Flying V, Explorer, Firebird: An Odd-Shaped History of Gibson's Weird Electric Guitars

Until the launch of the Flying V and Explorer in 1958, electric guitars were supposed to look like...guitars. Suddenly, Gibson turned conventional design upside down, almost literally, by using straight lines and angular bodyshapes, changing the way electrics could look and, in the process, creating a set of rare future collectables.

'Flying V, Explorer, Firebird' tells the story of those first peculiar instruments and goes on todescribe Gibson's second attempt at nonstandard designs with the Firebird of the early '60s. The book shows how most of these were a commercial failure at first and goes on to detail the influence of the designs on guitar-makerssuch as Hamer, Jackson, Dean, Ibanez, and BC Rich, all of whom embraced Gibson's original weird-is-good design ethic. In parallel with the story of the makers is an absorbing account of the players who discovered these odd-shapedinstruments, including Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society), Edge (U2), and Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick).

Interviews with players and makers illuminate the story of this fascinating assortment of electric guitarinnovations, alongside specially commissioned images of every key model and brand and an enviable collection of guitar memorabilia, plus a gallery of leading guitarists photographed in action with their instruments. If it's weirdand has strings, it's in 'Flying V, Explorer, Firebird'.