• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

My list of known original '58 through '63 korina Explorer serial numbers

Atomicmod

New member
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
Messages
27
It appears that Allen Collins’ Explorer has had an extensive refin done at NTL Guitar. There’s no text explaining what the purpose is, or why this has happened...

http://www.ntlguitar.com/skynyrd-guitars.html

78BC0B40-C60F-449B-8554-182B4A5738BB_zpsygzwr4ex.jpeg


C90435CE-9C2F-4D70-8450-A5EB8DA77FEA_zpsctzzzbbg.jpeg


B4D93E93-32B5-4C03-A651-D0F80B74A937_zps53n6nlnx.jpeg


91307F6C-4CC8-4C25-8955-D9837D1B743D_zpscpw8euic.jpeg
 

GuitarMikey

Active member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
910
From the photos on the NTL link above, it almost looks like the Explorer, Firebird and LP had some water damage?? Especially the LP.
 

Atomicmod

New member
Joined
Dec 25, 2012
Messages
27
From the photos on the NTL link above, it almost looks like the Explorer, Firebird and LP had some water damage?? Especially the LP.

That LP looked awful. Sad to see that happen to historic instruments like these... with regard to the Explorer, the pics make it look like it might have been renecked. Some text and explanation on the website would have been helpful.
 

StSpider

Active member
Joined
Aug 24, 2002
Messages
2,148
Judging from the "before" photos and the level of rust on the pickups I have to assume the flood damaged the guitar significantly, the finish looks like it's coming off in places..

If so, it makes sense I guess, otherwise, what a shame!
 

Luke Gibson

Active member
Joined
Jul 15, 2001
Messages
1,324
Judging from the "before" photos and the level of rust on the pickups I have to assume the flood damaged the guitar significantly, the finish looks like it's coming off in places..

If so, it makes sense I guess, otherwise, what a shame!

The A.C. Explorer has the round plate behind the toggle switch, this guitar does not.
 

Bobbyg

New member
Joined
Mar 20, 2019
Messages
1
Guitar builder here. Long - time lurker. Love the site as a fellow gearhead with a obsessive penchant for nailing all the little details. Currently embarking on a 58 Explorer build. Just two things that I wanted to put it out there for a little bit of clarification. A poster on here claimed that he had only seen 3 ply black jack plates on the original explorers. I came across a bunch of pictures online and in my archive of supposed original 58s with 3-ply white jack plates. Does this mean that these had been replaced to match the pickguards at one point? Does anybody know of a legitimate 58 Explorer with a 3-ply white Jack Plate? I also believe the same poster stated he'd only seen original explorers that were one piece bodies. After studying a bunch of pictures I've seen that there are quite a bodies purported to be originals which appear to be two piece bodies with the seam running on the bass side right above the pickups. Can somebody clarify these two points for me? Thank you all.
 

neuroy

Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2008
Messages
253

DrRobert

Les Paul Forum Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2003
Messages
6,050
Obviously the store has decided it isn't what they thought it once was (although they should have changed the listing). And probably doesn't have any parts from an original Explorer. I just wondered if anyone had heard of it or had any information.
 

somebodyelseuk

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
454
Its a "total refinish".
and
"No broken Solder!"

Who refinishes a guitar without taking the parts off. Can you take the PU´s out without unsoldering them ?:hmm
Dead easy...
... Putting em back in is the hard part.
 

Jimmy Rotten

New member
Joined
Oct 18, 2020
Messages
1
It appears that Allen Collins’ Explorer has had an extensive refin done at NTL Guitar. There’s no text explaining what the purpose is, or why this has happened...

http://www.ntlguitar.com/skynyrd-guitars.html

78BC0B40-C60F-449B-8554-182B4A5738BB_zpsygzwr4ex.jpeg


C90435CE-9C2F-4D70-8450-A5EB8DA77FEA_zpsctzzzbbg.jpeg


B4D93E93-32B5-4C03-A651-D0F80B74A937_zps53n6nlnx.jpeg


91307F6C-4CC8-4C25-8955-D9837D1B743D_zpscpw8euic.jpeg

These are in fact the guitars from the most current lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd and they were damaged in the Nashville flood some years back, Allen Collins' original 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer is still owned by his daughters and was on display for many years at one of the Hard Rock Cafes. There is a youtube video of Rickey and Gary talking about these guitars and the water damage that was done. The Explorer pictured above is a 1983 Heritage series Korina Explorer that is owned by Rickey. The cool thing about the video is them talking about how great the chainsaw cases are because the guitars that survived the flood were found undamaged floating in those chainsaw cases!
 

Arch D. Bunker

Active member
Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Messages
255
Adding Big Ed....

8-1008 [authenticity doubtful]
8-1431
8-2118
8-2142
8-2153
8-2157
8-3549
8-3837
8-3843
8-3848
8-3849
8-3850
8-3868
8-3872
8-3873
8-3876
8-3882
8-4096
8-4451
8-4536
8-4539
8-4541
8-4542
8-4543
8-4544
8-4545
8-4548
8-4549
8-4550
8-4551
8-4552
8-4559
8-4561
8-4567
8-4592
9-1715
9-1995
27121 (pressed-in)
28012 (pressed-in)
 

Joe Desperado

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 8, 2004
Messages
1,871
I think you have the authenticity doubtful on the wrong explorer. Don't you mean the first split headstock on your list?
 
Top