We need to talk about V and X shape guitars!

[laxu]

I know, you were hoping to get outraged by a John Cordy video, but no!
Y'all have been baited to a discussion thread about V and X shape guitars!

Explorer shapes deserve their own thread, so let's keep this about V and X styles.

The cons of these guitar types are:

• You bump them into something, you can expect the finish to chip on the sharp wings.
• Cases are massive and you can't just use any old case.
• Playing sitting down on V shapes requires you to use the classical position.
• Some have poor output jack placement. Ideally the jack should be on the longer/left wing rather than where the other controls are. Otherwise it can dig into your leg when sitting down.

The pro is of course that they look cool!

The prominent brands for these style of guitars:

• Gibson. Flying V is a classic, but not the most exciting.
• Dean. V in the back, V in the headstock. ML is probably the most well known X shaped model.
• Jackson Randy Rhoads, King V and Warrior. Another set of classics.
• ESP/LTD/Edwards. They've pretty much taken the RR/KV styles and made them a little bit more ergonomic (and legally distinct) on the high frets with the Arrow shape.
• Solar. They have a lot of V and X shape models, but it's a constant struggle between "right specs, wrong finish".
• Ibanez. Ibanez has made some Flying V copies back in the day, and I think the only other V shape is the VBT700. The Destroyer and Xiphos X-shape ranges had more models in them over the years.
• Schecter. Has a few V shape models, but the Schecter headstock is IMO a poor match for the style.
• Kramer. Weirdly makes some cheap-ish V styles nowadays, including a Dave Mustaine signature model.

So, what do you like for these styles of guitars?

 

[laxu]

Inspiration

Gibson Flying V

Dean USA V

Dean ML

Jackson RR

Jackson Warrior

Ibanez Xiphos XPT700

ESP/Edwards Alexi Laiho (RIP) signature

ESP/LTD KH-V Kirk Hammett signature

Solar VAR1.6FRVC+ Vacillator finish

Solar X1.6FRCLN CANIBALISMO

 

[Ed DeGenaro]

Hamer

Koll

 

[tekbow]

The greatest V ESP ever made IMO.

The custom shop apparently has done carefully modified variations of it with the reverse hockey stick headstock as custom orders, but the one story I know documented says there was a lot of back and forth about it.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

My first electric (bought used) was one of these abominations:

It worked okay for me playing while sitting down. It was a piece of shit, made in China with crap hardware but I sometimes regret selling it. Then I remember I would be too embarrassed to show it to anyone and I feel better.

 

[laxu]

Anyone want to speculate why Jackson is putting reverse headstocks on so many of their new models?

versus

The non-reverse just looks so much better IMO. I don't mind it on ESP as much because theri headstock is less angled, but on Jackson it just looks wrong.

 

[laxu]

I recently tried the red sparkle LTD KH-V and thought it was pretty cool. I didn't love the neck (wish it was thicker) but it was otherwise a nicely made and good sounding guitar.

Does anyone know what kind of dimensions Solar necks have? I can't find that info anywhere.

 

[JiveTurkey]

I support this endeavor! I have 2 VBTs and an Epiphone Korina V in antique white with mirror pickguard. Unfortunately; the Epi is currently apart and has some unfixable neck issues.

Here's an OLLLLLLLD a$$ pic from the late, late 90s of me with my Gibby V90 I wish I would have kept

I also had a CJ Pierce (ugh hahaha) V for my first metal band I did back at the turn of the century. Can't find a pic of me playing it?

Ibby is perfection for me. The Gibson looked SOOOOOOOOOO killer that I learned to live with that BIG neck. The Washburn was killer at the time (small neck comparatively) but it was a weird one visually and the Drowning Pool connection was something I had a hard time actively ignoring

I'd LOVE a hardtail Xiphos The couple of Solars I have played in person have felt great. Broken record on no inlay crew aside; I'd love one of really a ton of their models as well.

