Epiphone Inspired By Gibson Custom 1958 Korina Explorer Reissue - Is $1299 Too Much For An Epiphone?

[@eddiejr540]

That is a sweet guitar…I’ve been in love with explorers ever since I saw Mathias Jabs play his yrs ago👍

[@drippinglass]

My first new guitar that I got in April 1986 is a Mathias Jabs sig Explorer. One of the first Gibson guitars to say “Custom Shop” on it. It has a Kahler though and that kills the value. But it was the 80’s, and that’s why I bought it. 😁

[@eddiejr540]

@@drippinglass ….hell yea👍

[@gelderlandproduction]

Just what I needed to watch and listen to this morning while sipping my morning coffee. Thank you for this!

[@bretspangler8717]

I love mine. I have had it for almost a year now. The pickups are perfect for me; they have a nice growl. The body is super light and resonant. The case is massive but very nice. 1958 is my birth year, so this guitar is special for me. It was the most expensive guitar I have and well worth it.

[@OkayyyIGetIt]

If it makes you happy and what you want, the price doesn’t matter! It’s an awesome guitar and I’m happy for you!

[@nathancloud6344]

Wow!! This guitar sounds absolutely killer!!! Great bite and sustain holding warmth

[@mvptarheel299]

I love the look of the wood grain. Sounds great, as well!

[@vaisatchatrucci]

Sounds just as incredible as Todd described today! Wow - very nice! And very nice chatting with you today as well brother! Enjoy your channel - keep up the great work my friend!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks!! Great to meet ya man. 😎

[@vaisatchatrucci]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Same!

[@stevelankford7087]

Very cool guitars, and the sound samples demo was great as well.

[@raycarter616]

Great playing Marty 🤘

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks a lot! 🎸🙏

[@DeputyVanHalen5150]

Beautiful guitar, you're right! Looks brand new on camera! Killer headstock. Amazing tone too! 🤔 I have to get one of these! I'm sure my wife won't mind. 🤷🏻‍♂️ Good video!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It was definitely unplayed and new condition. It's really a beauty. Thanks!

[@NegdoshaManido]

Just got mine yesterday. Totally worth it. Love it.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

They're super nice! 😎🤟🏻

[@carrielittlecplaster1620]

man!! i sold a 2016 korina 58 epi recently to fund a prs guitar. This makes me miss it!!! They hv a really great sound.

[@indybingyi]

Nice vid man, really love this explorer

[@GuitarsZnuff]

Just grabbed one of these for $765 plus tax. Super pumped! Thanks for doing video!

[@applsaucebandit]

Dude it sounds great! I love Epiphone. Just bought the Jimi Hendrix Flying V and the Kirk Hammett Flying V. Love them!

[@BloodySoup74]

Awesome demo Marty!!

[@jimmyhartman573]

I tried one out . . . Then i bought one . ENUFF said . . The haters and snobs will never get it , doesnt matter who makes the guitar , it just has to sound good . . AND IT DOES . .church is OUT !!!

[@ryanfulldark2775]

Facts

[@Rogata_Dusza76]

Bingo! I bought an Epiphone 58 Korina Explorer last year, but with a black pickguard. It looks beautiful and, most importantly, it sounds great on these Burstbuckers! Greets from Poland... 🤘

[@franklinbelisario1877]

BRUTAL SOUND

[@RaptorV1USA]

Great review! I WILL have one!.....at some point.. i just landed a deal on it's sister the Mighty Epiphone '58 reissue Korina V (!!) , it arrives in about 48h and i am JONESIN! Been immersed in the videos promoting theses two models and now i will just HAVE to get the explorer next. I never thought i'd bother with any Epiphone guitars nothing against them, I just have found so many guitars from other brands that compare so well to the epiphones in spec and quality & for alot less $$$$ I didn't see the point, but these two reissue models are a lil bit special and are the guitars of my guitar dreams as a kid so Epiphone it IS!

[@DanTaylorSr]

I bought the Gibson Antique Explorer and sent it back. Bought this Epiphone Explorer and am much more happy with it. I saved a wad of cash too. Mine weighed in at 6.6 lbs. 🙂👍

[@ThisOldGuy3]

Sounds great Marty, Korina just has a specific tone over all other woods. I have a limited edition 2008 PRS McCarty Korina with Brazilian board awesome guitar, it is on par with my 59 Les Paul Reissue I just picked up. Keep Rock'N my friend 🤘😎🎸

[@michaelworse6034]

Korina was used for making windows for a long time , really

[@samright4661]

That’s a rock machine! Awesome guitar dude!!

