Genius is rarely understood in its own time, so maybe that’s why it took guitar players twenty years to catch on to how cool Gibson Explorers are. Since Explorers are considered so iconic now, it’s hard to believe that they were a total flop when Gibson introduced them in 1958, but initial demand was so low that they only shipped nineteen guitars! Now that we guitar players have collectively figured out that playing an Explorer makes you look ten to twenty percent cooler than you actually are, the value of the original examples has skyrocketed, and their market value hovers around a quarter-million dollars.
Now, to honor the trailblazing legacy of these uber-rare, uber-cool pointy beasts, the Gibson Custom Shop has pulled out all the stops to create a truly magnificent reissue: the 1958 Korina Explorer. Made of the same wood as the original run of 19, these beauties deliver a truly wonderful vintage playing experience. The VOS natural finish highlights the gorgeous grain of the korina body, but the korina is more than a vintage-accurate cosmetic appointment. It also gives these Explorers a slightly livelier response and more harmonic content than mahogany. And, speaking of sweet sounds, the two Custombuckers deliver the fat sounds of the classic PAFs of yore. It looks as authentic as it sounds thanks to its True Historic plastics, and the delightfully chunky '58 Explorer neck profile captures the feel of '58, too.
Wildwood Guitars: https://wildwoodguitars.com/product/821407/1958-korina-explorer-6/
'The Greg' Amp: https://wildwoodguitars.com/product-category/amps/koch-amps/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildwoodguitarsofficial
Greg Koch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Y6wPwVr2krTASRASpMLsC?si=qKOaVw0jT5i4Kekbr67W0g
Serial Number: 821407
Specifications:
Brand Gibson Custom Shop
Model 1958 Korina Explorer
Finish Color Natural
Finish Type VOS Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Weight 9.26 lbs.
Body Wood Korina
Neck Wood Korina
Neck Joint Fitted with Hide Glue
Neck Shape 1958 Explorer
Neck Dimensions .910 1st - 1.010 12th
Fingerboard Indian Rosewood attached with Hide Glue
Inlays Pearloid Dots
Scale Length 24 3/4"
Width at Nut 1.69"
Nut Material Nylon
Pickups 2 Custombuckers
Controls 2 Volume, 1 Tone, 3-Way Switch
Hardware Aged Gold
Tuners Klusons with Celluloid Tips
Bridge ABR-1
Tailpiece Lightweight Aluminum Stopbar
Case Historic Explorer Brown/Pink Hardshell Case
COA Yes