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76 explorer

Calgary Flametop

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Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
119
It is not that there is less non LE's than LE's it just that LE's have a following and people have posted them. So far in 2012 on ebay there have been 4 regular 76 Explorers for sale and not a single 76 Limited Edition Explorer. The LE, that was in decent shape, that I bid on ebay last year went for $6200. It was a natural. The same guy had a black one that went for $5800. I think if a natural in nice shape came on ebay right now it would get $6500+. Even the non LE's are going for crazy prices. I think some people don't know the difference as one of the ones I mentioned that was on ebay this year sold for $4600. I own two LE's, but would never sell either. The earliest one that has 1975 pots has a neck thickness over an inch at the first fret. The thing that really makes it special to me is that even with its super fat neck it only weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces. This first batch of mahogany must have been something else and it makes sense why Gibson used it over the Korina. If Gibson had only used it to make some LP's in 76 instead of just maple necks.
 

Chucklesbarry

New member
Joined
Feb 7, 2004
Messages
321
It is not that there is less non LE's than LE's it just that LE's have a following and people have posted them. So far in 2012 on ebay there have been 4 regular 76 Explorers for sale and not a single 76 Limited Edition Explorer. The LE, that was in decent shape, that I bid on ebay last year went for $6200. It was a natural. The same guy had a black one that went for $5800. I think if a natural in nice shape came on ebay right now it would get $6500+. Even the non LE's are going for crazy prices. I think some people don't know the difference as one of the ones I mentioned that was on ebay this year sold for $4600. I own two LE's, but would never sell either. The earliest one that has 1975 pots has a neck thickness over an inch at the first fret. The thing that really makes it special to me is that even with its super fat neck it only weighs 7 pounds 7 ounces. This first batch of mahogany must have been something else and it makes sense why Gibson used it over the Korina. If Gibson had only used it to make some LP's in 76 instead of just maple necks.

Hi Flametop,
I used to live in Calgary and have some interest in these Explorers.
Pls email me. It's in my profile.
 

Jignant

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2003
Messages
452
It would be interesting to compare serial numbers of the LE and non LE '76s to see if there is any logic to these.

Added are neck thickness measurements at 1st fret / 7th fret / 12th fret

00229622 LE, full neck, natural finish (keef) - 0.843 / 0.943 / 1.000
00229628 LE, natural finish - 0.830 / 0.925 / 1003
00229772 LE, natural finish
00230001 LE
00230010 LE?, natural finish, ex-The Edge
00230048, LE? natural finish, stolen in Austin Tx
00230260, LE, natural finish, 'chunky neck'
00230417, LE, natural finish, 'chunky neck'
0023054X, LE, natural finish, stamped pat.no. T-Tops (AndreasG) 0.840 / /
00230558, LE, black
00231131 LE, natural finish
0023264X, LE, huge neck (Robin B)
002327XX LE, original black finish
002327XX LE, 0.912, 755X pots
00232706 LE, natural finish, 'baseball bat sized neck'
00232776 LE, natural finish, huge neck
00232789, LE, natural finish
0023279X LE, natural finish (refinished black) (James Hetfield), 7621 pots
00232856, LE (Fatneck's)
00232884, LE, natural finish
00232917 LE
00232926 LE, big neck, natural finish
00232966 LE, natural finish
00232986 LE (Melrock)
00233026, LE, nat finish (Lanman)
00233075 non LE, owned by Muzikman7, large neck, nat finish
0023333X LE, natural finish (Luke Gibson) - 0.911 / 0.974 / 1.017
00233345 LE, natural finish, big neck
00233372 LE (Cody)
00233552 LE, nat finish
00233601 LE, nat finish, huge neck
00233772 LE, nat finish, big neck, 7615/762X pots
00233908 LE, nat finish
002339XX LE, 0.961, 761X pots
00235058, LE, natural finish, huge (now shaved) neck (formerly owned by J45 and Shuie, now owned by Anje)
00239621, LE, natural finish, fat neck
00239913, non LE, black (see pic), fat neck
00240293, non LE, black
00240777, non LE, black (refin, originally black)
00240837, non LE, natural finish
00240891, non LE, big neck (Drybone) 0.787 / 0.945 / 0.984
00240909, non LE, natural finish, 7621 pots
00240953, non LE, natural finish, medium neck
002411XX, non LE, natural finish, medium size neck (SGLP63) 0.805 / 0.909 / 1.005
00241591, non LE, black

Here's a black non LE with 0024XXXX:
http://www.oldenburger-music-station.de/Gibson Explorer 1976 black.htm

I found many of these serial ## within half an hour on the LPF and internet - so don't expect your LE to be really exclusive. A few thousands made would seem feasible.

First impression is that all LE's have the big necks, and (at least) some of the non LE's as well. Plus LE's are not limited to natural finished guitars.

