Unboxing A "Brand New" 1976 Gibson Limited Edition Explorer (The First Reissue)

[@Trog]

I'm excited to share this one with everyone - I accidentally lost the initial unboxing footage so had to re-record - oops! 🟢My Website: www.troglysguitarshow.com 🔴Reverb: reverb.com/shop/troglys?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly 🐕 Private Help Sessions: troglysguitarshow.com/help-appraisals/

[@hkguitar1984]

Concerning the machine tuners, I wouldn't recommend lubricating them. More than likely they are stiff from sitting/lack of use. IMHO, the bridge pickup cover wear, the back of the neck and even the tuners could all be considered "case wear", its very possible that guitar has been in the case since new! Great score, congrats Austin.

[@SHENDOH]

Nice coffee table

[@YesItsReallyKeith]

to add to the Edge's story with his Explorer... (from what I hopefully recall properly) he bought his in the US during a trip in the very early days....and during a show one year a fight broke out in the front rows and Bono and the Edge jumped down to break it up... but as The Edge did that he threw his axe to the ground and the head stock snapped off !! so he had it repaired and still been playing it since !!! anyways welcome any corrections to my memory !! lol ...... and yeah the condition is stunning on this one !!!

[@corporalrich]

Use XF-7 on your tuners. It doesn't affect wood at all and will not move from where you lubricate.

[@witchfindergeneralelectric8758]

So if the Edge contacted you personally and offered you double what you paid... Would you sell it to him?! 😂😂😂

[@TylerJohnstonGuitar]

Happy Turkey Day all. Thankful for this community of nerds who I can come talk to about nonsense like wrap-around tailpieces.

[@SamuraiFingers]

For that scuff on the neck - you can try an old body shop trick. Get a clean rag, wet it with distilled water, ring it out so it's not sopping wet. Then apply it to the area that is affected. Then apply high, hot heat and the water will steam the scuff out! (you can use an iron or a solder gun) but be careful and only use a little at a time. (you do have more time than you think because the water evaporates slowly) but still - little by little and that should restore that area quite nicely. Then you can add just a touch of turtle wax overtop and boom - good as new!

[@JBASH2011]

My first Gibson was a 76 LE Explorer with the big old neck I got used around 83. Amazing guitar. Was just a unpopular used guitar in the early 80s that had been hanging in a store for years. Bought it cheap, played it a bunch and learned a lot. Traded it in (plus cash) for a brand new 86 Les Paul Custom a few years later which was a huge mistake- beautiful but after a week I hated it- thin neck, wimpy thin tone, played stiff as heck. Went back to get my Explorer and it had been sold.

[@doc_matter]

Dang man, sad story sorry that happened like that

[@JBASH2011]

@@doc_matter I was young and stupid. But it was a good lesson.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Arrghgh!! I bet you kicked yourself for that one! 😔

[@walcoman]

I remember when my brothers exact same explorer was tragically killed live onstage in front of people who were dancing. He always did this front kick that he learned from his karate teacher as a kid, but sadly while performing the kick, one of the socket locks for the guitar strap failed and the guitar literally landed on its back on the dance floor, resulting in the neck being destroyed.

[@joermnyc]

The best oil for tuners is Tri-Flow, Stew Mac sells it. 1 drop is enough, and if it’s not, pull the tuner off, wrap the back with a paper towel and put in 3 drops overnight (it WILL leak out the back of the tuner and ruin a finish.) If THAT still isn’t enough, replace the tuner it’s fused. It’s also good for stuck truss rod nuts.

[@ibisrox1]

Mine is #35 and is in very good condition and ive had it since 1991 good score Lad! I paid 1k!

[@NeilCrouse99]

Hey from Canada.. : ). That switch-tip I believe is original. I had just started learning how to play at 10 - 11 yrs. old and someone my cousin played with in his band bought this exact guitar (I remember him making a big deal about it being ordered from the United States), and I was privy to seeing him open it right from the box just like you did.. I remember the grey cord, the strap but can't honestly say I remember him putting the switch-tip on. But I absolutely DO remember seeing that square of paper with the middle pulled away just like you have. It was sitting in the empty case later in the day he brought it over to open it. The only thing that my memory got wrong was the color of the paper used to attach the tip too? I thought it was a light blue color, but obviously I was wrong..... Thanks for the trip down memory lane.. Peace... 🤘😎🤘

[@TommySG1]

Hey Austin, regarding your tuners… your best and safest bet would be to simply remove them and then oil them and let them sit for a while so whatever leaks out will do so safely. Once the tuner spins as intended give them a good wipe and re-install.

