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76 explorer

ianjunior

New member
Joined
Jan 3, 2016
Messages
2
I have another one of these guitars.

Its exact identity and history is a mystery because when I bought it the serial number decal was long gone, but from what I've learned from reading this thread it's impossible to accurately date them anyway. It hasn't been played for many years and I'm currently in the process of providing it with some much needed TLC. I'll post some pictures in the next week or so.
Any comments or information about it would be greatly appreciated.

What I know about it is as follows:

The volume pots date from the second week of 1976 and measure 325k/320k. The tone pot is a replacement.
The neck has been broken and repaired at the (short) tenon. If it has been refinished at any point then this was before the neck repair. The control cavity has had a sticker or piece of tape inside at some point, this has since disappeared leaving bare wood beneath.
The profile of the neck is bigger than ANY measured and listed in the above list of serial numbers. It measures over an inch at the first fret.
The cover of the control cavity is brown.
It has the name 'M Trafford' and a number, 'WO234175' scratched into the finish between the pickups and under the pickguard. The pickguard is chrome.
The pickups have been changed, a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates in the bridge and a DiMarzio Fred in the neck.
The frets look original, giant frets and really neat on the ends.
The lead to the output jack is braided and heat-shrinked red. Jack plate is gold anodised aluminium.
The case has the same white trim as the later Gibson E2, and I assume isn't the original case.

Hopefully M Trafford is reading this and he can tell me where the decal has gone. When was it broken? Have the neck and body always been a couple? Was it an L.E. or a non L.E.?

A long list of issues, I admit, but it's still the best playing, best sounding guitar I've ever seen.
 
Last edited:

Anje

Active member
Joined
Jan 3, 2002
Messages
1,170
Would you have some pictures of it to share? That may help.
 

ianjunior

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Jan 3, 2016
Messages
2
Would you have some pictures of it to share? That may help.

Yeah I'll take some this week. At the moment I have literally the worst camera ever made and it really needs some clear photos, I agree.
 

filoviola

New member
Joined
Mar 14, 2016
Messages
1
Hi everyone,
I have a nice '76 explorer and need an advice. The jackplate is broken, has been glued up but would like to change it.

Problem is I haven't found the right one, the new ones are all rectangular while the one I have is square, but smaller than the LP ones...so I did not find the correct jackplate yet.

My actual dimensions are around 1 inch by 1 inch (center holes)

Thanks for your advice,
Filippo
 

Rucker

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Joined
Apr 3, 2016
Messages
1
HTML:
greetings from Germany.  I just purchase 00230517. That is already on the list.
 

simonroxx

New member
Joined
Nov 10, 2016
Messages
1
Hi folks,

Here´s our (4Sound Gothenburg SWEDEN) Explorer 76´ LE (s/n 00230210).
14947783_10157773201435083_4705921131052687717_n.jpg
14947424_10157773203920083_3230909357495666529_n.jpg
15027472_10157773202275083_5107146265960409924_n.jpg
15056342_10157773203130083_2407102409576239493_n.jpg
 

J T

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2005
Messages
10,501
Oh yeah. There's one, right there!

:dude:

:3zone
 

richard henry

Banned
Joined
Sep 16, 2015
Messages
733
I just sold 00240878 non LE nat (on the list). Had a large neck and sounded I N C R E D I B L E !!

 

Robin B

Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2003
Messages
111
Just found a guy with #00230388 on Facebook firebird page Big neck factory stamped 2
 

Arch D. Bunker

Active member
Joined
Jul 9, 2015
Messages
255
What do you guys make of this serial? LE 76 Explorer. Mine, big neck

bbjXe

00233818 - cannot be anything else if it's a LE. It's on the SN list on the first page of this thread.

You see more often that the decals are somewhat 'melted' by the lacquer and become a little warped.
 

veeman

Active member
Joined
Sep 23, 2001
Messages
979
I have an Explorer that was sold to me many years ago as a 76. It's been refinished, repaired, rebuilt. it had a neck joint that had a crack that was well repaired, doweled and glued, very solid. Refinish in Transparent Red for lack of a better name. Still has the original Ttop bridge pickup. I'm sure the bridge is not supposed to be a nashville. Obviously the switch is not where its supposed to be, and the pickguard is not original. the serial number was lost to the refin. The neck is not a baseball bat thickness, but not thin either, very comfy. Just wondering if it could really be a 76 or near there by just looking.
https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/se...8/media/53367896286/medium/1506178263/enhance
 

latestarter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
00233818 - cannot be anything else if it's a LE. It's on the SN list on the first page of this thread.

You see more often that the decals are somewhat 'melted' by the lacquer and become a little warped.

Thanks - my guess as well. I've had all sorts suggested, including 0293313!

As per the front page, the neck is very large.
 

bizzwriter

Active member
Joined
Oct 23, 2002
Messages
975
Thought I would mention that there is currently an original '76 Limited Edition Explorer for sale in my area (San Diego) on Craigslist (I have no affiliation). I was curious, so checked it out one evening a couple weeks ago. The guitar appears to be bone stock with no breaks, which as we know is rare in and of itself for this model.

Although it's a limited edition model, the neck isn't all that thick at the nut. I was looking for a thicker neck, which is why I ended up deciding to pass. It does thicken up as you get closer to the 12th fret. The body is 3-piece mahogany.

The guitar played easily and well, though it could use a good setup. I didn't pull the pickups or open up the control cavity to check originality there. Overall, a rare, (apparently) unmolested example.

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/msg/d/1976-gibson-explorer/6337980854.html

00b0b_2AcAAm7zBHz_600x450.jpg
 

nichd

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Joined
Jun 30, 2018
Messages
10
Cool thread!

Count me in... '76 LE natural serial 00232685. One of my all time faves... was fs at Willies at some point in it's life given I found one of their handwritten cards in the case pocket.

MASSIVE but Glorious neck... like you sawed a bat in half... and very light especially given the massive neck at 7lb, 12 oz.
 

marfen

Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2016
Messages
330
I had a 76 LE all original I bought off the original owner. Massive neck, light guitar...neck reminded me of those old Yamaha cheap nylon string classicals. Had to let it go, just couldn't play that neck . Sounded decent but nothing spectacular. Sure looked cool tho. Wonder why Gibson decided to go so massive on the neck...far bigger than any original 50s Gibson neck ever was.
 
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