Gibson announces limited edition Richie Faulkner Flying V Custom guitar

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — For 130 years, Gibson has shaped sound across generations and genres of music, becoming one of the most relevant, played, and loved guitar brands around the world. Gibson Custom Shop recently unveiled its next global release in its partnership with Richie Faulkner, co-lead guitarist Judas Priest, one of the most influential heavy metal groups of all time. The Richie Faulkner Flying V Custom from Gibson Custom Shop is now available worldwide through Authorized Premium Gibson dealers, and via Gibson.com.

“This guitar has become a good friend of mine over the past couple of years and is the latest evolution of my main guitar with Priest for the past 12 years,” Faulkner said. “It’s something that has evolved as I have, both on stage and in the studio, in looks and in sound. Whenever I see that double pick guard and Pelham blue, I know that that is my guitar.

“With the Floyd Rose signature EMG pickups and striking appearance, I know that armed with my faithful Flying V, I will be able to deliver every night. Beautiful yet deadly, elegant yet sonically powerful it is the No. 1 guitar in my arsenal.”

Faulkner is the co-lead guitarist for Judas Priest and the guitarist of the metal supergroup Elegant Weapons. A long-time player of the Gibson Flying V, the Richie Faulkner Flying V Custom brings Faulkner’s personal touches to the model, including a one-piece mahogany body with a full-face pickguard, multi-ply binding, a mahogany neck with a custom Faulkner profile, and an ebony fretboard with a mother-of-pearl falcon inlay at the 12th fret.

It also has a Floyd Rose vibrato and Faulkner’s signature EMG pickup set. The electronics are stripped-down, with just a pickup selector switch and a single volume control, giving you everything you need with nothing to get in your way. Only 100 of these ultra-premium Flying V models will be crafted by the luthiers of the Gibson Custom Shop as part of this special limited run. The Faulkner Flying V Custom arrives in a Pelham Blue finish complete with a hardshell case, as well as case candy.

While performing onstage with Judas Priest at the Louder than Life festival, Faulkner suffered a rare aortic aneurysm and complete aortic dissection. Despite having zero history of heart issues, he was rushed into open-heart surgery at a nearby hospital, and luckily, fully recovered. Faulkner has decided to pay it forward, spreading the proceeds from his Flying V Custom to the John Ritter Foundation and the American Heart Association.

One of the most iconic heavy metal guitarists today, London born Faulkner has been one of the lead guitarists for the legendary heavy metal group Judas Priest since 2011. Faulkner’s new supergroup, Elegant Weapons, which features singer Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, MSG), bassist Rex Brown (Pantera), and drummer Scott Travis (Judas Priest), released their debut album, “Horns for a Halo,” last month via Nuclear Blast. The LP was helmed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with Judas Priest, Accept, Exodus and Megadeth, among many others.

In 2003, beloved actor, husband, father, and friend John Ritter was taken suddenly due to an acute thoracic aortic dissection that was tragically misdiagnosed. Weeks after his death, Ritter’s wife and fellow actor, Amy Yasbeck, founded The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health with a focused and urgent purpose to prevent unnecessary suffering because of the unknown. For more information about the John Ritter Foundation, visit https://johnritterfoundation.org/.

Special Photo: Laura Mullen