I've resolved for myself that Flying V basses share the acoustic traits of Flying V guitars - it is not like they are made worse in any way - but that what works for the guitar does not work for a bass. Flying V guitars are middish and thin sounding affairs too, hence their popularity among metal players where a Les Paul would very quickly sound too fat and indistinct. A Flying V can be overdriven and compressed beyond anything and you still have a signal you can use and control. Outside of heavy metal and hard rock, it is also the only Gibson guitar that can sound like a Telecaster (that Wishbone Ash Andy Powell sound or some of those old bluesmen). Obviously, both qualities don't make much sense with a bass though.
This is a nice specimen, but 5.200 is overpriced. Yes, those basses are collectible (most probably go to Flying V guitar collections though as bass players are neither enamoured by the look nor the sound), but they haven't really developed from the 2.500-3.000 price range they already had a decade ago (if and only if in pristine condition).