[@americanjoe5486]

These tuners were actually greased through the hole with something that looks like Vasoline

[@andrewbecker3700]

I can recommend Hoppes gun oil for tuners or any small screws on saddles. The smallest drop of it works great and tends to wick into the threads or gears very easily. It's specifically designed for fine mechanisms.

[@TommySG1]

This is what I use as well 👍

[@jonathanhudak2059]

Great stuff works great on firearms too! 🙂

[@jamesparoline3757]

Thanks!

[@Trog]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed

[@silvernuggets1285]

Love the dark wood tone on your example.

[@theshotgunscientists]

The body shape, headstock shape, and pickguard shapes all changed subtly between the 58 and 76 explorers. Rumor is, the original templates were a little worn and that’s why the slight change happened. In 1990, Gibson updated the explorer body shape to make it more pointy, along with the headstock and pickguard becoming sharper too.

[@waynebake1123]

I recently bought a Jazz bass from 2006 that had the plastic over the pick guard. It was peeling, so I decided to peel it all the way off. It did look bad, but actually cleaned up to a nearly new appearance after I used a polish on it called Flitz. I hand rubbed it with a soft paper towel. The only artifact is the white shadow left by the Fender American flag sticker they used on these at the time.

[@Matthew_Eitzman]

Did it have “Grease Bucket” tone circuit?

[@thewalkerband875]

The dude knew we weren’t playing around, straight to the guitar. Minimum intro. Best vid ever.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

That's a time capsule of a guitar Trogly what an awesome find! Congrats!

[@douglasnielson8250]

Don’t use oil in Kluson tuners. It leaches into the wood. Use a very small dab of grease and turn the tuners to work the grease into the gears. I use Nut Sauce which is a grease made to lubricate nuts and string retainers.

[@JohnShalamskas]

For just over 10 dollars you can get a pound of white grease that has PTFE (a.k.a. Teflon) in it. The brand I got is called "Super Lube." If you already bought Nut Sauce, you can refill the tiny syringe with Super Lube when the Nut Sauce runs out. Otherwise, a toothpick or dental tool makes a good applicator.

[@mikedwiles]

I love the sound of those pickups.

[@jimmyjames2022]

Sweet natural finish 76 Explorer LE, sounds awesome on gain! The mahogany looks good enough to slice up for Thanksgiving dinner, with a little gravy on it.

[@raysmith4208]

This things sounds incredible! LOVE the brightness. Especially the middle position!

[@maryannmoran-smyth3453]

These guitars were definitely ahead of their time and mixed with a Marshall and the right pedal you could make great music which is legendary anyway, keep on rocking

[@FurtiveSkeptical]

She's a beauty indeed.👏 Thanks for the full tour.✌☺

[@jeffball6656]

If memory serves, the difference in necks was more due to production. Gibson was moving from Kalamazoo to Nashville. I think it was the early 1976 from Kalamazoo that had the thicker neck. The later 1976 made in Nashville with the thinner neck.

[@timpatten6328]

I bought my 76 Limited Edition used in the 90s. I got it for $400. Even then, I knew it was a deal and a keeper. I miss buying true used guitars.

[@FrehleyBurst9-1878]

Austin, There were several leftover Gibson Korina Explorers shipped in the early 1960s, most were stamped with 1958 serial numbers and 3 examples were marked with 1959 serial numbers and the final 2 shipped by the end of 1963 and those are P-27121 and P-28012. The best way to tell if you own a 1960s assembled Explorer is they were made with patent number pickups, nickel plated parts instead of gold and came in a Black rectangle hard case with Yellow lining. There is one Explorer 8-4558 said to have been shipped in 1964 with a custom made contoured hard case, it was customized at the factory with an added route for a middle pickup and a Bigsby was also installed. There is a KZbin video of luthiers at the legendary Lansing Michigan guitar shop "Elderly" music that did a inspection of this guitar. Once again due to "Lost" shipping records we may never know the truth behind some of these guitars but it did have nickel plated hardware and patent number pickups indicating it had to have been made in the early 1960s with leftover parts. Many suspect this was a "Employee" built guitar due to the modifications done. In 1976 a Gibson production manager was able to source a batch of Korina wood and it was used to make a "Limited" run of Korina Explorers said to be around 100. They were offered in Natural, Ebony, White and Maroon. I have seen several examples over the years and Tony Bacon has documented them in several of his books but some guitar brokers will swear that Gibson never made any during the the mid to late 1970s. One came up for sale about 5 years ago on Reverb out of Texas but it was refinished from it's orignal Maroon to Natural greatly decreasing it's value. Vintage Guitar Magazine will have them listed sometimes in the annual Vintage Guitar Price Guide. Great find Austin! I'm glad you expanded your tastes of guitars to the Explorer model. You really need to find a good deal on an original 1958 Gibson Korina Explorer to add to your collection because that is the most valuable and collectable vintage guitar ever made!

