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Gibson's Guitar of the Month for January '09 - Order Now!

The Holy V is just that - a Flying V with strategic chunks removed for aesthetic effect. Everything you'd expect from a V is here - including the mahogany body and neck and warm, thick tone courtesy a '57 Classic humbucker - but the Holy V headstock is loaded with Steinberger gearless tuners, and the neck boasts two extra frets while maintaining the 24.75-inch scale length. This is a lightweight V with heavy tone! And thanks to the unique feature set and appearance, the Holy V is certain to be a serious collector's item.

Gibson Holy V at a Glance:

• Unique spin on a classic V
  
• Body
  
• Neck
  
• Electronics

Unique spin on a classic V
Creativity has always been the backbone of ingenuity, and the new Holy V Flying V - Guitar of the Month, January 2009 - is the latest example of Gibson's imaginative spirit. The traditional features of the Flying V are apparent in the new Holy-V - the mahogany V shaped body, pointed headstock, and hybrid neck profile are all true to the original's design. Carefully carved vented openings in both the neck and headstock give the Holy V a more intense look and character, while ending up as one of Gibson's lightest production guitars to date. The Holy V's neck - topped by an ebony fingerboard with split diamond inlays and single-ply binding-carries two additional frets - preserves the Flying V's traditional 24.75-inch scale length while delivering an even higher register of notes to a guitar already famous for its exceptional lead-playing ability.

Body
Clearly the most identifiable part of the Holy V is its V-shaped, solid mahogany body. On the Holy V, the body has been carved with carefully vented openings to give the guitar its unique, sleek look - which also makes it one of Gibson's lightest electric guitars. The Satin Heritage Cherry finish makes it one of the most eye-catching Vs Gibson has ever made.

Neck
Gibson has produced some of the more distinguishable neck profiles ever employed on a guitar, and the neck on the Holy V is no exception. Just like the legendary Flying V, the neck on the Holy V is a hybrid between Gibson's traditional '50s rounded profile, and the '60s slim-taper profile. Just like the body, the back of the neck has a satin Cherry finish for an incredibly smooth playing feel. The headstock on the Holy V is carved out of the same piece of mahogany as the neck. The center of the headstock is then vented to form part of the Holy-V's signature appearance. Some of Gibson's finest stringed instruments have been adorned with ebony fingerboards, and the Holy V is proud to join this exclusive list. The Holy V's fingerboard also carries two additional frets, preserving the traditional 24.75-inch scale length while delivering an even higher register of notes to a guitar already famous for its exceptional lead-playing ability. The classic split diamond inlay hasn't been used on many Gibson guitars, but the Holy V is worthy of the rare honor. They are constructed from a figured, swirl acrylic to give the inlay a classic "pearl" look.

Electronics
Among the qualities that make Gibson's original "Patent Applied For" humbucking pickups so unique are the subtle variations between coil windings. For the first few years of their production, Gibson's PAF humbuckers were wound using imprecise machines, resulting in pickups with slightly different output and tone, desirable to players who wanted to mix and match and explore a complete spectrum of tonal possibilities. The '57 Classic pickup is the result of Gibson's drive to capture and recreate this renowned characteristic. It's made to the exact same specs as the original PAFs, including Alnico II magnets, nickel-plated pole pieces, nickel slugs, maple spacers, and vintage-style, two-conductor braided wiring. Instead of enamel-coated wiring, Gibson added poly-coated wiring-which improves consistency by eliminating thin or thick spots on the wire-and wax potting, which removes all internal air space and any chance of microphonic feedback.

Gibson Holy V Features:

• Body Style: Holy V
  
• Body Species: Mahogany
  
• Binding: Single-ply
  
• Fingerboard Species: Ebony
  
• Scale Length: 24-3/4
  
• Inlays: Split Diamond
  
• Pickup: 57 Classic, Double Black Coils
  
• Neck Species: Mahogany
  
• Profile: Flying V
  
• Nut Width: 1.695
  
• Neck Joint: 17
  
• Hardware Plating Finish: Chrome
  
• Tailpiece: Stop Bar
  
• Bridge: TOM
  
• Knobs: Black Top Hat
  
• Tuners: Steinberger Gearless
  
• Includes hardshall case

Gibson's Holy V is the Guitar of the Month for January 2009!
See All the Gibson Guitars of the Month Here!

Specification Detail Manufacturer Part Number DSHVCHCH