In 1958, Gibson released the Gibson Flying V electric guitar model for the first time. Like its siblings, the 1957-designed Moderne (which was not produced until 1982) and the Explorer (which was released the same year), the Flying V provided a completely new, radical, "futuristic" body design. Gibson advertised a unique Limba tree wood known as "korina" for use in the first run of guitars; more traditional woods were used in later models. 

In the middle of the 1950s, Gibson president Ted McCarty pushed for a range of modernist guitars to rival the freshly created and wildly popular Fender Stratocaster. They constructed prototypes of the guitars in 1957, including a wood version that was abandoned because it was exceedingly heavy. Eventually, they made use of limba tree wood, which the business sold under the brand name "korina" (a term Gibson created). While the wood had similar tonal properties to mahogany, it was lighter in color and weighed less. Less than 100 of the original Flying V guitars were produced and sold, maybe because they were too radical for their time.  

The instrument was promptly put to use by legendary blues musician Albert King and trailblazing blues-rock guitarist Lonnie Mack. Throughout his lengthy career, Mack nearly always rode with his 1958 Flying V. He called it "Number 7" since it came off the first-year assembly line in seventh place. Known as Lucy, King played his 1958 original instrument until the mid-1970s, at which point he replaced it with a variety of handmade Flying Vs. Later, in the mid-late 1960s, Flying Vs were also used by guitarists like Dave Davies who were looking for a unique-looking guitar with a powerful sound. There was a clamor for Gibson to reintroduce the model due to the resurgence of interest. 

• Albert King - Because he owned numerous Flying Vs and all had a name, Albert King may have the most notoriety of them all. Every single Flying V he owned was called Lucy—not to be confused with Lucille, the name of a well-known Gibson hollow body guitar that was played by none other than B.B. King, the other blues legend.

• Lonnie Mack - The Flying V and Lonnie Mack's blues-rock fusion sound created a lasting impression on the genre. His use of the Flying V, especially a unique variant with quilted maple, gave his performances a striking aesthetic element. Mack became a real innovator in the blues scene with his creative use of tremolo and sliding techniques, which demonstrated the versatility of the Flying V. 

• Jimi Hendrix - Jimi Hendrix ventured into the blues with the Flying V, but he is more known for his legendary Stratocaster. His electric performances, particularly on pieces like “Voodoo Child (Slight Return),” showcased the adaptability of the Flying V in a blues environment. Aspiring guitarists continue to look up to Hendrix's inventive approach to the instrument, which combines psychedelic exploration with blues roots.