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On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Gibson American
Jimi Hendrix American
Not on view
Though known for playing Fender Stratocasters, Jimi Hendrix played this Gibson Flying V extensively from 1967 to 1969. He probably used it on his 1967 BBC Radio 1 sessions and 1968’s Electric Ladyland, notably for his solo on “All Along the Watchtower.” Hendrix modified the nut and strap button and painted the instrument himself using nail polish. When Hendrix gave the guitar to Mick Cox of the Irish band Eire Apparent in 1969, Cox refinished it in black and removed the original design. In the 1990s, session musician Dave Brewis acquired the instrument and restored Hendrix’s original paint job.
Technical Description:
Mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard; 24¾ in. scale; black finish painted with psychedelic design, set neck with pearloid dot inlays; rounded arrow-shaped headstock with gold Gibson logo stamped on truss rod cover; two humbucking pickups, three-way selector switch, two volume controls and one tone control; nickel tune-o-matic bridge, Vibrola vibrato tailpiece, pickup covers, and Kluson tuners, black plastic knobs, large three-ply white & black plastic pickguard; original sunburst refinished in black, restored psychedelic paint job, nut and strap button modified for left-handed playing
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This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Courtesy of of William C. Butler, Vanderpool, TX
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Artwork Details
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Title: "Love Drops" Flying V
Artist: Gibson (American, founded Kalamazoo, Michigan 1902)
Artist: Jimi Hendrix (American, 1942–1970)
Date: 1967
Medium: Mahogany, rosewood, metal, plastic, nail polish
Dimensions: Length: 44 1/2 in. (113 cm)
Width: 16 1/8 in. (41 cm)
Depth: 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm)
Weight: 8-9 lbs.
Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
Credit Line: Collection of William C. Butler, Vanderpool, TX
Learn more about this artwork
The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world.
