Since 2009, he has also drawn attention as an actor, making him an artist who shines in many different fields.