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

[S. Weiger]

There must be a lot more 1960s Explorers than 1950s ones.. ?

It's a minefield out there.. even for the best experts on the subject.
But GREAT thread, I love it!

Btw off topic I was wondering, has anyone ever seen Mr. Stevens / or a pic of him where he smiles?

 

[ppgf]

yes. gene and michael sent me this pic at the beginning of 2017 namm.

 

[S. Weiger]

yes. gene and michael sent me this pic at the beginning of 2017 namm.

Is that the best he can do? ?

 

[ppgf]

Here is a quote that Matte Henderson made on The Gear Page in 2014:

"finally? (as i was reminded by the foremost builder of "58 spec explorers on the planet) the only lam that one might ever see on a true "58 explorer is on the upper fin."

Here is a link to the thread where you can see the context in which he made the above statement:

Vaschenko 1958 Explorer Replica

I received my LV guitar from Vaschenko and it is amazing. I am ordering another guitar an SG Standard with 4-way push-pull controls and some special electronics. In the meantime I noticed this build which is not mine but looks interesting: " This is a build of a 1958 Explorer. It will have...

www.thegearpage.net

Matte doesn't name Mike Stevens as the source of the information, however, Matte has been associated with Mike and his guitars for quite some time, and many would regard Mike as one person who is intimately familiar with original Explorers.

was indeed michael stevens. in fact? here’s the 7 string split headstock explorer that michael arts and crafted for me back in “97. tom holmes had originally made the bridge and bar stop for lenny breau.

 

[seafood]

What a crazy cool guitar !!!!!!! even the inked-on serial number is cool !!!!!!!!! So great !!!!!

 

[ppgf]

What a crazy cool guitar !!!!!!! even the inked-on serial number is cool !!!!!!!!! So great !!!!!

thanks! who better to build it!

have loved derringer’s old spilt hs explorer since i was a kid.

 

[SG Std]

thanks! who better to built it!

have loved derringer’s old spilt hs explorer since i was a kid.

I recently had a short conversation w/ Michael Stevens about the re-necked-Explorer that he repaired which was pretty neat. And once again he confirmed that 3 of the 4 Explores in this picture were in fact original Gibson Explorers.

 

[ppgf]

I recently had a short conversation w/ Michael Stevens about the re-necked-Explorer that he repaired which was pretty neat. And once again he confirmed that 3 of the 4 Explores in this picture were in fact original Gibson Explorers.

michael is a national treasure. his knowledge and skillset are unsurpassed in the electric guitar realm. so grateful that our paths crossed over 3 decades ago.

 

[MattD1960]

Interesting. I had it listed under both 4541 and 4451 and that Clay (CHF) had them both listed as legit numbers. But 45 makes more sense and would not be an outlier.

Joe are u still here, i have some Korina Explorer questions for you

 

[Joe Desperado]

Yes

 

[ppgf]

Uncle Larry (aka Tom Bukovac) posted this clip yesterday.
At 22:40 things sure got very interesting rather quickly.

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whatever happened to phil jones?

 

[SG Std]

This video was shared here in another discussion last week but I am re-posting it here as it is not very often [I believe] that there are close-up views of an original 1958/63 korina Gibson Explorer. This is definitely cool-

 

[SG Std]

^^^ look above ^^^

 

[SG Std]

Kirk Hammett and his 1958/63 Explorer along with Richard/Rick Henry.

 

[SG Std]

 

[neuroy]

Is he wondering how those tuners can fit....?

 

[SG Std]

 

[neuroy]

Are the three tuners on the bass side shifted to the right and the three high ones to the left?

 

[mdubya]

 

[SG Std]

That's the headstock of the questionable 58/63 Explorer that Elderly Instruments has been trying to sell--along with 'newer tuners' added to it.

Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar (1963)

A rare korina tone machine, this 1963 Gibson Explorer features a 2-piece korina body and korina neck. It’s equipped with two patent # humbucking pickups. Gibson installed a Bigsby tremolo and a “Custom Made” plate in the mid ‘60s. Newer tuners and a 3rd strap button have also been installed. A...

www.elderly.com