Dwight Volk Model Flying V Owned by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (2010s), made in England, serial # 7-0021, natural finish, Korina body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
"Dwight" is the operating name of somewhat reclusive British luthier Clive Brown, a builder known for his faithful relics and recreations of classic vintage guitars. Brown's method involves a combination of building in the tradition of the original instrument and sourcing actual vintage parts and components whenever possible; he's known to have spent time working alongside well-known relic magician Nacho Banos. Just like an original 50's Gibson V, this Volk is made of Korina wood poking out of its light translucent natural lacquer finish with a rosewood fingerboard and pearl dot inlays. Some hardware, including the tuners and the knobs are period correct vintage parts.
This guitar deviates from the original model in several ways. Most notably, there is only a single humbucking pickup at the bridge instead of Gibson's twin PAF array, with '60s capped tone and volume knobs. The bridge is a Les Paul Junior style stud-mounted wraparound bridge/tailpiece instead of the original V's Tune-O-Matic and through-body stringing. The neck has a nice, hearty round profile with some "V" shaping in the way the sides are dressed away. It is somewhat deeper than any vintage Gibson electric, not a "baseball bat" but consistently chunky and still very comfortable to play. Despite being a V, it is fairly balanced and relatively lightweight all things considered, not weighted down by its light nitrocellulose lacquer. It is about as difficult to afford a real '58 Gibson Flying V as it is to find one at all, but for sheer tone this stripped down relic version is about as good of a stand-in as you might expect to find in the meantime.
This particular legendarily eccentric solidbody was previously owned, used in studio and on stage, and loved by a particularly eccentric legend, Jeff Tweedy.
Overall length is 46 in. (116.8 cm.), 17 5/8 in. (44.8 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth at side. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar only appears to be in heavily played condition from the relic job, but in reality it's in great shape! The guitar is all original from tip to tail, a great playing example for the V-curious done by a luthier known best for his exemplary work aging modern boutique instruments. The finish is uniformly checked with some "natural" arm wear on the upper bass side bout and on the back of the neck; it really does feel old. A bit of checking, wear, and intentional relicing traverse the length of the neck.
The guitar is outfitted with a selection of genuine vintage parts including a set of period correct single line Kluson deluxe tuners, truss rod cover and 1960s Gibson volume/tone knobs. The wrap around nickel stoptail bridge is a later repro with a sharper ridge on top for better string takeoff. The CTS pots in the electronics rig date to 1989 and Brown selected other old stock electronic components; the pickup is a modern repro "zebra" humbucker. The original frets, only slightly larger than original vintage spec, are healthy and in good shape in the rosewood fingerboard.
Overall, one of the cooler pieces we've gotten from Mister Tweedy, and we have gotten many cool pieces from Mister Tweedy! Feel wise, despite some noticeable differences from 1958 Gibson spec this really does feel like an older instrument, as close as one may be able to get (in spirit at least) to a 1958-9 Flying V without paying for the real thing. It resides in a Gibson branded V-shape hardshell case with the traditional markings of the Wilco Loft along the bottom edge of the case; also inside the case is the certificate of authenticity from the Wilco Loft validating the provenance of this piece. Overall Very Good + Condition.