[@a---Wolf]

Love Explorers, thank you for that review on that beautiful re-issue!

[@michaelm9211]

Neck pickup sounds amazing

[@WebKendra]

My 76 LE serial # is pretty close to yours. Great guitar. Mine is player grade for sure. Can’t imagine no one ever playing this one.

[@FerrariMarchini]

My ‘76 LE Explorer serial number is one number above his. What’s yours? This is so cool.

[@marcstreiff6067]

The blemish onnthe neck lining up with the case support is not so much from the guitar shifting bout in transit but most likely from the chemical reaction of the case plush lining against the Explorer's finish.. Quite possibly the guitar's finish ws still curing when it was paced in the case & and shipped out.

[@ronnieparfait]

I love explorers… she’s a beaut Clark.. 🤘🏼✌🏼

[@solarismoon3046]

I hate Gibson but I would love to have this Explorer!! This is the colour I've always wanted one in. However that may be I would never pay $15,000.00 for any guitar no matter how bad I wanted it! I have a credit card and a debit card but I wouldn't go into debt just to have something from the days of old. I'm just glad for what I have. But this is a piece of history from a by-gone era. Truly a great instrument.

[@JokersWild70]

My first guitar at age 13: a brand new '84 Gibson Explorer in ebony, but it was too heavy at the time so I traded it in for something else 🤦🏻‍♂️ The original V and Explorer was about 8 years ahead of their time

[@billtancordo8761]

My friend Bob from high school had an Ebony finish 1976 Explorer with the gold hardware. Unfortunately he had to sell it. But I still remember it. Thanks for sharing this video.👍

[@Chief1970]

What an amazing find. Thank you. Love it so much.

[@duanewelsh5611]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Austin. Thanks for all the entertaining & informative videos you put out!

[@bobbywilt177]

I think Royal Purple still makes a synthetic gun oil for modern polymer frame guns. Not expensive, and will “cling” for an extended period of time

[@pauldanner9037]

Haven't tried that but it sounds good. Liberty Clock Oil is also 100% synthetic and has great cling power. It's made for 3-5 yr service intervals on mechanical clock movements. I love it for tuning machines.

[@derekcostello1016]

I wish someone would limit the limited editions. Can you have mass produced limited editions?

[@shelbyavant5081]

Limited edition is such a subjective term. They can make as many as they can in a year span and call that limited if they want. The only time I purchase something limited is if it's serialized. If something is marked 62 of 100, that's limited, in my opinion.

[@uwannaband]

@@shelbyavant5081 I always figured 'limited edition' to mean limited to however many they can sell! 😆

[@johnnyennis9864]

That is gorgeous! Nice purchase! It's probably one of the nicest guitars I've heard you record. Those pickups are so incredibly clear!

[@bretspangler8717]

Get yourself an Epiphone 58 Korina Explorer and have the best of both worlds with no guilt trips if you ding it while playing. Even do a little aging if you like, I sanded down the back of the neck on mine and smoothed out all the sharp edges on the frets, fretboard, and nut so it has a silky action and feel and all on a budget with nothing lacking from the originals, it a great time to love guitars.

[@silvernuggets1285]

Happy Thanksgiving

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Well done 🥇

[@markd.bogart2166]

The top on my Explorer ll is a one piece walnut top.Bought new in 79 had "Original Gibson Prototype" stamped.on the back of the headstock.

[@Dgray184]

Check with Tommy Shaw, he played them famously back in the 70's with Styx and did a interview about them, necks I recall being a problem with since he played them hard and rough on stage.

