1958-V BODY template set

Gibson made the first prototype for the Flying V in 1957, the production began 1958 (81 made) and stopped 1958 (17 made).

After long research and time for collecting the info reg. vintage specs and dimensions from the few ever made FlyingVs we are happy to offer - according our knowledge - the first and yet only vintage-correct template set.

All data were collected over the past years by our friends from SavantGuitars and are based (among others) on personal info from MAX, Dave (Dave´s Guitar Shop, who has a real 58V in his collection) as well as from info about Michael Schenker´s V and from a German luthier who wants to stay anonymous but has repaired one and took records - and of course from numerous internet sources, that were carefully verified (majority of internet info reg. the 58Vs are wrong).

All templates are available individually, please ask if interested in an partial upgrade of your existing set from other source than ours.

For the serious replica maker we offer the templates in two sets at a discounted price: there is a "Body template set" and a "Neck template set", each of them containing several routing templates.

These templates are laser-cut to highest precision, material: 6mm birch-multiply

This BODY SET contains the following templates/parts:

1. template for back-outline incl. "lip" (for neck rest) with main humbucker routs + pointed positions where a 1" Forstner bit is going to be used

2. template for top-outline "off-lip" (for routing the neck rest) with humbucker-leg + e-cavity routs 

3. template for semi-outline for doing the long tenon rout into the body for the set neck

4. pickguard template (all holes for screws, pots, ABR1-post and for the switch are positioned with an undersized diameter so you can drill up easily according the hardware you are going to use (US imperial or Asian/Euro metric).
A drill sized 3/8" for drilling the holes for the CTS pots you can find here.
A drill sized 1/2" for drilling the hole for a Switchcraft toggle switch you can find here.

5. template for the round Jackplate

6. template for routing the cavity for the rubber strip (knee rest); comes with the inner part that serves excellent as a template for cutting out the rubber mat.

7. template for the tailpiece: please note that all aftermarket tailpieces that we checked are not vintage correct (and differ from ours), whatever the seller is claiming. This is the right shape and the hole-positioing was done carefully, replicating the irregulations here.

8. SAVE: this set comes with a matching piece of vintage knurled rubber mat for the knee rest for free

Each body template has the (suggested) position for the bridge studs drilled (based on the "old-rule-of-18" scale) as well as the positions for the string holes (can be used for precise positioning of the templates, too).
At the top center of both large body templates you can find a hole above the neck pick-up: this you can use for screwing these templates down to the wood as this part (incl. screw hole) will be later routed off when doing the tenon slot.

This set is good for making a fully 1958 Flying V body, right for accepting the hardware of your choice (hardware not included).
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The vintage tailpiece was made from 2mm brass sheet, that was polished (and sometimes gold plated). The tailpiece was not glued or set into a cavity but was simply nailed on top using (three) oval-head Escutcheon pins (#12 ga. x 1", brass).
 
We will be offering ready-made and vintage correct brass tailpieces in the future, watch out.

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The matching NECK SET of templates you can find here.

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Check out our other products for making a vintage 58 Flying V replica: parts, Korina body wood, Anilin dyes and vintage style NC lacquer in the finishing department - and more available.
If you cannot find what you are looking for feel free to ask, we have much more than listed and are still updating this webshop.

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A teaser from our friends from SavantGuitars: they were recently able to obtain the 1958 ORIGINAL DRILLING JIG and the 1958 ORIGINAL TAILPIECE MASTER TEMPLATE.

See according pics, for more pics and dimensions check here.