This is chronologically the second Gibson Flying V that Jimi played during his career. Of the three Flying Vs he publicly used, this one is probably the least known and certainly the least photographed, which makes it much more challenging to research properly.
While some sources suggest that Jimi started using the tobacco-burst Flying V as early as January 1969, the first confirmed photo of him with the guitar appears to date to May 18, 1969, taken backstage at Madison Square Garden [The not-so-slight return of Jimi Hendrix, by Todd Leopold, CNN]. It’s possible that Jimi used the Flying V before this date, but given that it was likely used only for one or two songs per set, it may not have been photographed or filmed.
Another photo of Jimi with the guitar appears on the cover of Lonnie Youngblood’s album Two Great Experiences Together. The photo was taken sometime in 1969, though the exact date remains unknown (if you have more information, feel free to leave a comment).
For one reason or another, Jimi didn’t seem to connect with this guitar as much as his other Flying Vs. By comparison, the hand-painted Flying V he used in 1967 saw extensive use alongside his go-to white Strat. Even the left-handed black Flying V he acquired in 1970 was used on numerous occasions. The tobacco burst, however, was only documented on these two occasions.
Tobacco Burst Flying V Today
The guitar is reportedly owned by the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino and is displayed at their Las Vegas location [Gibson Flying V – Zachary R. Fjestad, Larry Meiners; p.23]. If you happen to see it there, please snap a photo and share it in the comments, as it seems no pictures of this guitar are currently available online—an odd contrast to the many photos of Jimi’s other Flying Vs.
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