[@ScratchdHelp]

"extra chunky big neck" that's just the neck of the fist guitar i ever got, last year i got the green IVY IVRY PRS, really thick neck, done way too many mods to it and i love it.

[@willhugh]

I would suggest for the tuners to use Naptha or lighter fluid to help loosen the congealed oil/grease. Then follow with a light oil.

[@MrRzk600]

Amazing guitar, i have a 79 walnut explorer with beveled edges, it has a chunky neck too😊

[@pauldanner9037]

I use Liberty clock oil on tuning machines. Highly recommend.

[@cyclonejack5159]

Do not use any kind of oil for your tuners. It will eventually weep ont and make a never ending mess. I use the kind of dry powdered graphite with the almost hypodermic needle applicator that locksmiths use. It feels nice and smooth and won't mess up laquer at all.

[@paul912scott]

Great video once again! Hope Gibson are aware of your commitment to their brand, you actually contribute to a lot of the established brand legacy from my point of view!

[@MarkEdward-bl6cr]

Happy Thanksgiving guitar community 👍🤘

[@RichSpencer-tl6or]

That's such a warm sounding Explorer.... Mahogany is such a good tone wood...and elegant too... what a gem of a guitar!!

[@pcsuperg3986]

Tone wood isn't a thing...

[@kevinvandenberg5548]

@@pcsuperg3986 not so quick man... I've got to get my popcorn ready for this!

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

Please with the tonewood crap already...

[@jonathanhudak2059]

​@pcsuperg3986 so the same guitar with same pickups etc would sound exactly the same if the body was made of flakeboard or plywood? Come on!

[@kevinvandenberg5548]

@@jonathanhudak2059 any stable wood? Yes. At least 95% similar when amplified.

[@tomandaj1]

Dave Davies of the Kinks played a flying V in 1964

[@louselvaggio7799]

Hey @trog another GR8 Episode & a little off topic of Explorers not sure if you've seen any recent posts over the past couple days of Michael Schenker but he is now playing Gibson's again live and even modified his stage banners to change from Dean guitars to a somewhat Gibson looking headstock so it looks like he's making his triumphant return as a Gibson artist! Hopefully they'll be some signature releases of his line to come out in 2024! Cheers! 🍻 🇺🇸 ⚡🔥🤘😎🤘️🔥 ⚡ 🇺🇸 🍻 ️

[@louselvaggio7799]

Cheers! 🍻 🇺🇸 ⚡🔥🤘😎🤘️🔥 ⚡ 🇺🇸 🍻 ️

[@MichaelChunn40]

Hello, I have seen a Starrett Instrament oil that is clear and light that would work nice on the tuners. Thx.

[@Timo-_.]

i want one of these so bad!!! the allen collins axe

[@peterdigwood2247]

Wow, your video came up in my feed and I watched it immediately as I have a story to tell. Twenty two years ago on my 40th birthday my wife came home and presented me with a huge black guitar case and Inside was a second hand 1976 limited edition Explorer (which cost her AUS$1500.00). I loved the shape but the baseball sized neck really put me off so my present rarely saw the light of day until a couple of years ago when I showed it to a local guitar god who went nuts over it. His enthusiasm made me look into my guitar and I found out how collectible the axe actually is. It's definitely a 'player' guitar with chips here and there and a lot of the gold has worn off but it certainly has bucket loads of mojo. Keep up the good work and I'll be taking a deep dive into your other videos, and thanks again for the Explorer exploration.

[@shashiconant6783]

Great sound and I enjoy your playing buddy.. ✊🏻

[@jamesh2711]

Man, that thing is super clean. Looks like it's been barely played

[@craigusselman546]

It's gorgeous

[@Photognick521]

Happy Shredsgiving everyone!

[@andyderby150]

When I was a tween learning to play I seen a Flying V and thought wow that is insanely cool, and then seen an explorer I was like WTH is that weird thing?? Until I seen Allen collins using it like a chainsaw and it hit me! I got it, and seen many people using them as serious rock ram rods and yea the Edge works magic with it, I don’t need that kind of power so I stick to my comfort zone les Paul’s.

[@jonathanhudak2059]

I Saw not I seen lol hth👍

[@mattjohnson6916]

Any idea on what value the tone cap is on this one? 22nf or 47nf?

