Brian's Gibson Firebird VIIIn several threats there were discussions about the whereabouts of Brian’s Reverse Firebird VII that he used in 1965 and 1966.
The guitar -a 1963 model- is or was owned by British guitarist and collector Neil Flemming, he also owned Keith’s Flying V. The guitar was sold by Mick Taylor in the mid-1980’s to Neil Flemming through mutual friend Phil Harris, who was known to be one of the biggest collectors and seller of vintage guitars, much like Norm Harris and George Gruhn. It is unknown to me if Taylor had the guitar when he left the Stones or that he received it at some point later in time. He did have a vintage guitar collection in the early 1980’s that he sold some time later to relocate to the US.
The guitar was in bad shape with the headstock being repaired from a complete brake. Apparently after the repair the neck is pretty thin and fragile around the break and does not get much play anymore. All the hardware (gold has worn off) and finish is original and still has the original case.
Keith Richards Flying VKeith’s 1958 Flying V (serial number 8 8698) was stolen from Nellcote in autumn 1971. In the early 1980’s it was purchased by British guitarist and collector Neil Flemming. The guitar was in bad shape, most visibly at the headstock where the front face laminate was completely removed. The guitar was restored back to original by Roger Giffin, luthier to the stars in the 1980’s who went on to head up Gibson's Custom Shop and now is of Giffin guitars. It is now owned by Armand Serra of ‘Guitar EXP’, a French collector and author of a most excellent book on many famous guitars.
Pricing of Flying V’s in the 1980’s was around $13,000 when in complete original shape, they now fetch anywhere between US$300K and US$500K.
The guitar was offered to Keith Richards after it had been offered to a number of other players in London, including Jimmy Page. Page recorded You Shook me with it, but couldn’t afford to purchase the guitar. Pictures show the guitar being used recording Exile, but it is unknown on which songs.
Mathijs