Gibson Drops Yet Another Limited-Edition Tom Petty Flying V

Because nothing says "free-spirited rock 'n' roll" like a $2,799 guitar with a strict 250-piece production run.

Shocking absolutely no one, Gibson has once again reached into its bottomless bag of exclusive commemorative drops. This time, they are celebrating 50 years of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with a brand-new 50th Anniversary Tom Petty Flying V—a guitar that will likely be snapped up by collectors and safely locked in climate-controlled vaults before you even finish reading this article.

Inspired by the Heartbreakers logo from the band's 1976 self-titled debut album, Gibson is rolling out what they playfully call the "Flying Five." These five gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finishes include Graphite Metallic, Heartbreaker Red, Pearl White Metallic, Pelham Blue, and Gainesville Gold (a fitting nod to the band’s Florida roots).

The Specs You Probably Can't Buy

For the lucky 250 people worldwide who manage to snag one of these models before they hit the resale market at a 300% markup, the guitar actually packs some solid hardware beneath all the commemorative fanfare:

• Body & Neck: Solid mahogany all around, featuring a fast SlimTaper™ neck profile.
• Fretboard: Rosewood with a 12-inch radius, sporting 22 medium jumbo frets and acrylic dot inlays.
• Tone Engine: A pair of 70s Tribute humbuckers™ wired to individual volume controls and a master tone with an authentic Orange Drop® capacitor.
• Hardware: Gold-plated everything. It boasts Grover® Rotomatic® tuners, an aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, and a Stop Bar tailpiece.
• The "Collector" Touches: A custom Heartbreaker 50th truss rod cover and a reproduction of Tom Petty's signature stamped right on the back of the headstock.

Don't Forget the "Lifestyle Collection"

If dropping three grand on a guitar isn't in your immediate budget, Gibson has graciously provided a "lifestyle collection" so you can still participate in the brand synergy. The merch drop features a military shirt jacket and tee from imogene + willie, alongside an AXE HEAVEN miniature Flying V—which might frankly be the only version of this instrument most of us will ever get to hold.

While Gibson notes the collection honors Petty's "incredible spirit," it’s hard not to chuckle at the irony of immortalizing a working-class rock hero with an ultra-exclusive, blink-and-you'll-miss-it gear drop.

The 50th Anniversary Tom Petty Flying V is officially available now at Gibson Garage locations and online for $2,799—assuming the "Add to Cart" button hasn't already been grayed out.

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