Hand made by Tatalias Custom Guitars
I'm delighted to announce the release of the Limited Edition Andy Powell Signature '67 Flying V Guitar, built by master Luthier Chris Tatalias of Tatalias Custom Guitars in Brookfield, CT.
We are now accepting orders to purchase this incredible instrument on a limited first come, first serve basis. Each made to order personally by Chris in his workshop.
Chris has truly recreated my 1967 Flying V as it is in 2024, inclusive of the modifications I have made to match my personal sonic and aesthetic needs
Prices are $4,500 USD / £3750 GBP / €4,000, not including shipping.
40% Deposit required at time of order.
Build time is approximately 6 months from the date of first Deposit.
One piece mahogany neck and body
Rosewood fingerboard
6105 fret wire
Smooth neck joint
Grover tuners
Unbleached bone nut
ABR tune o'matic bridge
Maestro style vibrola
Andy Powell Signature Pickups. Uncovered Alnico 2 Patent Applied For style pickups custom wound by Pete A. Flynn
Black pickup rings
Vol. Vol. master tone wiring
CTS potentiometer’s
Switchcraft 3 way toggle and Jack.
Orange drop capacitor
Nitrocellulose cherry finish
Exclusive hard shell case with A POWELL stencil
Certificate of Authenticity signed by Andy Powell and Chris Tatalias
Individual serial number
We all can look back and point to a day that changed our lives, without knowing it at the moment. Such was the day in 1972 when I walked into Cliff Cooper’s newly opened music shop, Orange, on New Compton Street, London. Our manager, Miles Copeland, had cut a deal with Cliff and Wishbone Ash would be using Cliff’s new Orange Amplifiers and speakers. I was there to try these new amps and for some reason was without my Gibson SG Special, my main guitar at the time.
Looking around on the walls for something to play, I spotted 2 Flying V’s. They were brand new, and had arrived from the USA as unsold guitars dating from 1967. At the time the Flying V was not a sought after guitar. Albert King was known for wielding his 58 Korina V. Dave Davies of the Kinks had flirted with a 58 Korina V and Keith Richards toted one during the Hyde Park Concert, which ironically I had attended. Even Hendrix had played various Flying Vs yet none of these players were really known for playing the Flying V. There was little interest in these pointy guitars in 1971 which is why these two orphans now hung in Cliff’s shop having previously languished unsold, in the USA for seemingly many years.
I still remember the moment when my hand took the neck of one of them. In the late 60’s Gibson had reduced the size of the nut on their guitars. I could feel that instantly and have since come to prefer it. The neck was very thin, blade-like. I plugged the guitar in and instantly fell in love with the playability and sound of this amazing instrument. The guitar had 2 humbucker pickups and a lovely tremolo arm that allowed expression of chords. It was at that moment I had to have the guitar! At the time, it cost £300. At that moment, my life changed forever
Our first album had the iconic wishbone design which actually resembled the shape of a Flying V guitar. The band and guitar imagery seemed a perfect match. As the band grew in popularity, the image of me playing the V ran in all the music papers of the time…NME, Sounds, Melody Maker. Unwittingly, myself and the V became an instantly recognizable image for the band. Miles Copeland saw the value of the imagery and advised me to never play any other style of guitar.
By the time we went into the studio to record “Argus” that year, the V was my main guitar. The vast majority of everything on Argus was recorded with the V and I became known as a V player, in fact THE V player in the UK especially.
Over the last 50 years, the V has been recorded on almost every Wishbone Ash album and appeared in hundreds of live shows. Even to this day.
Like many players, I made modifications to the guitar to suit my needs and tastes. It has been refretted more than once. The original burgundy color has faded to a warmer hue. I‘ve swapped pickups, added pick up rings and changed tuners. But the core of the guitar remains the same as the day I walked into Cliff Cooper's shop back in 1971.
While many bands have cited the musical influence of Wishbone Ash, our imagery with the Flying V influenced a new generation of rock players. KK Downing of Judas Priest and Michael and Rudolph Schenker among them. By the 1980s, the Flying V took off in popularity, primarily in the Heavy Metal community and other guitar companies started to offer their own interpretations of the guitar.
I admit that I have flirted with other guitars and brands over the years. Fender Strats and Teles, Les Pauls and PRS to name a few. I love how different designs offer totally unique tonal qualities and spectrums of sound. But the sound and the imagery of the Flying V is my North Star. The home and soul of my music.
Over the years, I would buy and sell many Flying Vs but could never part with the original 1967 Flying V that started it all. It’s become a talisman, good luck charm and old friend that is so much a part of me.
