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

[Joe Desperado]

Ha I just waded through his facebook page to find that. It’s also the first time I have seen a clear enough picture to see one actually has Steven’s on the headstock. I still don’t see guard screw holes in the one with a Gibson logo. I also see something in the one labeled Gibson that has my spider sense raised just s little. Certainly not conclusive but raised just the same.

 

[K_L]

Not sure which picture you`re looking at, but the one w/ the MS & his two friends--I can clearly see the screw holes on the 2 Gibsons that don`t have the pickguard. Also, if MS himself says there are 3 originals in the picture, then that`s good enough for me [whatever that`s worth--lol!]

 

[K_L]

Original 1958 Gibson Explorer Serial # 8-3882

 

[bursty]

Original 1958 Gibson Explorer Serial # 8-3882

thank you!!!

 

[SKYNYRD FRYND]

I believe that 3 of these 4 are original `58 Explorers.

Does anyone know the history of the only completed Explorer in these photos? I was going through some photos I had and I found what looked like the same Explorer just some years later after it switched to an apparent new owner. If I’m right, this Explorer has some pretty cool history. I don’t know anything for certain, and I don’t want to upset anyone but since I’ve never read or heard anything that would help with my theory. I’d like to ask first.

 

[K_L]

Does anyone know the history of the only completed Explorer in these photos? I was going through some photos I had and I found what looked like the same Explorer just some years later after it switched to an apparent new owner. If I’m right, this Explorer has some pretty cool history. I don’t know anything for certain, and I don’t want to upset anyone but since I’ve never read or heard anything that would help with my theory. I’d like to ask first.

I believe that Mike Stevens re-necked the Explorer that he`s holding in the first picture & it`s the one that now belongs to Dave Rogers.

 

[K_L]

I believe, thanks to 'Cody', that the Explorer Dave Rogers now owns is the same 'neck-less' Explorer that Mike Stevens is holding.

 

[jb_abides]

Stevens, 2021

 

[jb_abides]

Collecting At Dave's Guitar Shop - Wisconsin Life

When Dave Rogers opened his first guitar store in the early 1980s in downtown La Crosse, it was in a tiny former dental office. He filled it with Fenders and Gibsons. “I put every guitar that I personally owned, it was about 15 or 16 guitars, out for sale to...

wisconsinlife.org

 

[K_L]

It looks like the Explorer Dave is holding the YT video above is the same Explorer seen in the 3 pictures that I posted above it [Post # 267]--the markings all seem the exact same under the vol. & tone controls, along w/ the 'chipped' pickguard.

 

[K_L]

Stevens, 2021

I believe he charges around $15,000 for either of those two--and I bet they sound & play great!

 

[Lush_diviner]

Bumping a super great thread for others to enjoy like I did

 

[bursty]

That Futura is the one thats in the Duchossoir book. Considering that association alone, I believe it's legit, but I don't understand how it was ever verified. Allegedly, this is the prototype and the only one ever built.

This is a really fascinating guitar to me. The ribbons in the wood around the knobs and on the back make it look like its made of African Mahogany, IMO. Although African Mahogany looks very similar to real mahogany, its not really Mahogany at all. Its a different species of wood that I've only seen used on more modern guitars in lieu of good lightweight real South or Central American Mahogany. We all know Gibson had a pretty good supply of real mahogany around 1957 so why would they use this stuff? Im not a guru on the old guitars at all, but I've never seen pictures of another '50s Gibson solid body guitar that for even a second I suspected was made from African Mahogany.

Also, it kills me that only a single example of the Futura could possibly exist and that the Japanese companies have still managed to copy it accurately

Here is an example of an African hog (Khaya) Futura copy that was MIJ circa 1998.
Don't know if it has any historical accuracy but it is a very unique instrument with a voice all its' own.
I feel very fortunate to have this wonderful guitar in my collection.

 

[seafood]

wow!!!!!!! i dig that Futura!!!!!! so great.

 

[jimijam33]

Original 1958 Gibson Explorer Serial # 8-3882

Does anyone know who the owner of this Explorer is? Curious to know...

 

[ppgf]

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.

my apologies for not crediting michael stevens as my source.

btw? here’s a split headstock explorer which michael arts and crafted for me in “97.

 

[ppgf]

I believe that Mike Stevens re-necked the Explorer that he`s holding in the first picture & it`s the one that now belongs to Dave Rogers.

spot on.

 

[ppgf]

I believe he charges around $15,000 for either of those two--and I bet they sound & play great!

I wasn’t sure if I should share the pic above. There is one picture other wherr two other gents in the pic as well. Clearly not all of those guitars are original.

if michael built it? it says stevens. always.

 

[ppgf]

Maybe 2? The two unfinished ones do not have pickguard holes drilled at the tip of the horn. I think it would be very difficult to believe 10% of all original Explorers were in the

Maybe 2? The two unfinished ones do not have pickguard holes drilled at the tip of the horn. I think it would be very difficult to believe 10% of all original Explorers were in the same place back then. 2 maybe… though the one assembled would be hard to authenticate from this pic alone.

I suppose someone who knows Michael could ask him, but not sure he would be forthcoming

the only non og explorer in that pic says stevens on the headstock.

 

[Joe Desperado]

the only non og explorer in that pic says stevens on the headstock.

That’s the rumor.