This guitar is one of only 81 units manufactured in 1958, the year it was first presented at NAMM. It was one of three new guitar models created by Gibson (the Flying V, the Explorer (then called “Futura“), and the “Moderne“), aiming for a futuristic design with straight lines, a more radical look, and the use of new types of wood. The “Korina“ V was a very limited production run, ceasing production in 1960. While the Les Paul Sunburst guitars of the late 1950’s are considered collector’s items and the “holy grail of electric guitars“, the ’58 Korina is considered 20 times harder to find. This guitar features a body and neck made of African Limba (Korina) wood, a Brazilian rosewood fretboard, and a very thin neck profile, similar to the “slim taper“ guitars of the 1960s. It has a pair of PAF pickups, the bridge was replaced with a Tone Pros (the original ABR-1 is in the case), and it features a chevron-style tailpiece with through-body stringing. At one point, it had a Bigsby tremolo installed, which left a small extra hole in the pickguard, and the nut was also replaced. In 1968, it’s owner repainted it in green, only to revert it to its original natural color in the mid-1980s (traces of the green paint still remain inside the pickup and potentiometer cavities). The serial number is in a different font than the one originally used on Gibson guitars, as it had to be re-stamped when the guitar was repainted. The tuning machines are still the original Klusons, but the knobs are reproductions, as the original 1958 knobs disintegrated over time.
The guitar was used live by Richie Faulkner, guitarist of Judas Priest, in 2023 during his concerts in Paris, France.
This guitar is treasured in La Roca’s vault.
