Kalamazoo 1958-1963
COLORS:
Natural
BODY:
Wood: Slab Afrikan Limba (Korina)
Binding: None
Top Wood: None
Body Shape: Offset Angular
Lacquer: Clear Lacquer
Finish: Nitrocellulose
NECK:
Neck Wood: Indian Limba
Headstock Shape: Hockey Stick (two are known to have V-Shape)
Nut: Nylon (Molded)
Binding: None /
Headstock Logo: Ivory Gibson + Crown Inlay
Serial: Black Ink stamped / 5 Digit (8-XXXX) (Some had press stamp)
Fretboard Material: Indian Rosewood
Inlay: Celluloid Dot inlay
Neck Lacquer: Clear natural Nitrocellulose
Neck Profile: Rounded "C"
Nut Width: 1 11/16" (43 mm)
Scale: 24.75" (628.65mm)
Radius: 12"
#Frets: 22
OG Fretwire: Unknown
Trussrod: Standard Headstock
Bolt-On Type: Glued Set-Neck
HARDWARE:
Bridge Type: Gold-plated ABR Bridge (No Wire) (Few had Bigsby)
Tailpiece: Gold-plated Stop Tailpiece
Saddles: Nickel-plated Brass
Tuners: Kluson Double Line (Dual ring) Green Keystone Buttons
PLASTIC:
Knobs: Gold transparent Bell Knobs
Pickguard: White 3-Ply Wide Bevel / 8-screw
Back Cover: Brown Plastic / 2-Screw (Some have no back cover for Switch)
Trussrod Cover: Bellshape White with BlackTop Ply
Jack Cover: None (on front)
ELECTRONICS:
Switch: 3-Way Switchcraft
Pickup Config: HH
Wiring: Standard: 2 Volume / 1 Tone
Capacitor: Unknown
Pots: 3X 500k Centralab
Neck Pickup: P.A.F Humbuckers w/ Gold Cover (Alnico V)
Bridge Pickup: P.A.F Humbuckers w/ Gold Cover (Alnico V)
INFO:
The Explorer was an idea by Ted McCarty to build a more futuristic and modern guitar. The Explorer and its similar sister model "The Flying V" was showcased at the 1957 NAMM and introduced for sale in 1958.
The prototype was built in Mahogany, but became tooheavy and was discarded. They opted for African Limba wood instead that was significant lighter in weight. The name "Korina" is just a marketing term Gibson invented to simplify the name of the wood.
At the time, the design was too radical and sold very little, and was discontinued in 1963 from their catalog, But the years 1958-59 was the only period they were actually assembled.
Just 19 Explorers were shipped in 1958, and only 3 were shipped in 1959 with gold hardware.
In 1963, a small amount made with leftover parts were assembled and shipped with standard nickel parts.
When rise of Rock n Roll in the 60's happened, the Flying V and Explorers gained new popularity because of their aggressive design and look, and both models were re-introduced. First Flying V in 1967 (Famously used by Jimi Hendrix) But the Explorer did not see light again almost ten years later in 1976. Since then, they are still being made by Gibson. Trough the 80's they became even more popular in Metal music.
The first run Explorers and Flying V's are one of the highest ranked of the most valuable and collectable guitars in the world. Fetching as much as $300.000 for the best condition ones, mainly because they were produced in so few numbers. Most serials are cataloged for existence on record.
In terms of design, you can say that these were ahead of their time when released.
Original case was brown rectangular with pink lining. Later cases were black.