1976 Gibson Limited Edition Explorer Natural | CME Vintage Demo | Nathaniel Murphy

Call Nathaniel an explorer, because he takes this ‘76 Limited Edition Gibson Explorer and its retro-style, chunky neck on a trip to the edge and back with characteristic precision. Acquired on a recent vintage buying trip, this particular Limited Edition Explorer is one of the finest examples we’ve ever had. It sold within 48 hours.

Gibson produced very few Explorers during the 1958 run of the original korina wood model. Because production records have been lost and shipping records are unclear, it is not known exactly how many were made, but the original run total has been estimated to be no more than 50.

After the first few guitars, the Explorer had a long drooping headstock with the tuners placed in a straight line on one side (referred sometimes as "banana" and "hockey-stick"). This headstock design was incorporated by Grover Jackson, founder of Jackson Guitars and other electric guitar makers such as Kramer 20 years later, giving rise to the "pointy-headstock era" of guitars. However, the very earliest Explorers made between 1957 and spring 1958 featured an unusual "split"-shaped head with the tuners placed in a standard 3+3 arrangement, carried over from the Explorer prototype (better known as the Futura).[citation needed]

The 1958–1959 korina Explorer is one of the most valuable production-model guitars on the market, ranked at #4 on the 2011 Top 25 published by Vintage Guitar, worth between $250,000 and $300,000. Only 22 were shipped in its first two years, 19 in 1958 and 3 in 1959; an unknown (small) number of leftover bodies were completed with nickel 1960s hardware and sold in 1963. 38 examples are presently known to exist.

Check it out here: http://bit.ly/2T32Wic
Shop more Vintage here: https://bit.ly/3vFVpqh

Gear used in this demo:
1976 Gibson Limited Edition Explorer Mahogany
Vox AC30 Hand Wired 2x12 Combo w/Celestion Blue Alnicos
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Memory Boy
MXR Clone Looper
Divine Noise Cables

Songs played in this demo:
0:00 - 01:11: Beautiful Day by U2
02:44 - 03:55: With Or Without You by U2
04:34 - 05:09: Blackened by Metallica

Check out our Giveaways page to win gear! - https://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/...

#GibsonExplorer #ChicagoMusicExchange #VintageGuitars #Guitar #1976GibsonExplorer