1976headbackzx.jpg


There are also a few Explorers known that according to the pot codes would date to 1975-1977, with six digit stamped headstock numbers:

627881 (white, 1975 pot codes)
967392 (white)
967395 (white, late 1976 pot codes)

Some 1977s:
06 247116 (natural)
06 247133 (natural)
06 2472XX (black)
06 252190 (red)
06 25222X (red)

1981 Explorer: 0.812 / 0.935 / 1.000

Shipping totals according to Gibson's ledgers:

1975: White 2 (total 2)
1976: Ebony 104, Natural 1835, White 67 (total 2006)
1977: Ebony 203, Natural 760, White 124 (total 1087)
1978: Ebony 65, Natural 149, White 60 (total 274)
1979: Ebony 133, Natural 94, White 60, Explorer II (E2) 586 (total 873)

Keef,

Please feel free to add my 77 non LE in red. Ser # 06252211 if you wish:





Very close in number to a 77 you have listed now.
 
Last edited:

Kevin L.

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
584
Hi folks, I usually do not check or post in this section as I don't own an Explorer. However, I am considering a purchase and would like some feedback. Years ago I had an Explorer LE. It was unfortuately stolen and I never replaced it. Would like to find an Explorer, but not a real expensive one. As I play LP Historic, my preference is for a fatter neck. All of the recent Explorers I've seen have skinny 60's necks. Does Gibson currently make any with 50's necks? If not, what years do I need to look for to find one with a fatter neck?
Thank you!
 

Calgary Flametop

New member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
119
If you want a fat neck and Mahogany construction you are pretty much limited to the 1976 LE's and some of the early 76 Non-LE's. The Non-LE's just say Explorer by the serial number. You can get the Non-LE's cheaper than the LE's, but they are still expensive.

Other than that you just have the newer Korina Historics, the Korina Pre-Historics and the 83 Korina Heritage for fat necks. Those are all expensive too and the 83 Korina's, fat neck or regular neck, are hard as hens teeth to find. If you can find an 83 Korina though, I think they have the best tone of the bunch.
 

Calgary Flametop

New member
Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
119
I want to add into this thread that one of the Non-LE's I recently recorded has a 002342XX serial number. I also have a 002361XX in my list that is a Non-LE. This either means that there was some serious overlap in LE and Non-LE serial numbers or the 00235058 and 00239621 serial numbers above are incorrectly listed as LE's.
 

Calgary Flametop

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Joined
May 11, 2010
Messages
119
That was a pretty amazing price considering that it was only the second LE listed on ebay in 2012. It was a little bit beat up, but not as bad as the other LE listed on ebay in 2012. It was also stamped as a "2", which most people know means Second, and that might have played a bit into the low price as well.

I have been keeping a running total of 1976 Explorers listed on ebay, excluding the same guitar getting relisted, since the beginning of 2012 in another thread. I will post the link below if anybody else wants to look at it. So far in 2012 there have been 13 non-LE 76 Explorers and 2 LE 76 Explorers.

http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122735&page=2&highlight=explorer
 

Studebaker

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Joined
Aug 10, 2007
Messages
1
Hi,
first of all i am from Germany and i just speak a little bit bad English.
My 1976 LE has fret buzz on E and A from 13th fret upwards.
Truss Rod adjustments can`t help.
Studs of ABR-Bridge lean towards the bridge pickup.
This means they are both not straight.
They are bend but lock nut is still working.
Never seen before but it seems all original.
Does anybody seen such a thing before?
Regards, Chris
 

bassame

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May 23, 2007
Messages
343

Kevin L.

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2009
Messages
584
Hi Guys,
Can anyone tell me where the list of serial numbers and information originated? I have a line on purchasing a '76 LE which is listed there.
Have there been any sold recently? I am wondering where prices are now?
Thank you!
Kevin
 
Last edited:

GuitarMikey

Active member
Joined
Mar 1, 2013
Messages
910
:wow
You guys are making me want an old explorer now!
These pics on this thread are great.
 

Kevin James

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2010
Messages
495
Would a 1980 Explorer have the same specs as the 76? I'm mostly an SG guy and don't really no a whole lot about the 70's reissue Explorers but this thread jogged my memory about a guitar I bought a few years back, stashed away and pretty much forgot about.

Its a natural finish 1980 Explorer with a big neck and tons of natural relicing. I think the tuners were changed and it needs a refret badly but otherwise original.

Sorry for the bad pics.

1980GibsonExplorerpic4.jpg


1980GibsonExplorerpic1.jpg
 

Anje

Active member
Joined
Jan 3, 2002
Messages
1,170
Just bumping this thread with a cool picture, those old '76 are soo nice players

dsc0004snu.jpg


:salude
 
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