Gibson Custom has brought one of the company’s most elusive vintage models back to life with the introduction of the 1971 Flying V Medallion Reissue. Handcrafted in Nashville, the new release faithfully recreates one of the rarest Flying V variants ever produced, giving players and collectors the opportunity to experience a guitar that has long occupied legendary status among vintage enthusiasts.
Originally built in extremely limited numbers during the early 1970s, the Flying V Medallion has become one of Gibson’s most sought-after collectible instruments, celebrated for its distinctive aesthetics, powerful voice, and association with some of hard rock’s most influential players.
While the Flying V has enjoyed numerous incarnations throughout its history, few are as revered as the Medallion model. Produced to commemorate the 1972 Olympic Games, the original run is believed to have totaled only around 350 guitars, making it one of Gibson’s rarest production instruments.
The guitar has also found favor with notable players over the decades. Michael Schenker helped cement the Medallion’s reputation through his unmistakable hard rock tone, while Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, who owns original examples, has described the model as “consistently great.”
Built by Gibson Custom in Nashville, the 1971 Flying V Medallion Reissue closely follows the specifications of the original instrument.
The guitar features a thinner two-piece Mahogany body that reduces overall weight while enhancing resonance and sustain. A three-piece Mahogany neck is carved to an Authentic 1971 Flying V profile, complete with a period-correct volute for vintage authenticity. The Rosewood fingerboard retains classic dot inlays and contributes to the familiar feel that vintage Flying V enthusiasts expect.
Vintage-inspired appointments continue throughout the instrument. A Historic Reissue ABR-1 bridge pairs with a Stop Bar tailpiece, while chrome hardware completes the guitar’s early-’70s aesthetic.
Electronics consist of a matched set of authentic, unpotted T-Top humbuckers featuring Alnico 5 magnets. Known for their articulate attack, dynamic response, and clear upper-midrange character, T-Tops have become highly prized among players chasing classic hard rock and early heavy metal tones.
Though no feature is more synonymous with this model than the guitar’s namesake medallion.
Mounted to the bass-side wing, the individually numbered 1.5-inch gold medallion proudly displays the Gibson logo alongside a “Limited Edition Model” inscription. It’s a small detail that has become one of the Flying V Medallion’s defining visual signatures and a major reason original examples remain so desirable among collectors.
Get the Gibson 1971 Flying V Medallion Reissue for $4,999 here at Sweetwater, here at Guitar Center, and here at Musician’s Friend.
