Gibson Flying V, Explorer, & Firebird Information

Some of my favorite vintage guitars are the Gibson Flying V, Gibson Explorer, and Gibson Firebird guitars made in the late 1950s and early 1960s. These are rare vintage guitars that are difficult to gather information on, especially how to date them and what features do they have that are unique to the Flying V, Explorer and Firebird. One of the places I found more information on these guitars is in a book by Tony Bacon: Flying V, Explorer, Firebird: An Odd Shaped History Of Gibson's Weird Electric guitars. 

The Gibson Flying V and Explorer were designed in 1957 during so many amazing advancements in guitar history including the Gibson ES-335, Gibson Les Paul Standard Burst, and the Gibson EDS-1275 Doubleneck guitars. I was amazed to read in Tony's book about how influential Leo Fender's success with the Stratocaster and Telecaster were on Gibson's solid body electric guitar designs in the 1950s. One of Gibson President Ted McCarty's goals was to design guitars that were too difficult for Fender to copy since they were unable or unwilling to design guitars with a carved top. He also wanted to buck the false presumption that Gibson was old, frumpy, and overly traditional by designing radically shaped guitars that would make a splash and get people talking. I think he achieved that goal!

Another fascinating part of this book about the Gibson Flying V and Explorer is the mention of a 1958 Gibson Flying V hanging in the window of Art's Music in Montgomery, Alabama. Page 32 discusses the photo of the Flying V in Art's Music Montgomery found in the January-February 1961 issue of the Gibson Gazette. The whereabouts of the Art's Music Gibson Flying V guitar are unknown to the author, so if you think you've found this guitar then you can contact me here: Gibson Flying V Guitar Expert. 

How to date a Gibson Flying V, Explorer, Firebird

Knowing how to date a Gibson Flying V, Explorer, or Firebird guitar starts with determining whether or not the guitar is an original or reissue. Gibson made very few example of the Flying V and Explorer in the late 1950s and 1960s so it's highly unlikely that your guitar is an original. If you'd like an expert opinion on your guitar then you can contact me here: Gibson guitar expert. 

The following information is for how to date Gibson Flying V, Explorer, and Firebird guitars made in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. One place to begin is with the Gibson serial numbers. Remember that Gibson has reissued guitars in the past 30 years that have serial numbers that mimic 1950s and 1960s serial numbers, so you may need a Gibson guitar expert to look at your guitar.

Ink stamped on the back of the neck with no "Made in USA": Gibson used an ink stamp under the finish to apply serial numbers in the 1950s. 

8_5xxx  1958

9_xxxx  1959  

Impressed in the back of the headstock with no "Made In USA" stamp: You will be able to feel the serial number when you rub your finger across it. These serial numbers are only correct if no Made In USA underneath the serial number. 

100  ------ 42440   1961

42441---- 61180    1962

61450 --- 64222    1963

64240 --- 71040    1964

71041 --- 96600    1962, 1963, or 1964

96601 --- 99999    1963

000001 - 099999   1967  

100000 - 106099   1963 or 1967

106100 - 106899   1963

109000 - 109999   1963 or 1967

110000 - 111549   1963

111550 - 115799   1963 or 1967

115800 - 118299   1963

118300 - 120999   1963 or 1967

121000 - 139999   1963

140000 - 140100   1963 or 1967

140101 - 144304   1963

144305 - 144380   1964

144381 - 149864   1963

149865 - 149891   1964

149892 - 152989   1963

152990 - 174222   1964

174223 - 176643   1964 or 1965

176644 - 250335   1964

250336 - 305983   1965

306000 - 310999   1965 or 1967

311000 - 320149   1965

320150 - 320699   1967

320700 - 329179   1965

329180 - 330199   1965 or 1967

330200 - 332240   1965, 1967 or 1968

332241 - 348092   1965

348093 - 349100   1966

349121 - 368638   1965

368640 - 369890   1966

370000 - 370999   1967

380000 - 385309   1966

390000 - 390998   1967

400001 - 406666   1966

406667 - 409670   1966 to 1968

409671 - 410900   1966

410901 - 419999   unknown

420000 - 429193   1966

500000 - 500999   1965, 1966, 1968, or 1969

501009 - 501600   1965

501601 - 501702   1968

501703 - 502706   1965 or 1968

503010 - 503109   1968

503405 - 520955   1965 or 1968

520956 - 530056   1968

530061 - 530850   1966, 1968, or 1969

530851 - 530993   1968 or 1969

530994 - 539999   1969

540000 - 540795   1966 or 1969

540796 - 545009   1969

555000 - 557999   1966

558000 - 567400   1969

570087 - 570643   1966

570645 - 570755   1966 or 1967

570857 - 570964   1966

580000 - 580080   1969

580086 - 580999   1966, 1967 or 1969

600000 - 600998   low end models, 1966, 1967, or 1968

600000 - 606090   high end models, 1969

700000 - 700799   1966, 1967 or 1969

750000 - 750999   1968 or 1969

800000 - 800999   1966, 1967, 1968 or 1969

801000 - 812838   1966 or 1969

812900 - 819999   1969

820000 - 820087   1966 or 1969

820088 - 823830   1966

824000 - 824999   1969

828002 - 847488   1966 or 1969

847499 - 858999   1966 or 1969

859001 - 895038   1967

895039 - 896999   1968

897000 - 898999   1967 or 1969

899000 - 899999   1968

900000 - 909999   1970

910000 - 999999   1968

Six digit serial numbers with "MADE IN USA" stamp underneath:

000000        1973                                                MADE IN USA stamp

100000        1970-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

200000        1973-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

300000        1974-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

400000        1974-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

500000        1974-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

600000        1970-1972, 1974-1975                    MADE IN USA stamp

700000        1970-1972                                       MADE IN USA stamp

800000        1973-1975                                       MADE IN USA stamp

900000        1970-1972                                       MADE IN USA stamp

Sticker on back of the neck with two digit prefix, 8 digit total serial number:

99xxxxxx     1975              

00xxxxxx     1976

06xxxxxx     1977