1963 Gibson Flying V

The 1963 mahogany Flying V reissue is far more common than the 1958 Korina original but still an exceptionally rare vintage guitar. Cherry and Pelham Blue finishes are both striking.

Current Market Value

Excellent
$40,000$80,000
Very Good
$22,000$48,000
Good
$14,000$32,000
Fair
$6,000$16,000

* Prices are estimates based on recent market data. Actual value depends on originality, condition, and provenance. Pricing methodology

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Recent Sales

RARE vintage 1963 Grover Pat Pend nickel tuners for Gibson Les Paul es 335 175 s
Excellent1 month agoreverb

Showing 1 verified sale for 1963 Gibson Flying V. Reissues, replicas, and parts listings are filtered out.

Specifications

Body WoodMahogany
Neck WoodMahogany
FingerboardRosewood
Scale Length24.750"
Frets22
Pickup ConfigHH
BridgeTune-O-Matic with stop-bar
TunersKluson Deluxe
Finish OptionsCherry Red, Pelham Blue
Est. Production175

Pickups & Electronics

Two Patent Number humbuckers. Gibson briefly reintroduced the Flying V in 1963-1965 after the original 1958-1959 run.

What Changed in 1963

The 1963-1965 reissue used mahogany instead of the original Korina — a different tonal character. Still an extremely rare and valuable instrument.

Collector's Notes

Do not confuse with the 1958 Korina examples — the mahogany body is a fundamentally different instrument. Both are valuable but the 1958 Korina commands a massive premium.

How to Authenticate a 1963 Gibson Flying V

Check the serial number on the back of the headstock — ink-stamped numbers should fall within documented ranges for 1963. Potentiometer date codes are critical: look for CTS pots (code 137) with two-digit year codes matching 1963 or up to 18 months earlier. This is the most reliable dating method for Gibson guitars of this era. The finish should be nitrocellulose lacquer showing age-appropriate checking (fine crazing). Under blacklight, original nitro fluoresces a distinctive green-yellow — refinished instruments lack this characteristic. Verify correct humbucker pickups for this reissue era. Mahogany body. Verify correct angular body proportions for this era. Original Kluson Deluxe should be present with no evidence of replacement (no oversized bushing holes). Original hardshell case adds provenance value.