QUESTION

I recently was thinking about putting together a set f 1983 Gibson Korina guitars. I have the Gibson Flying V. I read that there is also a Gibson Korina Modern and a Gibson Korina Explorer. I have seen the Gibson Modern but have never seen an explorer come up for sale. Why is that ,was there a low run of these guitars and what would I have to pay today for one.

REPLY

Thank you for email. The Gibson korina series guitars made in 1983 did consist of those three models with the Gibson Flying V being the most popular and most produced . Then the modern was the next most produced and finally the Gibson Explorer was the most limited of the series. In twenty years i have only owned about 6 out of the thousands and thousands of guitars we have owned and sold. The gibson Explorer for me is the coolest and have no idea why they were not produced and what Gibson was thinking. Every guitar collector thinks there the best every player loves them once again Gibson Guitar dropped the ball on that one.

I have no idea of the real numbers produced I am sure the numbers are available on line but i would guess the shipping totals were around 100 on these. The great thing is these sound great and play great and if you did not have half a million dollars for a real explorer were in only about 25 were ever made this was the next best thing. Even today I do not know were to track any down for you they are that hard to find.

At the time these were revered as the real deal and an accurate replica. As we all know they were cool and yes they looked sort of like a real flying v but they were not very accurate. Until about 7 years ago or so they were all you had if you wanted a replica if you did not have a custom builder make one for you. As a quick note these were really bleached mahogany and not korina wood but that is not important it is the original guitars and their collectability and playability that counts.

Gibson in there historic series replicated these again and really well about 7 years ago and they are the best you can get at this time they are quite pricey maybe around $5000 but they are really hip!! I believe Gibson still makes them but on a custom ordered basis.

Back to the 1983 Gibson Explorer I would estimate these are about $3500-$4000 if you can find one . They have gone as high as 7000 at the height of the madness so now is actually a good time to buy one if you can find one. A complete set always brings the most money so here is a hint. Do not buy the modern until after you find the explorer . Find the harder one first this way you d not waste the time or money if you cannot find the Explorer just a little bit of advice.

Hope this information helped if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me at THE PARTS DRAWER and I wil be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Jim Pasch

QUESTION

If money were not an option what one guitar would you recommend for me as a collector to buy. I am a Gibson man I prefer them over Fender guitars Many are telling me to buy a 1959 Les Paul flametop some a flying V. I know you have many years experience in this business your opinion would be of great value to me

REPLY

Thank you for the e mail  would be glad to recommend one for you and I did not even have to think twice. If money really  is no options for you,  A real 1950’s Korina Explorer is the holy grail. I would estimate about 28 were made and I would say about 80% are already accounted for in collections. This would without a double hold is value more than any Gibson guitar unless lets say Jimmy Pages Les Paul or some celebrity guitar.

The guitar itself is a radical design for the time and it along with the Flying Vee and supposedly !!! a Modern was Gibsons futuristic view of the guitar. The Explore itself i have always found to sound and play great. I have had the fortune to actually flay a few real ones and what can i say it is like a religious experience. The guitar was made out of a wood names Korina which is actual African Limba wood I believe and having the same characteristics of mahogany or that is my opinion it was a no loose situation. Any all mahogany guitar with humbuckers or P90’s pickups kills I mean it is a flawless combination and Gibson new this .

You have to be careful there have been many copies and forgeries over the years and some quite good ( thanks to max and others) but still now that i have seen a real one there is no real comparison. the problem lies in the fact that so few exist there is nothing to compare it to so how many people can say they have seen played or touched one. Thousands have played burts and and Flying Vees and have some reference to real and what is not but that is not the case with an Explorer.

A few tips do not buy one without and original case. !!!!! unless you have an expert with you the case is so rare it should be with theguitar also look closely many have converted double neck cases to fit these look close.  Nobody has ever copied the case correctly this is FIRST thing to look for. The parts are very unique for this guitar and I do not want to give all the secrets away but have the parts checked out . The tuners on these varied over the years too so check the fact closely. I Will be glad to answer any question personally rather than put all the info out on the net for the forgers to pickup on. It is better for you to pay a person a few thousand dollars when buy this to verify it i have a list of collectors who have the real ones and will be glad to help . These are going for around $500,000.00 now so what is $2000-$4000 when you could loose your shirt . Do not cheap out on an expert with this one folks you Will thank me later .

I hope this helps and again I will be glad to put you in contact wit a real guy if you need info just e mail me at THE PARTS DRAWER  good luck and happy hunting this one is THE ONE TO OWN.

JIm Pasch