GIBSON Explorer Reissue
- similar to Explorer (Korina), except has mahogany body/neck, available in Black, Natural (most common), or White finish, mfg. 1975-1980.
- GIBSON
- chevron_right GIBSON EXPLORER (KORINA)
GIBSON EXPLORER (KORINA)
No. of Strings
6
Body Type
--
No. of Frets
22
Weight
--
GIBSON EXPLORER (KORINA) Variants
GIBSON EXPLORER (KORINA) Price & value
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GIBSON EXPLORER (KORINA) Description
- offset hourglass korina (African limba wood) body, white pickguard, korina neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, 6-on-a-side tuners, gold (1958-59) or nickel (1962-63) hardware, 2 P.A.F. (1958-59) or patent number (1962-63) humbucker pickups, 2 volume/1 tone controls, 3-position switch, available in Natural finish, approx. 22 mfg. 1958-1959, parts clean-up during 1962-1963 (brown case 1958-59, black case 1962-63).
Since this is considered one of the "Holy Grails" of vintage guitars, very few authentic original 1958/1959 Explorers are traded today, and it is difficult to correctly value this instrument. However, a clean Explorer will probably bring between $350,000 and $450,000. Each instrument should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and we suggest having several appraisals performed before buying or selling.
A few early specimens were produced with a V-shaped peghead and a raised plastic logo. The first prototype was dubbed the Futura. The Explorer model was introduced shortly after the Flying V and had a 1958 retail price of $247.50. A modernistic concept guitar from Gibson, this model had very limited manufacture (estimated to be under 100 instruments). Even though the 1962-1963 period of manufacture was mostly a clean-up of earlier bodies and related parts that were never finished during the first production run, values seem to be the same for both periods. Until someone finds and documents a Moderne, the Explorer (Korina) will continue to be one of Gibson's most desirable and rarest electric instruments.
GIBSON EXPLORER (KORINA) Features
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Offset hourglass korina (African limba wood) body
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Tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece
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Blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay
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Gold (1958-59) or nickel (1962-63) hardware
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2 P.A.F. (1958-59) or patent number (1962-63) humbucker pickups
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Available in Natural finish
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Approx. 22 mfg. 1958-1959
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Parts clean-up during 1962-1963 (brown case 1958-59, black case 1962-63)
GIBSON EXPLORER (KORINA) Specs
Orientation:
Right-Handed
Number Of Strings:
6
String Type:
--
Number Of Frets:
22
Fret Size:
--
Tuner Layout:
Six on a side
Nut Style:
--
Nut Width(inches):
--
Nut Material:
--
Neck Material:
Korina
Neck Joint Style:
--
Neck Shape:
--
TailpieceType:
Tune-o-matic
Fret Board Material:
Rosewood
Fretboard Radius (inches):
--
Fret Board Style:
--
Inlay Style:
Dot inlay
Inlay Material:
Pearloid
Body Type:
--
Body Shape/Style/Series:
Hourglass style
Body Material:
Korina
Veneer:
--
Body Finish:
--
Body Color:
--
Pick-Guard Material:
--
Pick Guard Color:
White
Pickup Configuration:
--
Pickups:
Humbucker
Controls:
2 volume/1 tone controls, 3-position switch
Year From:
1958
Year To:
1959
Country Of Origin:
--
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