On the bench - Banker Flying V

[ICTGoober]

Had to glue every fret end down and then level the frets. Lowed the action a bunch, and now it plays like it looks - zoomy. Also, the binding nibs were vertical on the fret ends - like railroad ties. I beveled the binding so your thumb and fingers don't catch while playing. Just over a year old, and the nut had already been replaced by another guy here in town (he did a good job). Also, the truss rod cover was so thick it interfered with the strings. It's going back in the case. Shipping it this afternoon...

https://i.imgur.com/pIKMH2a.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/Fptxn70.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/8jbOc8v.jpg

 

[Mincer]

Sounds like an expensive repair!

 

[idsnowdog]

I'm a bit confused. It doesn't look like a cheaply made guitar so why were so many things wrong with it? If it was a homebuilt guitar where they were fabricating most things from scratch you could understand it. But if a luthier actually built this their QC is crap.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

I've always hankered after a Flying V (and a long blonde wig).

But right now I can neither afford nor justify an Epiphone, let alone the $5000 string through body Gibson I really want.

People are asking crazy prices even for beat up examples too.

There's an Epiphone on GC for $400 that needs a repspray, at least, and a husk on eBay for $400 with a (badly) repaired headstock crack.

For that kind of money, I'd just buy the Epiphone one new, which is string-through and has a proper set neck (unlike previous years bolt-ons). Spend $650 on the Epi and another $200 on SD pickups and you've easily got as good an instrument as the $5000 Gibson, or just spend $1500 on the basic Gibson with the standard stop tail bridge.

 

[ICTGoober]

For those who don't remember, Banker is the first authorized Gibson custom shop maker.
And so far, I'm not impressed. The maker is a novice, but not an idiot. There are cosmetic glitches, and some lazy workmanship - but overall, it's not a horrible instrument. It plays nice now and sounds pretty good. The pickups are some boutique maker I never heard of.

 

[nexion218]

Man next time dim the lights when making pics, will ya? Those frets shine so bright on the 2nd pic it hurt my eyes!

 

[NegativeEase]

Hate to hear that, That looks like a pretty old Banker -maybe it sat at CME for a while before purchase, Matt's guitar's coming out now are much better.

I've played a lot of the new ones before he sells distributes or sells them.

 

[Masta' C]

If you could spend $650 on an Epi + $200 on
pickups and easily get an instrument as good as the $5,000 Gibson, why would you consider the $1,500 Gibson an option?

Why would anyone consider a $1500 Gibson an option? :lmao:

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

If you could spend $650 on an Epi + $200 on
pickups and easily get an instrument as good as the $5,000 Gibson, why would you consider the $1,500 Gibson an option?

For the tuners are hum canceling puckguard screws, obviously...

Nah, just badge snobbery.

 

[NegativeEase]

Call it badge snobbery or whatever you want, but I have really liked a lot of Gibsons in that price range.

I think the 1k to 1500 range is where the most Gibson are worth it honestly.

 

[NegativeEase]

Why would anyone consider a $1500 Gibson an option? :lmao:

Before getting any discussion on functional guitar details,

I'd say here are 3 common reasons before even talking about the actual guitar

• resale/investment value considerations.
• a prestige purchase (see worship player thread.... I kid I kid)
• fulfilling a daydream of one day owning a Gibson instead of an approximation or alternate.

 

[Masta' C]

I bought an Explorer for $1,260 on model-year clearance a few years ago. It is a brilliant guitar.

I was just jesting. I'd do an Explorer or Flying V any day. To be honest, the lower end of the Gibson range is where the value is. It's when you spend $3K+ only to realize that you got the same quality as a $1500 guitar that drives me nuts with Gibson.

 

[NegativeEase]

I was just jesting. I'd do an Explorer or Flying V any day. To be honest, the lower end of the Gibson range is where the value is. It's when you spend $3K+ only to realize that you got the same quality as a $1500 guitar that drives me nuts with Gibson.

Agreed 100%. with regards to most Gibson Solid Body guitars, you are gaining vestigial style appointments and prestige (not sound or core functionality) with Gibsons once you cross 1500.00 in their line, with semis and hollows that number is a bit higher.

 

[ICTGoober]

Oh. I thought banker was a reference to the owners occupation.

If you go to the guys website you'd find that's what he used to be....

 

[NegativeEase]

If you go to the guys website you'd find that's what he used to be....

Yeah, Matt's been full time Guitar making only for maybe almost 1.5 years (can't remember but we celebrated that night) -so the quality and focus has been improved greatly with his guitars

 

[ICTGoober]

The owner is going to hit the builder up for a single ply truss rod cover.....Should be an improvement.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Cool top on that.

 

[NegativeEase]

Cool top on that.

Aside from some creative appointments, Wood is Banker's thing -sourcing exotic and interesting wood specimens is the main value add for their business.

 

[ICTGoober]

It's flamed maple that has spalted.

Back in the 80's when spalted woods were first used by guitar makers, I didn't get it. What was so special about what is essentially mildewed wood? Took me about 25 years to realize the patterns were more interesting than the actual species of wood. Of course - it should be stabilized for best performance over time. This wasn't. It has voids that caused the lacquer finish to crack.

 

[idsnowdog]

I've always hankered after a Flying V (and a long blonde wig).

But right now I can neither afford nor justify an Epiphone, let alone the $5000 string through body Gibson I really want.

People are asking crazy prices even for beat up examples too.

There's an Epiphone on GC for $400 that needs a repspray, at least, and a husk on eBay for $400 with a (badly) repaired headstock crack.

For that kind of money, I'd just buy the Epiphone one new, which is string-through and has a proper set neck (unlike previous years bolt-ons). Spend $650 on the Epi and another $200 on SD pickups and you've easily got as good an instrument as the $5000 Gibson, or just spend $1500 on the basic Gibson with the standard stop tail bridge.

Why not a Dean V?