[Cover photo features Michael Schenker pictured with the 50 new Gibson Custom Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition guitars]

Gibson Custom has announced the release of the Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition, a recreation of a key guitar in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal history. Known for his work with UFO, Scorpions, and the Michael Schenker Group, Schenker made an impact on his generation and has continued to influence later generations of players and fans.

Inspired by Michael Schenker’s 1971 Medallion Flying V, originally in Cherry Red, later in black, and ultimately transformed into the black-and-white design that became his signature, this limited-edition model captures the details of the instrument used to record the first three UFO albums.

This limited run of 50 guitars, each hand-signed by Schenker himself, is available worldwide at authorized Gibson Custom dealers, Gibson Garage locations, and on www.gibson.com.

Now part of Kirk Hammett’s guitar collection, Gibson Custom created the Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition based on 3D scans of the original instrument. This Collector’s Edition features a mahogany body with a partially painted white pickguard, a three-piece mahogany neck with a slim artist profile and volute, and a one-piece rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and cellulose dot inlays.

The Flying V headstock continues the signature split-color motif and is fitted with Schaller M6 tuners and a Corian nut. A pair of uncovered T-Top humbuckers with Alnico 5 magnets are each wired to its own volume control with a shared tone knob using 500k CTS® potentiometers, along with a Switchcraft® three-way toggle and ¼ inch output jack, rounds out the electronics.

Limited to just 50 pieces worldwide, each guitar is hand-signed by Michael Schenker on the back of the headstock and comes housed in a custom replica flight case adorned with Michael Schenker Group graphics.

Also included is a commemorative mahogany display block featuring a #56 Medallion, and a Certificate of Authenticity presented in a matching black-and-white folio.