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.
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The King of Radical Guitars: Guitarists Who Favor the Flying V Type (1–10)
Eagle Fly FreeMichael Weikath
A guitarist who is an original member and de facto leader of Helloween, the seven-piece metal band synonymous with German metal.
Their melodic speed metal sound—pairing catchy yet wistful melodies—spawned countless bands that later emulated it.
During the world tour celebrating the return of members from the band’s golden era, he showed a playful side at odds with his stern image by playing a Flying V—his trademark—finished with the band’s signature artwork.
He remains a highly talented guitarist at the forefront of Europe’s metal scene today.
Detroit Rock CityPaul Stanley
The guitarist of KISS, an American rock band that achieved worldwide success with flamboyant makeup and pop-infused rock ’n’ roll tunes.
Active since the early 1970s—the formative years of American hard rock—he honed a rhythm guitar style suited to singing while playing, which produced many iconic riffs.
While he’s strongly associated with radical guitar shapes like the Mirage and Iceman, he primarily used a Flying V in KISS’s early days, leading to modern reissue signature models still being sold.
A guitarist who proved to the world how striking visuals and unconventional guitar designs can be a perfect match, he balances skill and showmanship at a high level.
DreamerAkira Takasaki
Akira Takasaki, who has been active as the guitarist for LAZY and LOUDNESS, has been strongly associated with the Random Star and Killer Prime models since the formation of LOUDNESS, but during his LAZY days he mainly used a Flying V.
Whether during the idol-oriented phase that wasn’t his true intention or after declaring a shift to hard rock, a Flying V was always in Takasaki’s hands.
He’s a distinctive guitarist whose breadth of expression was shaped by having gone through the idol-route experience, and with his advanced playing technique he has had a major impact on Japan’s hard rock scene.
The Classic of Exotic Guitars: Guitarists Who Favor the Flying V Type (11–20)
Bang A Gong (Get It On)Marc Bolan
An English singer-songwriter who served as the vocalist and guitarist for T.
Rex, the iconic figure of the glam rock movement that swept the 1970s, and who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame under the band’s name in 2020.
He is known for leaving behind numerous classics, including “20th Century Boy,” a song often heard even in Japan.
Although he is strongly associated with the Flying V, that image may have suited both the look and sound of glam rock’s seductive aesthetic.
He passed away at the young age of 29, but continues to exert a profound influence on subsequent generations of the rock scene.
Freewheel BurningK. K. Downing
K.K.
Downing, a guitarist from England, is well known for his work as a member of the world-renowned heavy metal band Judas Priest.
His main guitar is the Flying V, and he is a player capable of producing a wide range of tones—from blistering solos to emotionally moving ones.
While he continues to be at the forefront as a performer, he also showcases various talents in the metal world, such as producing up-and-coming metal bands.
KICK IT OUTMichiyuki Kawashima
A musician who served as the vocalist and guitarist of the rock unit BOOM BOOM SATELLITES and sadly passed away in 2016.
Their distinctive alternative sound, which incorporated post-rock and industrial elements, likely could not have existed without Michiyuki Kawashima’s trademark Flying V.
In 1998, they performed at major European festivals, and their success became known both in Japan and abroad.
As a guitarist who embodied the strong compatibility between the Flying V—often associated with metal—and contemporary digital sound, he continues to influence many bands today.
Rock You Like A HurricaneRudolf Schenker
A German guitarist known worldwide as a guitar hero alongside his younger brother, Michael Schenker.
He founded the Scorpions, which later became a globally renowned rock band, and has continued to lead the group as a master of rhythm guitar, supporting successive lead guitarists including Michael Schenker.
He is also known for his trademark Flying V; his devotion to the model is evident in his use of the V shape not only for electric guitars but also for acoustics.
In addition, since he composes most of the band’s songs, he shines as a talented composer as well.