 

[DrewJD82]

Solar just released this today-

I’ve finally come around to the V shape, but I think it’d have to be an offset for me to grab one.

I wish they’d do a regular 6-string version with this finish and a Floyd (this is a baritone), I’d love to have matching finishes between my E-type and the X-type

But I’ve also been eyeing these-

 

[JiveTurkey]

Solar just released this today-

View attachment 52151

I’ve finally come around to the V shape, but I think it’d have to be an offset for me to grab one.

I wish they’d do a regular 6-string version with this finish and a Floyd (this is a baritone), I’d love to have matching finishes between my E-type and the X-type

View attachment 52152

But I’ve also been eyeing these-
View attachment 52153

I LOVE that natural finish! Marzi's new Natural and black Priestess is killer looking as well \m/

 

[laxu]

Solar just released this today-

View attachment 52151

Yeah for me it's basically a tie between these:

This is why I said it's a game of "right specs, wrong finish" with Solar. I want that color changing finish or one of these glitter ones in a fixed bridge 7-string!

 

[Mikael Dez]

I know, you were hoping to get outraged by a John Cordy video, but no!
Y'all have been baited to a discussion thread about V and X shape guitars!

Explorer shapes deserve their own thread, so let's keep this about V and X styles.

The cons of these guitar types are:

• You bump them into something, you can expect the finish to chip on the sharp wings.
• Cases are massive and you can't just use any old case.
• Playing sitting down on V shapes requires you to use the classical position.
• Some have poor output jack placement. Ideally the jack should be on the longer/left wing rather than where the other controls are. Otherwise it can dig into your leg when sitting down.

The pro is of course that they look cool!

The prominent brands for these style of guitars:

• Gibson. Flying V is a classic, but not the most exciting.
• Dean. V in the back, V in the headstock. ML is probably the most well known X shaped model.
• Jackson Randy Rhoads, King V and Warrior. Another set of classics.
• ESP/LTD/Edwards. They've pretty much taken the RR/KV styles and made them a little bit more ergonomic (and legally distinct) on the high frets with the Arrow shape.
• Solar. They have a lot of V and X shape models, but it's a constant struggle between "right specs, wrong finish".
• Ibanez. Ibanez has made some Flying V copies back in the day, and I think the only other V shape is the VBT700. The Destroyer and Xiphos X-shape ranges had more models in them over the years.
• Schecter. Has a few V shape models, but the Schecter headstock is IMO a poor match for the style.
• Kramer. Weirdly makes some cheap-ish V styles nowadays, including a Dave Mustaine signature model.

So, what do you like for these styles of guitars?

I always play in the classical position! I’ve never owned a V but I want one real bad lol

 

[Mikael Dez]

My first electric (bought used) was one of these abominations:
View attachment 52144

It worked okay for me playing while sitting down. It was a piece of shit, made in China with crap hardware but I sometimes regret selling it. Then I remember I would be too embarrassed to show it to anyone and I feel better.

My first electric I bought with my own money was a B.C. Rich Virgo Vampyre lmao (this is not mine):

 

[Humbug]

I've got one with a Ferrari-sticker, just like Yngwie!

 

[Whizzinby]

Hamer
View attachment 52138
View attachment 52139
Koll
View attachment 52140

That top Hamer is dope AF.

I think the classic V’s are so cool, I just don’t have the balls to buy one.

 

[TSJMajesty]

V
Y
Which looks closer?

 

[holoholo]

I'd like to show up to a gig with this:

 

[yek]

V and X are dumb, Explorers are cool.

 

[CM_X5]

The Solar V jack placement is interesting, doesn't seem to be like that on the X or King V shapes.

 

[JiveTurkey]

The Solar V jack placement is interesting, doesn't seem to be like that on the X or King V shapes.

My Ibby has the jack in that same spot. Not huge fan of it but it is about as out of the way as you are going to get imo.