• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

Explorer neck joint?

Bill Hicklin

New member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
194
Re: Confirmation!

I don't think that is a real V

Take it up with Ted McCarty. He personally ID'd this particular one as a '57 prototype which wasn't numbered and shipped until 1960. He's dead. But his business card with the authentication is in the case.
 

55Custom

New member
Joined
Sep 5, 2003
Messages
6,251
Crossbuster said:
I'd think there's more than a $1000 difference... The Korina explorers are some of the most expensive Custom Shop guitars... I seem to recall seeing prices (mind you, I'm sure you could get it cheaper from a forum dealer) of around $7000 for one new.

Anyway, I've got an exam tomorrow, so I'll get you the shots after that.
I thought some of the historic Explorers were also made of mahogany, but I don;t know for sure because I haven't followed them at all. There was a dealer on gbase that was selling one a while back for $1800. Now I wished I would have inquired about it.
 

johnnyjellybean

Active member
Joined
Dec 23, 2001
Messages
1,030
Re: Confirmation!

Bill Hicklin said:
Take it up with Ted McCarty. He personally ID'd this particular one as a '57 prototype which wasn't numbered and shipped until 1960. He's dead. But his business card with the authentication is in the case.
Are his glasses in the case too? I was at that guitar show when he "authenticated" it. It was a joke.
 

Crossbuster

New member
Joined
Aug 6, 2003
Messages
415
55Custom said:
I thought some of the historic Explorers were also made of mahogany, but I don;t know for sure because I haven't followed them at all. There was a dealer on gbase that was selling one a while back for $1800. Now I wished I would have inquired about it.

How old was it? Before the Custom Shop became a seperate place, there were all-mahogany explorers that got a swanky paint scheme and a custom shop decal, but weren't any different structurally from a regular explorer.

Anyway, here's a photo. I was right when I said I wouldn't like it... It's one step closer towards being sold...

dsc008250jz.jpg
 

Bill Hicklin

New member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
194
Re: Confirmation!

johnnyjellybean said:
Are his glasses in the case too? I was at that guitar show when he "authenticated" it. It was a joke.


And your reasons for doubting this one's authenticity are.....?
 

55Custom

New member
Joined
Sep 5, 2003
Messages
6,251
Crossbuster said:
How old was it? Before the Custom Shop became a seperate place, there were all-mahogany explorers that got a swanky paint scheme and a custom shop decal, but weren't any different structurally from a regular explorer.

Anyway, here's a photo. I was right when I said I wouldn't like it... It's one step closer towards being sold...

I dont remember what year it was exactly. But, in addition to those was the custom shop Clapton Explorer with the cut body. Those were $2000 used.

Thanks for the pic. They could have gone a little further with that tenon. :hmm
 

Crossbuster

New member
Joined
Aug 6, 2003
Messages
415
Ah yes, I forgot about the split headstock and Clapton cut explorers.

They were all mahogany.

Personally, I don't like that headstock too much, but if you do, then go for it if you can find a good deal on one.
 

Bill Hicklin

New member
Joined
Jun 9, 2005
Messages
194
That forked headstock is a tuning nightmare- the strings foul on the lower tuning posts, and they break much too sharply at the nut. I know of one guy who gave up and strung his inside-out!
 

Moderne

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2011
Messages
56
Okay, cards on the table-- I'm working on my blueprints for a Moderne replica. An accurate Moderne replica, something that nobody has ever done. Certainly not Gibson. Necessarily, much of the detail has to be drawn from the Moderne's korina siblings. This is why I'm so interested in the Explorer (actually closer to the Moderne than the Vee is), and especially the "Futura", since it shares a 16th-fret neck joint with the Moderne.

Bill,

Whatever became of these blueprints you were working on? Did you ever do a build of the Moderne?
 
Top