[@MrLespaul2000]

Sounds great. I also have one. Great guitar, excellent quality and plays well. I also put in a set of Custombuckers which I was going to put in another guitar but they went in this instead so its a bit closer to the Custom shop without the price. I have no regrets about paying the price for this guitar.

[@geoffreylowery9730]

Looks and sounds great! I like it !

[@Prettynoise]

Just bought one from Sweetwater. Damn, these are amazing guitars.

[@CG-gf7ce]

As usual, you seem to make same guitar I also have sound much better. 😂 Nice review and playing as usual. I had to have one after it dropped as I’m not dropping $10K on the Gibson equivalent. For my purposes it is great. I’d say Epiphone has been upping their game…laurel or not. Korinas Explorer & V, DG335 and the new 59s (LP & 355 with custom buckers) are solid and more affordable than ones with Gibson written on the headstock.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

lol well thanks man. And I agree, Epiphone has really stepped up their game. I love the Gibsons, but for what you get, it's hard to beat these inspired by Gibson Custom Epiphones! 😎🎸

[@georgecaplan11]

There’s surprisingly good demand for Epiphones in the second hand market. I sold a few to fund the purchase of a second hand Gibson LP standard.

[@tysondog843]

Good deal, looks cool as, and sounds Great!

[@papablue3015]

Cool, I just built an explorer! After changing everything! $300ish? Thanks 🤘 Marty 😊 looks the same, but mine is all mahogany!

[@srwaite7]

I have one of these and love it. I added a strap button on the heel to deal with neck dive issue I was having - very minor mod. If you compare it to the Gibson CS version, the price seems like a great deal. 👍🏻🎸🖖🏻 ps: enjoying your channel. 😎

[@MakerMark13]

I ended up do that with the Ghost Horse I got about 6 months ago. IDK why that just don't move the knob to the back, it hangs so much better!

[@69spiros]

sound and look awesome.... sound where it comes from??TONEX??

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! For this video I had my Fractal AX8 setup. Friedman BE model and Friedman IR's. Reverb and Delay added in pro tools/mixdown.

[@brownsfan7753]

Sounds great!!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks man! 🎵🎸

[@JayMurph91]

To the doubters. Dont let the fretboard bum you out. These guitars rock! I’ve got the V and I’m telling you right now that thing is a beast! Just condition the fretboard and it’ll look great. Trust me.

[@stevedgolfer]

Feels unbelievably cheap and the neck is unplayable.It really depends on what standard your used to.Sent mine back next day 🚫☠️

[@tomc9856]

I purchased one for 700 bucks. Also purchased the Korina V for 850. Those prices are with tax and shipping.

[@mikestroud9969]

Sounds Great Love iit man ❤️❤️👋👋🎸🎸✌️✌️

[@sirtogii5216]

Not my favourite colours but even so it looks and sounds a treat. Any guitar is worth what somebody wants to pay for it. I reckon these will hold their value on the second hand market really well too.

[@rvk5150]

I am dying for one of these....I own many Epiphone guitars and they are all pretty good. Never owned a Gibson because I cannot afford them with my habit of collecting, lol. If Epiphone is raising the bar the price will be justified by the demand.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Dude, no joke. This guitar is the real deal. I've seen em on eBay for 800-900. I got mine for 900 but I traded a couple guitars I wasn't using for it so that worked well for me. I really love it! It's super fun to play and the sound is just inspiring. Hard to explain! 😂😂

[@ccaputa]

That guitar has a lot of sustain.

[@klaasottens4995]

Congratulations 👌

[@Disruptor23]

Great tone. Do you use a foot stand for you right foot? Do your right arm get tired because there is no resting area on the guitar?

[@ccaamm1]

Stole mine for $400 used. Plays great.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Very cool. Great deal.

[@Deaner78]

Marty do you still have this korina explorer what do you think now that you have had it a while

[@zackamodeo-thomson8010]

I have the same guitar was gonna get black guard but liked the white more. Gives me of lynrd skynrd free bird live.

[@bmac5085]

That's a beautiful guitar man. Sounds awesome as well. Have you put it down yet? I can just picture your eye's lighting up when you saw this for sale online 😂. Does this come with some Gibson hardware, like the pickups, pots tunners electrics etc hene the price?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks dude. It has all Hinson hardware except Epiphone tuners on this one. It's got CTS pots and switchcraft 3 way. Gibson BBII and BBIII pups. 😎🎸

[@bmac5085]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker those pickups sound amazing for sure .👍

[@agusg.t.8950]

I had a korina explorer epi I got for 350€ and sold it some years later for 280€. Sounded good. Now I own a Gibson Explorer. Sounds good too, better indeed

[@victoresarey4036]

Oh awesome you did before and after recordings? Most people can't actually prove the sound difference just rather try to justify a purchase lol

[@pedraw]

