If there’s one rock star who made the electric guitar impossible to ignore, it’s Jimi Hendrix. Sure, you’ve seen rockers playing with their teeth (which Jimi Hendrix did also) and smashing guitars, but Hendrix went ahead and lit his guitar on fire. On stage. Now, you probably won’t ever get your hands on that crispy 1965 Fender Strat (which was sold later at a cool US$380,000), but here’s some good news: there’s a guitar that’s almost as legendary and a lot less flammable—the Epiphone Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V, and this one’s up for grabs.
The new Epiphone Jimi Hendrix “Love Drops” Flying V is what happens when rock legends and psychedelic vibes collide in guitar form. Inspired by a custom Flying V that Hendrix himself played from 1967 to 1969, this guitar isn’t just about sound—it’s a full-on time capsule from the golden era of rock. Originally a Sunburst finish, Jimi decided that was too tame, so he took matters into his own hands and hand-painted it with his signature psychedelic flair. Epiphone faithfully recreates that magic with this model, making sure it looks just as trippy as it sounds.
The guitar sports a sleek mahogany body and neck, with a rounded “C” profile that’s about as smooth as Jimi’s riffs. The laurel fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets makes it feel like your fingers are flying through those solos. It’s got a Maestro Vibrola tailpiece, perfect for adding some wobble to your notes, and Epiphone Deluxe tuners to keep things in tune when you’re channeling your inner Hendrix.
Of course, the pickups are where the real magic happens. With a pair of Gibson Custombuckers wired to CTS pots and a Mallory tone capacitor, this thing produces the kind of tone that makes you want to set your amp on fire (in a good way). Whether you’re jamming in your bedroom or on stage, the Switchcraft 3-way pickup selector lets you dial in just the right sound. Plus, the gold hardware and light blue interior hardshell case make you feel like you’re unboxing a piece of rock history.
At US$1,299, it’s not exactly pocket change, but can you really put a price on getting one step closer to Hendrix-level guitar mastery? The “Love Drops” Flying V is here for those who want to rock out in style—psychedelic hand-painted graphics and all.
Images: Epiphone.
