Gibson Custom 1958 Korina Explorer, White PG, Natural

Gibson Custom 1958 Korina Explorer, White PG, Natural Overview

This Gibson Custom 1958 Korina Explorer in Natural is a spot-on recreation of one of the rarest and most sought-after electric guitars of all time.

A Rare Beast

Alongside the Flying V, the original Gibson Explorer presented a futuristic design that divided opinion upon its release in 1958. Whilst the Explorer’s space-age aesthetic may have shocked and appalled guitarists in the '50s, it has since gone on to become one of Gibson’s most beloved and popular models. U2’s The Edge and Metallica’s James Hetfield are just a couple of notable players that have favoured the Gibson Explorer for its distinctive look and tone over the years.

Exact Replica

Original 1958 Explorer models were produced in incredibly limited numbers, with only 19 guitars leaving Gibson’s factory in '58. As a result, examples from this period are extremely rare and can fetch hundreds of thousands on the used market when they do appear. This Korina Explorer is an exact replica of that elusive instrument, boasting the attention to detail and meticulous craftsmanship that the Gibson Custom Shop is renowned for.

Select Tonewoods

As part of its period-correct construction, this 1958 Explorer’s one-piece body and neck are sculpted from Korina, a West African tonewood that was seen. Tonally, Korina is praised for its warm, balanced tone which has more mid-range bite than Mahogany. Like the original, this 1958 Explorer’s body is a solid Korina slab with no weight relief, ensuring a thick and sustain-heavy natural voice. The set neck features an authentic '58 Explorer profile, which feels incredibly comfortable in hand, a 12" radius, 22 Reissue frets and a smooth Indian Rosewood fretboard.

Custom Bucker Pickups

The Gibson Custom 1958 Korina Explorer is equipped with a pair of Custombucker humbuckers, which are historically accurate recreations of late '50s PAFs. Like those original pickups, these Custombuckers deliver a rich, singing tone that cleans up beautifully when you roll back the volume. From crisp, emotive Blues to filthy, aggressive Thrash Metal, these Custombuckers can handle a wide range of styles with ease. The pickups are controlled with a pair of volume controls, a master tone and a 3-way pickup selector.

Premium Hardware

The Gibson Custom Shop have outfitted this 1958 Korina Explorer with premium gold-coloured hardware appointments, ensuring rock-solid performance on the stage and in the studio. The white pickguard, adjustable ABR-1 bridge, aluminium stopbar tailpiece, nylon nut and Kluson tuners complete the authentic and timeless aesthetic of this fantastic instrument. Gibson Custom also include a luxurious hard case, which features an era-correct brown exterior and a lush pink interior.

This limited-edition Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Explorer reissue is your chance to own a piece of guitar history without paying hundreds of thousands on the second-hand market. With its stunning Natural nitrocellulose finish and gold hardware, this guitar is sure to be a standout in your collection.