Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest Partners with Gibson Custom Guitars

Ever since its start almost two centuries ago, Gibson has served as the trademark guitar brand for many musicians. To further cement their status as the iconic brand, Gibson Custom Shop has announced that it has collaborated with Richie Faulkner of Judas Priest, co-guitarist of one of the most influential heavy metal groups of all time. As a result, the Richie Faulkner Flying V Custom was created and is available to purchase through Authorized Premium Gibson dealers and its website.

Aside from being co-guitarist for the band, he also plays guitar for the metal supergroup Elegant Weapons. Because Faulkner is an avid player of the Gibson Flying V, the limited edition guitar is complete with his personal touches such as a one-piece mahogany body with a full-face pickguard, multi-ply binding, a mahogany neck with a custom Richie Faulkner profile, and an ebony fretboard with a mother-of-pearl falcon inlay at the 12th fret. It also has a Floyd Rose vibrato and Richie’s signature EMG pickup set.

Another detail to take note of is that the collaboration came directly from a personal event. During a 2021 concert at the Louder than Life festival, Faulkner suffered a rare aortic aneurysm and complete aortic dissection while performing. After a successful open heart surgery, the decision to give back was made and as a result, the proceedings of the guitar will go to organizations like the John Ritter Foundation and the American Heart Association.

Upon the collaboration, Faulkner spoke about his history with the famed guitar brand.

“This guitar has become a good friend of mine over the past couple of years and is the latest evolution of my main guitar with Priest for the past 12 years. It’s something that has evolved as I have both on stage and in the studio, in looks and in sound. Whenever I see that double pick guard and Pelham blue, I know that that is my guitar. With the Floyd Rose, signature EMG pickups and striking appearance I know that armed with my faithful Flying V, I will be able to deliver every night. Beautiful yet deadly, elegant yet sonically powerful it is the number one guitar in my Arsenal.”

Richie Faulkner

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