Sweet guitar Marty. Is it worth it?.......It's worth what someone is willing to pay. Maybe I should look into these also. I too had a Gibson Explorer but the frets were really funky, tall as hell and narrow. I think it was an 08'

[@mr.mckinnon5680]

I have the exact same guitar. But the knobs are black. Bought it from some kid, outside Mike's music in cincinnati. Paid him $300. I'm more of a strat guy.... So I put it on ebay. And then, the eBay bidding went through the roof, quickly. Got me to thinking.. maybe I should play it.. I couldn't put it down. It was so comfortable and, nice to play. Not like any of the other Gibsons I've ever owned. Took me a little while to figure out how to get the headstock from diving to the ground. But once I got a leather strap. I couldn't take it off... It's now my number two guitar, in my arsenal. I love my Explorer. Unfortunately, I didn't get the case with it. I carried it around from gig to gig, for about 10 years. Without a case. I got one now though. Not quite as cool as that one. But, it totes the goat.

[@jimyounger9490]

Beautiful guitar. Definitely worth it too , wtf !!

[@curtcogley3389]

I own a 2004 Korina Explorer and absolutely nothing sounds like it, it is an absolute rocking monster! This one is my 4th Epiphone, they are all amazing! Sorry Gibson! These are worth every penny of the price, no regrets!

[@MarkEdward-bl6cr]

Its a knod to Ed's Ibanez Explorer copy right Marty that's probably the best of the new custom shop Epiphones 👏🎸🤘👽

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Sweet guitar.

[@jasonl1942]

Anything with the 'inspired by' line is an opportunity to give less and charge more.

[@victoresarey4036]

Sad they can't seem to use rosewood for such a price hike...

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

They have to dump all the indian laurel somewhere that they foolishly bought during the corrupt lying govt rosewood shortage BS lie scam.

[@j.d.leslie8458]

That is correct. No rosewood is always a deal killer.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

It’s has a rosewood fretboard.

[@victoresarey4036]

@@ryanfulldark2775 these have laurel

[@j.d.leslie8458]

@@ryanfulldark2775 No sir. Indian Laurel.

[@hod8931]

Sounds good, brighter than my gibson usa in antique and white. But mine is mahogany so there is that.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

I guess I'm a snob, I would look for a used Gibson explorer. This being said, the epi explorer is a nice instrument.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Used explorers are pretty affordable. But I really wanted this korina one. It's so resonant and breathy. I sold an 08 Gobsona couple years ago. It was nice but just kinda muddy.

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker I agree with you about the Korina tone wood. This guitar is definitely worth the money and it's super light.

[@kengreer3302]

llove it

[@1111guitardude1111]

Score!

[@muleblues71]

You can get a 1200 epi with a killer case but you pay 2000 for a evh frankie and it comes in a cardboard box. I have a 58 Korina V from years ago picked up for 300. Nice guitars, though. $1299 is the new $799

[@donhoughjr4388]

I only paid $500 for my Epiphone Futura EX back in early 2000's and since they don't make em anymore i should be able to get 1200 to 1500 for it by today's standards

[@benforsey]

Players would happily pay over £1000 for a high spec import Gibson that sounds as cool as this guitar, but a lot of people will feel that over £1000 for an Epiphone even if it’s a great guitar a hard pill to swallow.

[@stratmagic6893]

I wanted one and was really excited to try one. I played one and was really disappointed. Super dry crappy Indian laurel fretboard with horrible frets and anemic sounding pickups.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Dang dude! Polar opposite of mine. 🤷

[@markwilliamsmusic2987]

So you don't like burstbucker ?

[@carloslozada470]

Sounds like def Leppard

[@seekandcrush]

*too

[@tomferris520]

Armeggedon it!

[@Tony-rc2dq]

Yes way to much

[@HK-ib9fu]

I can't believe Americans are paying this much for Chinese built guitar

[@ryanfulldark2775]

Why does it matter where it was built? There are Chinese parts in American made Gibsons, Fenders, PRS, etc.

[@michaelworse6034]

@@ryanfulldark2775Even in your IPhone

[@seekandcrush]

*an Epiphone

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

?

[@jackvai2681]

"Epiphone Inspired By Gibson "...LOL.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

What’s funny?

[@jackvai2681]

@@ryanfulldark2775 if you don't know...no one can explain it to you.

[@ryanfulldark2775]

@@jackvai2681 I’m sure that’s it.

[@stevedgolfer]

Absolutely cheap feeling and the neck is massive 🚫☠️ cheap dirt.

[@jeffsquires6620]

I have a 2010 black explorer. Put on a bigsby and a set of bonamassa pickups. It looks awesome and it rocks. However, I seem to hit everything in the room.