The Best Jackson Flying V Guitars for the Money

Right, let's be honest from the off: there's no single "best" Jackson Flying V, because you've genuinely got two different body shapes and about four different price tiers to choose from. Here's the straight version, tier by tier, no sales pitch attached.

Best Entry Point: JS Series

If you just want to know what all the fuss is about without committing serious money, the entry-level JS-tier instruments are the sensible starting point. You get the shape, the attitude and a genuinely playable guitar, built to a price with a bolt-on neck rather than the fancier construction further up the range. It's not a "lesser" experience so much as a simpler one — and for a first V, simple is exactly what you want.

Best Step-Up: X Series

Once you know you're keeping the guitar, the X Series tier generally adds a bit more refinement — better hardware, sometimes upgraded pickups — without jumping all the way to the higher-end pricing. This is where a lot of gigging players who don't need a boutique instrument actually land, and there's no shame in staying here long-term.

Best Jackson Flying V for Serious Players: Pro Series

The Pro Series tier is where neck-through construction and higher-spec pickups start showing up more consistently, genuinely improving upper-fret access and giving you more tonal range to work with. If you're playing out regularly and want an instrument that can keep up without babying it, this tier earns its higher price properly.

Best for the Real Deal: Artist Signatures and USA Select

At the top of the range sit the artist signature models and USA Select instruments — proper neck-through builds, premium pickups like Seymour Duncan Jazz and JB combinations, and the kind of fit-and-finish that justifies the jump in price for players who genuinely need it. Not everyone does, and that's fine. This tier is for players who already know exactly what they want from the instrument.

Best Shape for Beginners: Randy Rhoads With a Fixed Bridge

If you're new to V-shaped guitars specifically, I'd point you toward a Randy Rhoads-style model with a fixed bridge rather than a Floyd Rose. It's simpler to maintain, easier to keep in tune, and lets you focus on getting used to the body shape itself rather than fighting a tremolo system you haven't learned to set up properly yet.

Best for Tremolo Players: A King V With a Floyd Rose

If deep dives and pull-ups are actually part of your style, a King V fitted with a Floyd Rose is the classic thrash-metal combination for good reason. Just go in with your eyes open about the extra maintenance a locking tremolo demands, especially if you like switching tunings often.

Best for Drop Tunings

The 25.5-inch scale that Jackson uses across its V range genuinely helps here — more string tension at the same tuning means better definition when you drop down. Pair that with a fixed bridge and a slightly heavier string gauge, and you've got a genuinely solid drop-tuning setup without needing to chase anything exotic.

My Honest Recommendation

For most players picking their first Jackson Flying V, that's an X Series instrument with a fixed bridge: enough quality to actually enjoy playing, without paying for refinements you won't notice yet. Move up the range once you know precisely what you're missing, not before.

Read These Before You Buy

Our full buyer's guide covers the exact spec checklist worth working through, and our full overview explains the Randy Rhoads and King V shapes properly if either is still new to you. Brand new to V-shaped guitars altogether? Our beginner's guide is the gentler starting point, and our piece on common mistakes to avoid is worth five minutes before you buy anything.

Frequently Asked Questions