SOLD - Gibson Custom Shop Explorer Pelham Blue Special Order One-Off '58 Reissue spec 2008
$0.00This one is a pretty outstanding! Let me just say that the color is really tough to photograph. We tried indoor, outdoor, low light, back light, high light, all light. It looks different everywhere you take it or picture it, which is pretty damn cool. In person it is a really cool Pelham that appears to be turning green, with areas of yellowing in the clear coat.
1958 specs adorn this beauty, along with a factory "aged" Pelham Blue finish. Made the same year as the storied '58 Reissue, 50th Anniversary Korina Explorer.
The pickups are original, handwound '57 Classics. The pots are the only thing that is changed on the guitar. I just can't imagine why someone would do this, but they did. I could tell the solders had been disturbed at first glance, and I can see WCR stamped on two of the pots - a maker of pots and guitar wiring kits.
The guitar plays great and is very light for an Explorer at just 7lbs 15 ounces. The neck is full, very much the '58 profile. The frets are full with plenty of life. The custom shop case candy bag with the paperwork and stuff is included in the original Gibson Custom hardshell case. The case does show some wear. There are also areas on the guitar where the clearcoat has yellowed more than others. I wish I could keep this axe and see what it looks like in 20 years when it is all aged out!
When I first dug in on this piece, I was puzzled. There is nothing out there like it from this particular year, sold or available. The certificate does not have the same model designation as the '58 reissue, nor does the black certificate book have the 50th Anniversary seal, and the case is black - the reissue run had brown cases, reminiscent of the original from the 50s.
So I called Gibson... They were as helpful as they could be, explaining that the guitar was special ordered - a one-off.
They explained that they have no records of who ordered it, what dealer ordered it, only that is is a 2008 Explorer with '58 specs and an "aged" Pelham Blue finish. To be clear, the guitar is not aged - it is not relic'd and there is no checking. I think that by "aged" they mean that the Pelham Blue was made to look like it has aged and turned a bit green.
I called GIbson a day later, hoping that maybe I could catch someone else that perhaps had some way to access more or different information. I asked if they did things like Fender does with their shop traveler. The rep added to the info I received before when I asked this - he said it was on the records with the "DSKX Prefix", which meant that it has the '58 reissue specs. I googled this prefix and came across this: https://www.guitar-list.com/gibson/electric-guitars/gibson-1958-korina-explorer-dskx-prefix
and the same Google search also turns this up as the second link down: https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Guitar/CUSCWJ22/1958-Korina-Explorer-Reissue-White-Pickguard/Natural
Moving along, the guitar is in excellent condition but with a few dings. One is large enough to see the wood, and it does appear that the guitar is made of Korina rather than Mohogany.
- Color: Pelham Blue
- Weight: 7lbs 15ozs
- Body: Korina - African Limba
- Neck: Korina - African Limba
- Neck Profile: Medium C
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Inlay: MOP Dots
- Frets: Medium Jumbo
- Fret count: 22
- Nut material: Bone
- Nut width: 1.738"
- Scale: 24.75"
- Radius: 12"
- Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.936"
- Neck thickness at 7th fret: 0.983"
- Neck thickness at 12th fret: 1.11"
- Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2.5mm.
- Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2mm.
- String Gauge: .10-46
- Hardware: Original Gold
- Bridge pickup: 7.91k
- Neck Pickup: 8.09
- Tuners: Original
- Pots: Original
- Case: OHSC
- Notes: Certificate of Authenticity, Warranty Card, Care Pamphlets, Cable, Wrench
