Limited to 50 pieces only, this exacting replica of the world’s most famous Flying V recreates one of the rarest guitars in Bonamassa’s formidable collection
An original 1958 Gibson Flying V™ is a rare bird indeed, and they don’t come more storied than Amos. Named after its first owner, Amos Arthur from Arthur’s Music Store in Indiana, the guitar later found its way into the collection of the legendary Norman Harris before making an appearance on the silver screen in the spoof rockumentary This Is Spinal Tap. It now resides with the incomparable Joe Bonamassa, who has used it extensively on stage and in the studio.
If you’ve ever wanted an Amos of your very own, now is the time. Limited to just 50 pieces featuring Brazilian rosewood fingerboards and painstaking Murphy Lab aging, the Gibson Custom Joe Bonamassa “Amos” 1958 Flying V Collector’s Edition isn’t just a tribute to Amos, it’s a clone.
Built using cutting-edge 3D scanning technology and Murphy Lab aging, this limited-edition masterpiece is a USA-only release. Bonamassa has been playing a replica of Amos on the road for a year and a half and says, “The Custom Shop did it. And it’s great. It’s every bit as good of a Flying V as something old, except you don’t have the liability of bringing out, literally, a unicorn guitar.”
Hit the play button on the video below to hear Joe Bonamassa put the guitar through its paces and find out more about the Gibson Custom recreation of this unique instrument in an interview with Dinesh Lekhraj from the Gibson Gear Guide.
“I don’t collect guitars, I collect stories. And this is one hell of a story.”
The story of Amos dates back to the late 1950s when it was shipped to Arthur’s Music Store in Indianapolis, Indiana. Gibson’s ledgers show that this particular Flying V left the Kalamazoo factory on May 29, 1958. Store owner Amos Arthur clearly saw the potential in the futuristic new design, incorporating it into several marketing campaigns for the business before selling it sometime in 1959.
Later, the guitar found its way to Pete Mitchell of Ernest Tubb’s band, and in the mid-70s, it was purchased by Norm Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana, California. In 1984, it was one of a number of guitars loaned by Harris to Christopher Guest for the filming of This Is Spinal Tap. Bonamassa purchased the guitar from Harris in 2015.
Even by the standards of original 1950s Flying Vs, Amos is a rare example. Only 10 are thought to have been manufactured with a black pickguard, with perhaps as few as five examples leaving Kalamazoo with the combination of a black pickguard and mismatched white “poker chip” jack socket plate, as seen both on Amos and an original Flying V owned by Pete Townshend.
Image: Precision Murphy Lab aging delivers an effective clone of a rare and storied guitar
Own a piece of guitar history
This Collector’s Edition instrument from Gibson Custom captures every detail of the vintage model, including its custom-engraved truss rod cover. The artisans of the Murphy Lab have masterfully aged this guitar’s Antique Natural finish and gold hardware to duplicate the playing wear and lacquer checking on Amos in all respects, giving it the look and feel of Bonamassa’s prized original. Even the case is aged and comes complete with a leather belt, as used on the original case to secure it, in lieu of a broken latch.
In keeping with the original, this Flying V also features a Brazilian rosewood fretboard. Due to the rarity of this wood and export restrictions, it is only available in the USA. The fretboard adds to the premium look, feel, and playability of the vintage-inspired Korina neck, which sports a custom profile scanned from Bonamassa’s original.
Image: Even the guitar’s custom-engraved truss rod cover has been recreated
Equipped with Amos Custombucker humbucking pickups, a Switchcraft® three-way pickup selector, and 500k CTS® vintage taper potentiometers, this Flying V delivers an array of tones that capture the essence of the original—from raucous rock in the bridge position to the warmth and articulate clarity of the neck pickup.
If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind instrument, the Joe Bonamassa “Amos” 1958 Flying V Collector’s Edition is a rare opportunity. With only 50 guitars available, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to own a true replica of one of the most famous guitars in the world.
Find out more about the Gibson Custom Joe Bonamassa “Amos” 1958 Flying V Collector’s Edition, and check out the recently released Epiphone Joe Bonamassa 1955 Les Paul Standard.
