ADRIAN UTLEY (Portishead) and a 1958 GIBSON FLYING V

The 1958 Gibson Flying V is arguably the rarest of the classic vintage instrument pantheon - only 81 of these iconic beasts were ever made.
I was delighted to be invited by the good people at Gardiner Houlgate Auction houses to check it out in all its glory and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to invite one of my favourite musicians Adrain Utley (Portishead, Jeff Beck, Patti Smith and so many more) to come and hang out and make some noise in the name of science and fun!
Just look at this thing - what a gorgeous, wonderful and thoroughly confusing musical instrument. Not the sort of thing that either Adrian nor I would normally be seen with - and therefore a prime opportunity to explore something cool and unusual.
This video documents the scenes when a couple of inveterate guitar lovers are left entirely unsupervised with a priceless vintage guitar and a steadfast refusal to conform to stereotypes.
I hope you enjoy it almost as much as we did!
Like what I do? Support my work here! michaelwattsgu...
Until next time, stay tuned
Michael
Thank you so much to Adrian Utley and Gardner Houlgate Auctioneers. Adrian will also be my guest in a future episode of Life On The Fretboard for Fretboard Journal.

[@jimsanger]

I love Adrian's playing, I didn't expect that lovely clean tone from that guitar

[@MichaelWatts]

@@jimsanger thank you for watching Jim!

[@JJones4234]

This was my '58 Flying V that I owned from 1967 to 1988. Houlgate Auction has a small bit of my history! There is so much more to tell !!!

[@MichaelWatts]

That is so cool! Thanks for getting in touch!

[@23fm]

What a lovely experience.

[@MichaelWatts]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@shane5022]

Keep up the great work, Michael! Love this channel.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Shane!

[@chasmenear7130]

BY FAR the most resonant electric guitar ever built. Limba is a gorgeous tone wood, and was largely used for FURNITURE back then!

[@MichaelWatts]

Very true Chas!

[@andrewbowen6875]

Read the history about this a while ago and it’s insane how these guitars can change hands all the while rocketing up in value for something that wasn’t a success when it came out. Still looks far out even now.

[@MichaelWatts]

Doesn’t it though? Mental creation!

[@PaulOwens]

Bob Mould back in his Hüsker Dü days played an Ibanez copy which I fell in love with. And of course there's the rumour that won't die that Jimi played 'All Along the Watchtower' on one. Unfortunately I have never had the courage.

[@MichaelWatts]

Hüsker Dü! Loved that band, and Sugar too!

[@markn4526]

Nice discussion about the mystique of the Flying V. I think the V is so much more fascinating than the Explorer, but I like them too. I just wish you had shown more close-up detail of the guitar.

[@MichaelWatts]

Glad you enjoyed it Mark!

[@victorbeebe8372]

I was born in 1958. I was I had some of charecter of that Guitar!

[@ellenrik]

What did I just see? I'd better double check my coffee and maybe order some more. What a lot of fun. Jimi Watts, Hahahaha...

[@MichaelWatts]

Ha! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@andrewobrien1652]

Sounds Ace!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Andrew!

[@michaelmayer6889]

What kind of wood is that? Sorry for my criticism. Since you're in Germany look up Halkans music in Stockholm. I sold Jan thre 67 V's about 50 years ago and you can find a pic of him holding one. 🙂

[@MichaelWatts]

It’s Korina. Like the rest of the 58 and 59s. This was filmed in Bath U.K. which is not in Germany. Neither is Stockholm. 67 Vs are totally different to the original models. I hope that helps.

[@davidharris7431]

The Vs are the best looking electrics . Peace ✌

[@DavidComdico]

Guys, Link Wray’s Rumble was 1958.

[@MichaelWatts]

Good shout!

[@snörre23]

Did not know that the originals also had that anti skid thing on the bottom side. 16:00 and another demonstration that the amp is 90 % of the sound, tweed rules.

[@tulyar1043]

As I understand it the first couple of Flying Vs were made for an act dressed as Indians, so maybe their manager approached Gibson to make an arrow shaped guitar and the result was....the Flying V. This info was in a Guitar Player mag in the late 1980s.

[@MichaelWatts]

That’s absolutely bonkers!

[@Diredwarves]

Where's your casimi? :(

[@MichaelWatts]

Not long now

[@michaelmayer6889]

Replaced bridge, nonoriginal knobs, looks refinished, and possibly not a 58. I had V's in he 70's.

[@MichaelWatts]

Confidently incorrect

[@dalgguitars]

Less than a hundred made. Can't really overstate it's importance. Economic failure at the time. Probably seemed like it was from a thousand years in the future. Maybe the coolest solid body guitar?.? (other than that white strat Jimmy Hendrix played, but that was because of Jimmy.)

[@HTRism]

1- Adrians chops are too heavy the guitar can't handle it! (hence the out of tuneness) 2- I have that exact same book. my father got it as a gift when I was 7 or 8 and I've been addicted to guitars ever since.

[@MichaelWatts]

I don't know, I think Adrian has a pretty light touch but the V was not yet ready to cooperate! It's a great book - mine has been thumbed thoroughly

[@michaelmayer6889]

By the way I took myself off youtube.A waste of my time.