Old Korina Content

[landminelenny]

Did this guitar ever go to Gruhn's for authentication, possibly summer 2007? I think a friend saw an 'ex-Metallica Explorer' upstairs being checked out by Gruhns techs and they had bad news for the owner. Was your friend possibly from the northern EU?

That is correct. Can you tell me anything else?

 

[lpnv59]

Nothing other than my friend said that Gruhn's spotted it as fugazi and had to tell the owner about it later that day. It was on their bench with the pickguard off, I believe.

 

[landminelenny]

Nothing other than my friend said that Gruhn's spotted it as fugazi and had to tell the owner about it later that day. It was on their bench with the pickguard off, I believe.

They told him that but wouldn't put anything in writing which I find a little strange?

 

[Otto 57]

That is exactly as Max's old serial number font. I've see that font on several known Max korinas. I too would love to own one.
Edit to add: instead of exact, I should say "similar."

 

[landminelenny]

That is exactly as Max's old serial number font. I've see that font on several known Max korinas. I too would love to own one.
Edit to add: instead of exact, I should say "similar."

VERY interesting. This guitar was sold for over $400,000 US.

 

[Otto 57]

That does not surprise me. If it is in fact a Max, then I'd say it is his finest creation. Is the current owner the one who paid that much?

 

[sunburst1]

These guitars are so rare who would know. They don't even know how many were made.

Some say about 15 others say more ,if one counts the leftover examples form the early 1960's.

Would be very , very wary of any Korina Gibson from that era. They say Gibosn made about 70 V's , but who knows? Still very rare to see. Some forgeries have org. cases making the waters more murky. :hmm

Not a guitar for the "faint at heart" to be buying ,if one was was/is in the market for one. :rofl

That would be a guitar where "provenance" would be critical. :jim

 

[abalonevintage]

The bad?

Fake case.
Fake documents (so I hear.)
Appears around 2006

The good?

Looks bang up!

It's up to the pickguard to save it. :hee

 

[Otto 57]

Just looking again at these pics...
Is it just me, or do some of the pics look like the "fin" that goes on the bass side from the bottom strap pin has been shaved ala Eric Clapton's explorer. Am I seeing things?

 

[API]

Did anyone ask Max about it?

 

[landminelenny]

I'm sure Max wouldn't ever admit to making it if he had.

 

[tangerine]

Do I understand this correctly...

Real Korina V takes the fake case, fake hardware and a makey-upy provenance

Replica Korina V takes the real case, real hardware and real provenance..

The result being... Replica is passed as real, but the real is derided as a fake?

Could it happen? Did it happen?

 

[abalonevintage]

No, they would both be sold as original...that's the motivation.

The "rumor" has persisted for years.

 

[API]

The same guy that owns the Explorer above has a fake V as well with a real case.
Not sure about he hardware though.
This Explorer is an amazing guitar, to bad it aint real.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

I bought an old Gibson Korina guitar this week. It had no case.
Should I look for an original? :hmm

 

[Otto 57]

No, but if you'd care to post photos, Tom, that would be great. I love to see those old korinas. What did you get? A futura, V, Explorer...Moderne?!

 

[Wiggy]

I bought an old Gibson Korina guitar this week. It had no case.
Should I look for an original? :hmm

How do we know that the forger's aren't making fake cases?
They're fakng everything else.
(I gave up long ago, eyes too bad, fakes too good)

 

[API]

I bought an old Gibson Korina guitar this week. It had no case.
Should I look for an original? :hmm

I´d place my bet on a lapsteel :hmm

 

[Tom Wittrock]

I´d place my bet on a lapsteel :hmm

I might have to use a gun case. :hmm

 

[landminelenny]

I said it semi in jest. I saw one of Max's korina Explorers at the Arlington show...I believe this past fall...or last...and it was absolutely amazing. It was scary good. But alas, it was spoken for, or I would have sold a kidney on the spot to acquire it.



Frank

How much was the MAX Explorer (if you don't mind)