Earlier this year, Megadeth mastermind Dave Mustaine made a big splash in the industry by announcing his partnership as a brand ambassador with Gibson Guitars.
Confirmed to spearhead special projects across the Gibson, Epiphone, and Kramer labels, Mustaine's role within the company also includes a seat on the Gibson Artist Alliance - a forum comprised of venerated, legendary musicians, industry innovators and emerging talent. Emphasizing leadership, research & development, and mentorship of the next generation of players, the collective places an added focus on philanthropic endeavors under the Gibson banner.
Gibson has now unveiled the first guitars to officially introduce the new Dave Mustaine Collection, with the Gibson Dave Mustaine Flying V™ EXP. In collaboration with Mustaine, the Gibson team worked in tandem with the legendary architect of the multi-platinum selling and GRAMMY® Award-winning band, Megadeth to craft an axe that bridged the quality consistent with the brand and the performance synonymous with Mustaine's musical legacy.
The Dave Mustaine Flying V™ EXP guitars are designed with the standard of power, heft, and exceptional performance both on the stage and in the studio - baseline criteria for one of heavy music's most respected contributors.
In terms of specs, the 25.5” scale mahogany neck has an ebony fretboard with a compound fretboard radius, 24 medium jumbo frets, mother of pearl “teeth” inlays, an Explorer-style headstock with Grover® Mini Rotomatic® tuners with Kidney buttons, and a Graph Tech® nut.
The mahogany Flying V-style body is equipped with a Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, a Stop Bar tailpiece, and a pair of Mustaine’s signature Seymour Duncan® Thrash Factor pickups. The signature guitars are available in both an Antique Natural and a Silver Metallic nitrocellulose lacquer finish, accented by black chrome hardware.
The release also follows the comprehensive deep dive via Gibson TV's ICONS series featuring the life, legacy and influence of Dave Mustaine. Premiering earlier this summer, the award-winning programming extension of the timeless guitar brand, brought into focus the extraordinary talent and the sometimes turbulent ascension of Mustaine to the heights of heavy metal's elite. From his tenure in Metallica, to his eventual conquest in Megadeth, the documentary framed the significance of one of the genre's most prolific, battle-proven personalities.
The Gibson x Dave Mustaine Flying V™ EXP are now available via Gibson.com and at select global dealers. A wider release of units is planned for February 2022. Fans can call the Gibson Garage as well to place their order at (615) 933-6000.
