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

B

Brown Recluse

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SKYNYRD FRYND said:
Amazing Explorer thanks for sharing! Besides the neck tenon “stingers” I also noticed the pickguard seemed to be cut higher from the bridge pickup, exposing some wood, than other 1958 Explorers I’ve seen pictured. Unless that may have been shrinkage, but I’m not sure. I’m not the most knowledgeable about Explorers so maybe someone here may have a better answer or has seen something like this before..?

Edit:
Also the neck pickup doesn’t look “centered” with the fretboard. For reference look at picture 6.
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The stingers are a real surprise. I just went back and watched the Leon Russell Homewood Session video in the Don Preston's Sick Explorer thread and and the stingers are clearly visible starting at around the 12:25 mark.
 
Joe Desperado

Joe Desperado

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if Y
Brown Recluse said:
Hopefully, nobody would take as gospel a 3rd hand quote that isn't directly attributable to anyone in particular. It has been quite some time since Mike Stevens offered his Korina 'V' and Explorer style guitars. The last time that I saw them listed, the Explorer style one was described as using a one piece body.

Your comment about the 2" piece to make things work made me think more about the Max Explorer I have that fits that description. I bought the carcass years before the thread on the The Gear Page existed, but it is why I remembered the quote from Matte. Now, I'm wondering if it might have been Max that Matte was referring to, rather than Mike Stevens. That would certainly fit better with the idea of making a 2 piece body an acceptable replica of an original example.
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If you have a Max Explorer and care to share a few pictures with me, I would appreciated it. I recently was asked to authenticated a V that actually was a Max. It would be interesting to see if they have common traits.
 
B

Brown Recluse

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Joe Desperado said:
if Y

If you have a Max Explorer and care to share a few pictures with me, I would appreciated it. I recently was asked to authenticated a V that actually was a Max. It would be interesting to see if they have common traits.
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I'll try and get you some pics this weekend. I also have a Max 'V' carcass, plus some pics of my old Monty 'V'.
 
bursty

bursty

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K_L said:
Disappointing that the great pictures of an original `58 Explorer that were recently shared here didin`t receive hardly any fanfare considering that the those orginal `58 Korina Explorers, I feel, are the rarest, most collectable, & most valued Gibson electric guitars ever.
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Agreed @K_L !

I would have also thought that the efforts of @jimijam33 would have been much more appreciated here than it seems to have been.

Having a member post so many fantastic photos of such a rare and valuable vintage instrument is a healthy demonstration of good will to the entire membership here.

The contributions of knowledge by other members here in this thread are also very welcome and also demonstrate a willingness to share with this community.

All that have contributed should be commended and I appreciate them all!!
 
bursty

bursty

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I was digging around on the interwebz and I came across this quote from another forum where they were discussing '58 Explorers.

I am curious if anyone here knows if the quote is accurate as far as the claim for fingerboard radius and also the bridge radius?

Quote:
"Vintage Gibsons from that era had a 10" radius fingerboard, not 12". The bridges (both wraparounds and ABR-1s) were in fact 12" radiused."
 
SKYNYRD FRYND

SKYNYRD FRYND

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bursty said:
I was digging around on the interwebz and I came across this quote from another forum where they were discussing '58 Explorers.

I am curious if anyone here knows if the quote is accurate as far as the claim for fingerboard radius and also the bridge radius?

Quote:
"Vintage Gibsons from that era had a 10" radius fingerboard, not 12". The bridges (both wraparounds and ABR-1s) were in fact 12" radiused."
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If this were to be true, wouldn’t the vintage Les Pauls, certain ES Models, and other electric guitar models that have been measured/examined for their “vintage-specs” have the same 10” radius?

I’m sure Gibson tried to keep it as simple as they could, and used the 12” radius as the “standard” radius for most of their electric guitar models. I could be wrong, this is just speculation. Someone else may know more
 
bursty

bursty

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SKYNYRD FRYND said:
If this were to be true, wouldn’t the vintage Les Pauls, certain ES Models, and other electric guitar models that have been measured/examined for their “vintage-specs” have the same 10” radius?

I’m sure Gibson tried to keep it as simple as they could, and used the 12” radius as the “standard” radius for most of their electric guitar models. I could be wrong, this is just speculation. Someone else may know more
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I have no idea if the quote I posted is accurate; that is why I asked here.

I'm not an authority on vintage Gibson at any level so, I thought there may be those here that are, that may be willing to chime in on the question.

I would agree that Gibson, or any other maker would want to keep it as simple as possible across all, or most all models. Makes sense to me.

The person from the other forum also stated, "I have refretted and measured hundreds of vintage Gibsons, so I'm not guessing about this" so, I thought he may have some real knowledge on the subject. Don't know.

I am none the less curious concerning his claim about the 'board radius and the bridge radius miss-match.
 
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Joe Desperado

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That quote sounds like it was from @hogy from this and TGP forum, who has literally refretted hundreds of vintage guitars. I am not sure of his experience with Korina‘s specifically but you can take him as an authority on re-frets.

My experience is that I have seen them range from 10-12 radius, though this could be accounted for by the handmade nature of how they were made or possibly during earlier refrets etc.
 
bursty

bursty

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Joe Desperado said:
That quote sounds like it was from @hogy from this and TGP forum, who has literally refretted hundreds of vintage guitars. I am not sure of his experience with Korina‘s specifically but you can take him as an authority on re-frets.

My experience is that I have seen them range from 10-12 radius, though this could be accounted for by the handmade nature of how they were made or possibly during earlier refrets etc.
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WOW Joe; you are 100% correct on the party responsible for the quote. :D

So, the potential for the 10" -12" radius mis-match he mentions sounds like a thang.

Very interesting stuff (y)
 
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K_L

K_L

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Joe Desperado

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K_L said:
Yes it looks like it is! Serial #9 1995. It is somewhat featured including some really good pictures in this book that I think is the best available cncerning the original `58 Explorers etc.

Explorer: A Pictorial History: Wood, Ronald Lynn: 9781574243635: Amazon.com: Books

Explorer: A Pictorial History [Wood, Ronald Lynn] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Explorer: A Pictorial History
www.amazon.com
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Oddly enough, I have talked to Ronald Wood on the phone and Via emails, yet I do not have that book…. Is it an essential must have?
 
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K_L

K_L

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Joe Desperado said:
If that is 9-1995, then it has a stepped heel with a replacement neck IIRC.
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Yes I have heard that about that Explorer having a replaced neck. In the book that I linked above, he [Dave Rogers] does say this "Purchased at a Dallas Show in the early 1990`s. I remember thinking at the time that if I didn`t buy this one, I`d never find another one"
I think the 'Pictorial History Explorer' book is great--it`s just mainly pictures & not just of original `58 Explorers though--204 pages just on Explorers. I have some other books that have some pictures etc of the original Explorers--I even contacted Walter Carter to ask him what books he recommended. Nonetheless, this is the best one I own if you`re a '`58 Explorer nut' like I am. It`s worth the $28 w/ free shipping I`d say although there are other listings there on Amazon at a lower price but not sure if their price includes free shipping.
 
bursty

bursty

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there are very distinctive grain features in the Korina lumber that look identical to the Dave Rogers (La Crosse, WI) 1959 Explorer that is said to be, "original."

having a stepped heel with a replacement neck would not particularly be considered 'original' by most folks, would it?

Just asking but details would be interesting to know.

I traded a few emails with Dave many years ago and told him that one year I would like to visit his store; never have.

I'm in Saint Paul which is a 1 1/2 hour drive to La Crosse. Maybe I could finally go visit Daves and check out 9 1995 for myself, in person. :unsure:
 
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