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

Joe Desperado

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Jun 8, 2004
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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

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Sep 11, 2014
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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!]
 

SKYNYRD FRYND

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Mar 19, 2021
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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

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Sep 11, 2014
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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

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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

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Apr 6, 2005
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Stevens, 2021

Recently-Shipped-Fetish.jpg
 
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bursty

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Dec 25, 2012
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544
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.

Futura.jpg


BFT-58M 3.jpg
 

ppgf

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Sep 11, 2014
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688
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

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Sep 11, 2014
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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

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Sep 11, 2014
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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.
 
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