Richie Sambora's Historic Collection Flying V '59 Korina.

2002 Gibson Historic Collection Flying V '59 Korina.

This Historic Collection Flying V '59 Korina was played extensively by Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi between 2002 and 2005. This amazing guitar weighs just 7.70 lbs. and has a nut width of 1 11/16 inches and a scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Korina body and one-piece Korina neck with a thin profile and with rosewood fretboard with 22 frets and pearl dot position markers. Headstock with silver plastic "Gibson" logo. Individual Gibson (Kluson) Deluxe tuners with single-ring Keystone plastic buttons. Serial number "9 2403" stamped in black on back of headstock. Two very hot Two very hot '57 reissue PAF Humbuckers with outputs of 7.97k and 7.73k. Three-layer white/black/white plastic pickguard. Three controls (two volume, one tone) plus three-way selector switch. Black plastic bell-shape "Bell" shaped knobs. ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic with metal saddles, modernistic "V" shaped metal tailpiece. Housed in its original Gibson Historic black hardshell five-latch case with maroon plush lining (9.00). Richie Sambora has inscribed the guitar in black marker "Richie / Sambora "05" / Everyday Video / Bounce Tour / S.N.L. "05""

together with-

the original framed Platinum Award with Platinum Disc for the "Bounce" tour, engraved on the bottom of the frame "This Platinum award is presented to Richie Sambora / for sales in excess of 300,000 copies of the Bon Jovi album "Bounce" in Germany / Island Mercury Label Group / Germany / Cologne, November 2002". Signed on the glass in black marker "Richie Sambora "05""

"While the so-called alternative music scene was being popularized, the robust vintage guitar market never missed a beat. Musicians, collectors and guitar dealers were paying ever-high prices for classic vintage models. Gibson took notice of this activity and introduced a new series of replica instruments called the 'Historic Collection'. These Historic guitars were marketed to collectors of modern instruments, as well as players seeking guitars with the vintage vibe. The roster of Custom Shop Historic instruments included a 1959 Flying V reissue model. Since most of the original Flying V manufacturing drawings were lost when the Kalamazoo plant closed, the arduous task of re-creating them began. The Custom Shop obtained several vintage instruments to examine and measure, ensuring proper "old-fashioned" construction of the new-fashioned models. Historic Korina Flying V prototypes were built in 1991 and displayed at the NAMM Show that year. A few years later, Gibson changed the name of the guitar to the 1958 Flying V. Then, in 1998 Gibson changed the name back to the 1959 designation. They are produced in limited quantities presently… This model represents Gibson's recreation of the original Korina Flying V from 1958-1959. The important details regarding the neck joint and the heel cap are done accurately. The original Korina Flying V chevron grain pattern was emulated. The neck is chunky as is the original, with the late 50's style Gibson smaller frets… It is a great substitute for those lacking the budget to afford one of the few authentic Korina guitars or for players wanting to leave the original at home and use this Historic model Flying V to play the gig. Production is very limited. This is Gibson's highest list price Flying V." (Larry Meiners, Flying "V", pp. 30 & 49).
These are now nearly as rare as the originals… the 2001 List Price was $13,992.