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1976 Limited Edition Explorer serial # Range

Klyde59

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Joined
Jan 26, 2004
Messages
157
Anyone have an idea on the serial # range(lowest to highest) of 1976 Limited edition Explorers?(Not the reissue).
 

Klyde59

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Joined
Jan 26, 2004
Messages
157
I am asking because the one my friend just picked up is 00 230001.Interesting #,wondering what number range may be lower and higher than this one.
 

Melrock

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Joined
Jul 1, 2006
Messages
89
Hi,

the # on my 1976 Explorer Limited Edition is 00232986. I know from the Gibson shipping totals book ( Larry Meiners) that the explorer shipping numbers for 1976 are qty=2006 (ebony,white and natural). I have always wondered how many of those were limited editions. I have been told it was 100 limited editions but I have never seen it verified anywhere. My Explorer LE is one of the best playing guitars that I own.I love the neck. Meaty like a 58 or 59.They will have to pry it from my hands after I die

Regards
Melrock
 

j45

Active member
Joined
Jun 14, 2002
Messages
9,081
Here's 00235058

Converted to late 50's/early 60's specs, long magnet PAF's, no-wire ABR-1, Bigsby, 1960 reflector knobs, 50's switch tip, and vintage "Custom Made" plaque. I'm getting ready to have the neck profile reshaped exactly like one of my 50's Les Pauls. it also has one of the most kick ass headstock breaks I've seen. Looks like someone taped an M-80 behind the nut and lit it. All in all, this is an exceptionally good guitar by any year standards.

skinner4.jpg
 

keef

Active member
Joined
Jan 27, 2002
Messages
5,006
My LE is 00229622. J45s geet is in the 235K range, but I bet they did not make 6,000 or more of these.

100 LEs - I've seen too many to believe that is a realistic estimate.
 

Klyde59

New member
Joined
Jan 26, 2004
Messages
157
I agree.There are quite a few out there,in comparison to 50's-early 60's production totals.My guess is somewhere between 500-1000 for the LE version.Thanks for the numbers,keep 'em coming.I am already aware that there are serial numbers lower than the 230k range,so the more I can compile the better.
 

Cody

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Jul 23, 2002
Messages
4,494
If the serial number is on a decal, it’s a 1976.
 

Lexilol

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Apr 30, 2021
Messages
5
If the serial number is on a decal, it’s a 1976.
Hi thanks for the reply. Please explain what a decal is? Google is just showing stickers and logos. That serial number is on the back of the head with made in USA
 

Cody

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 23, 2002
Messages
4,494
The decal should be a sticker with gold lettering and numbers on it.

The easiest thing would be for you to post a pic of what you have, rather than having us try to blindly guess.
 

latestarter

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Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
Here's a great thread on these.


I still have my 00233818
 

K_L

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Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
566
Here`s my 1976 LE Explorer--bought brand new one week after the terrible Skynyrd plane crash [Oct 1977]. I was a big fan of them from `73 to `75 [when Ed King quit the band] and lost some interest in them after that. I liked the aggressive guitar playing of Allen Collins who was playing the Firebird at first but then swiched to an original Explorer in mid 1976 & so right after the crash, I bought this from my local music store. I had seen it there about a month or so earlier & was very surprised it was still there when I went back to buy it--very fortunate! It really hasn`t been played very much thru my life, but now that I am semi-retired I am playing it alot! What a great guitar it is with perfect intonation--it`s never needed a 'set-up' nor has it ever needed a neck adjustment or bridge saddle adjustment--unbelievable guitar! Here`s a picture of it from around 2013:
 

latestarter

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Joined
Nov 9, 2009
Messages
4,173
Wow - super clean! Mines been ridden hard and put away wet. But, like yours, it never needs any kind of maintenance. The neck angle is shallow so the bottom of the ABR is only just off the body. Action is just right and bends are easy to execute. The only thing I need to sort out is the nut slots....a little sticky still (new nut when I put new frets on). Mine came with replacement Asian knock-off Tarbacks, so I binned them and put in a set of mid-60's Pat No's with long A5 mags.

They're such badass looking machines!

nuYmxD4.jpg
 

K_L

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
566
Pretty nice picture of a `76 that Albert Molinaro had for sale previously

 
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