King V model surfaced as a downsized version of the Double Rhoads, which was designed and targeted for a shorter, more ordinary person.

Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine eventually became the guitarist most identified with using this model.

After creating a custom King V for Mustaine (completed October 10, 1986), the company later began mass-producing a Dave Mustaine Signature Series King V, which featured 24 frets (as opposed to the typical 22 frets) and would become one of their best selling guitars.

This line continued into the early 2000s, when it underwent massive changes and became the Y2KV, a guitar based much more heavily on the Gibson Flying V. Mustaine then sold his entire personal collection of Jacksons, and subsequently signed endorsement deals with ESP Guitars in 2003, Dean Guitars in 2007, and Gibson Family Brands in 2021.

(Gibson, Epiphone, Kramer) Listed below is the range of King V models in chronological order.