[@buaidhnobas1ify]

Good morning Trogly's Guitar show. Quick note, is the V headstock on the left stung differently than the one on the right? I always thought that the strings, E and Low E made more sense on the outside tuners.

[@richardmurray3347]

I'm thinking maybe use some graphite powder/grease for the tuners..... I'm sure that you will look into it to make sure that it's safe

[@Lucky..B]

They mostly on Yellow . 3 in 1 oil for tuners .

[@eurodecibel]

Wow, that was great Austin, Happy Thanksgiving!

[@davidallen346]

This is definitely a dream find 🎸🤘🤩

[@snapfinger1]

That would go well with the recently discovered unboxed ‘77 Triumph Bonneville.

[@schlotdoglaser]

My old guitar teacher (Tracy G from DIO) had an old 76......it was beat to hell and had names carved into it.....but man did it sound amazing.

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Wow, _NICE_ score man! 😎

[@wizardofahhhs759]

I can't play a lick but out of all musical instruments the guitar fascinates me the most.

[@cantfindamerica877]

Beautiful, great find.

[@rafa_v1.0]

Dude, I cannot believe you took this one apart! This thing is beautiful! What a find.

[@worksucksletsdrink6011]

When the edge buys this talk about it. Like the blue sparkle top with Mike ness. It would be so cool to talk about the mike ness sell!

[@truthtobehonest]

Nice example. 3 in 1 oil is probably good for those stiff tuners.

[@supersonicnomad8437]

I'm thankful for this channel. Thanks for all you do Austin! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@TheChicagoTodd]

Awesome! Great find for the museum! Hey......was that some Tool riff's you were bustin' out?

[@Techead78]

Never over oil. 3in1 is wonderful.

[@jester92345]

Geeze thats a beautiful explorer The tone is was better than I was excepting. It really checks all the boxes. Great find. Thanks for preserving this for the ages!

[@videomove]

what an incredible find and i‘m also loving the pickups...congrats!

[@markvonwisco7369]

It's definitely a fluke example of wood grain matching on the body. You really do have to look to see the seams. I have a couple of vintage Peaveys where it's clear that no effort was made to match up the wood grain on the multi-piece body.

[@jrodohio]

That is a beautiful example. I'd be shocked if one of the Edge's reps didn't contact you.

[@critterlover520]

I use remington oil for tuners! Most things that work for guns work for guitars in my experience

[@jonscudder759]

Wow! Amazing find!

[@IZE83L]

happy thanksgiving trogdaddy

[@matthewfarmer2520]

Thats a beautiful Gibson. Thanks for sharing.

[@donbishop6994]

Powdered graphite for the tuners. It won't stain the wood around the mounts like some of the oils can.

[@jameshughes6049]

Happy Thanksgiving Troglodytes!!!

[@stevenblakeakahashburns]

Thank you, what a phenomenal pristine piece

[@macdad159]

Is the rubber band around the cable still flexible or is it rotted?

[@TranceMasterJack]

Damn dude. That thing is amazing!

[@malcolmhardwick4258]

Nice find Austin !

[@duaneperkins8329]

Love the tones!!! Normally like the neck best but I love the middle even more. I think I would leave it in the middle for most things. Beautiful guitar! So, when's the museum opening? 😉

[@Forest_Fifer]

Is it just me or is the low E on the topmost tuner in the pic at 0:42 ?

[@Selzor]

It is, that's really cool.

[@streety301]

during the demo trogly was picking and strumming with a gentle touch

[@alexanderbreien2748]

Have you seen the gibson butterfly ultima on reverb? Id love to see it on the channel.

[@foofghtr]

You gotta sell this to The Edge, he’s gonna call you.. Trust that!

[@danielschear556]

Hands down, the BEST Explorer I've ever heard, from ANY era of Gibson!

[@Masterfighterx]

The '76 Explorer is also a little bit pointier on the lower and upper horns and the headstock is a little pointier too.

[@darthhull85]

I always thought I’d love an explorer. I built a replica of EVH’s shark and while it has an altered body, I don’t care for the shape. Bummer because I absolutely love the look

[@NeilCrouse99]

Wow, thoroughly enjoyed that,... thank you... THESE are the types of "unboxing" videos I like.....

[@user-ql1pc7pi9x]

I have one of these. Unoriginal tuners and pickups, but I still love it.