{"product_id":"bugsy-2012-vintage-v60-flying-v-gloss-black","title":"Bugsy! – 2012 Vintage V60 Flying V – Gloss Black","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere are guitars which quietly suggest that their owner might enjoy rock music.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBugsy looks like he owns a casino.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDressed head to toe in gloss black, cream and gold, Bugsy is a 2012 Vintage V60 Flying V from the Trev Wilkinson\/JHS era, and he may be one of the most unnecessarily glamorous things we’ve had through the workshop.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhich, given our recent inventory, is quite an achievement.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe classic V-shaped body is paired with a set neck and bound rosewood fingerboard carrying 22 frets, with a familiar 24.75-inch scale that makes Bugsy considerably more traditional under the hands than his silhouette might suggest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMost people who’ve played a V also know the sitting struggle, but Bugsy has another trick up his immaculately tailored sleeve: a beautifully carved knee-swell that makes playing seated considerably more comfortable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThen somebody discovered gold plating.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Wilkinson Deluxe machine heads are gold. The Tune-O-Matic bridge is gold. Both Wilkinson humbuckers are gold-covered.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEven the six strings disappear through the body beneath an enormous gold V-shaped anchor plate, apparently because simply putting them through the back would have lacked sufficient theatre.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe respect the commitment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThose twin Wilkinson humbuckers are controlled by a three-way selector, with individual volume controls for each pickup and a master tone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAt the neck there’s plenty of warmth and fullness, while the bridge provides considerably more bite when required. Between them, Bugsy covers everything from warmer, fuller sounds through classic rock and into heavier territory.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNot that he looks particularly interested in behaving himself.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMore remarkably, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehe’s basically immaculate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFlying Vs are extraordinarily talented at locating walls, doorframes, amplifier corners and every other hard object within a three-mile radius, so finding one of this age without the usual battered points is something of a minor miracle.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBugsy’s points are clean. His deep black finish is beautifully preserved, the back is still reflective enough to tell you whether you’ve brushed your hair, and the gold hardware and cream plastics make the whole thing look considerably more expensive than good manners permit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eApparently he spent his previous life in witness protection.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs always, looking pretty wasn’t enough to get him through our door.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBugsy has been through \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Stray Chord workshop\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, where he’s been thoroughly cleaned and inspected, his electronics checked and everything adjusted as required.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHis frets have been \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003elevelled, individually recrowned and polished\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, his fretboard cleaned and conditioned, and he’s been fully set up, intonated and play-tested before being allowed anywhere near the adoption sofa.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat emerged is a remarkably well-preserved, discontinued Vintage Flying V with proper Wilkinson hardware, excellent playability and enough black-and-gold ostentation to make a 1970s casino owner feel underdressed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubtle, he is not.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut if subtle was the objective, buying a black and gold Flying V was probably an unusual place to start.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor someone who wants their guitar to enter the room approximately five minutes before they do.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBugsy is ready for adoption.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e£350\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCollection welcome. Insured UK postage available.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Stray Chord\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRescue • Restore • Rehome\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Stray Chord","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58837975073032,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/2829\/4664\/files\/C82B94E3-C292-4927-B4E6-8A97168E5C9A.jpg?v=1790098556","url":"https:\/\/thestraychord.com\/products\/bugsy-2012-vintage-v60-flying-v-gloss-black","provider":"The Stray Chord","version":"1.0","type":"link"}