Gibson Custom Shop 58 Mahogany Explorer

DESCRIPTION

In the late 1950s, Gibson introduced a trio of radically futuristic designs intended to redefine the electric guitar. Among them was the Futura™, which quickly evolved into what would become the Explorer™. Although now considered a true icon, the Explorer was far from an immediate success, with only 19 instruments shipped during its original 1958 production year.

Radically “space age” in appearance when it debuted in 1958, the Explorer was dramatically ahead of its time. Its bold silhouette and uncompromising design have since made it one of the most influential guitar shapes in history, favored by legendary players across rock and metal.

The Gibson Custom 1958 Mahogany Explorer Reissue faithfully recreates the features of the original 1958 models, substituting mahogany for the original and extremely rare Korina wood. Mahogany offers a slightly warmer, denser tonal response, making this reissue an ideal choice for players seeking vintage Explorer aesthetics with a powerful, all-mahogany voice.

This Historic Reissue features a solid mahogany body crafted to vintage specifications, a mahogany neck with a 50s Vintage profile, and the original Explorer headstock design fitted with reissue Kluson® single-ring tuners. The unbound Indian rosewood fingerboard is equipped with 22 authentic medium jumbo frets and classic cellulose dot inlays.

A pair of unpotted Custombucker™ humbuckers with Alnico 3 magnets deliver rich, articulate vintage tones and dynamic response, wired to two volume and one tone control with CTS® potentiometers and a period-correct phone book capacitor. Finished in Antique Natural nitrocellulose lacquer with VOS-treated gold hardware, the guitar evokes the look of a pristine late-1950s instrument. A Lifton™ historic brown and pink hardshell case is included.

Specifications

GENERAL

Series: Gibson Custom
Orientation: Right-Hand
Color: Antique Natural
Country Of Origin: N/A

NECK

Headstock: Explorer
Headstock Binding: N/A
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer (VOS)
Neck Construction: Set Neck
Fingerboard Radius: N/A
Fingerboard Material: Indian Rosewood
Position Inlays: Cellulose Dot
Number of Frets: 22
Truss Rod: N/A
Truss Rod Nut: N/A
String Nut: Nylon
Nut Width: 1.685" (42.8 mm)
Nut Material: Nylon

BODY

Body: Mahogany
Body Finish: Nitrocellulose Lacquer (VOS)
Body Shape: Explorer
Body Material: 2-Piece Mahogany

HARDWARE

Bridge: ABR-1 No-Wire
Tailpiece: Lightweight Aluminum Stop Bar
Pickguard: N/A
Pickup Covers: N/A
Control Knobs: True Historic Black Top Hat with Dial Pointer
Switch Tip: N/A
Hardware Finish: Aged Gold
Tuning Machines: Kluson® Single Ring Reissue
Strings: N/A
Neck Plate: N/A
Strap Buttons: N/A

ELECTRONICS

Bridge Pickup: Custombucker™ Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Neck Pickup: Custombucker™ Alnico 3 (Unpotted)
Pickup Configuration: HH
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
Switching: N/A
Capacitor: Phone Book Capacitor
Pots: 500K CTS® Vintage Taper Potentiometers

MEASUREMENTS

Fret Size: Authentic Medium Jumbo
Scale Length: 24.75" (628.65 mm)