Epiphone has partnered with Gibson Custom and the Hendrix family to recreate one of Jimi Hendrix’s most iconic guitars, the psychedelic ‘Love Drops’ Flying V. This guitar was played extensively by Hendrix from 1967 to 1969, during a period of incredible creativity and innovation in his career.
The original ‘Love Drops’ Flying V started life as a sunburst model before being refinished in Ebony. Hendrix then hand-painted the guitar with his own psychedelic artwork, giving it the distinctive ‘Love Drops’ name. He played this guitar during his 1967 BBC Radio 1 sessions and while recording his groundbreaking album, Electric Ladyland, in 1968.
Epiphone’s recreation of the ‘Love Drops’ Flying V is a meticulous tribute to Hendrix’s original instrument. It features a mahogany body and a one-piece mahogany neck with a Rounded C profile, along with a 12″-radius 22-fret laurel fingerboard with a Graph Tech nut and mother of pearl dot inlays. The guitar is equipped with two Gibson Custombuckers, a three-way selector toggle, and volume controls for each pickup, and a master tone knob. Hardware includes a Maestro Short Vibrola, a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, and Epiphone Deluxe tuners.
While Hendrix is often associated with Fender Stratocasters, he was known for his versatility as a guitarist and experimented with a variety of instruments, including Gibson Flying Vs. The ‘Love Drops’ Flying V is a testament to Hendrix’s willingness to push the boundaries of what was possible with the electric guitar.
Guitarworld points out that the Epiphone Jimi Hendrix ‘Love Drops’ Flying V is available in both right-hand and left-hand configurations for $1,499, making it a more accessible option compared to original Gibson runs of Hendrix-themed guitars, which can command much higher prices on the collector’s market. As musicradar tells us, this is a great price.
As interest in Hendrix’s gear and his enduring influence on guitar design and innovation continues to grow, it’s likely that we’ll see more collaborations between Epiphone, Gibson Custom, and the Hendrix family in the future, giving fans and players even more opportunities to experience the sound and style of one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
Image credit: Epiphone
