Having over 100 years to look back on one can find some innovative and interesting vintage Gibson guitars. Three favorite designs, designed by Ted McCarty, include the Explorer, the Flying V, and the Moderne. These three guitars made up the modernist line and perhaps the greatest testament to Ted’s vision was that they where introduced nearly 20 years before they became hits in the music industry.
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See a complete list of vintage Gibson guitars.
The Explorer (1958 to 1959 and 1975 to Present)
The initial release of the Explorer was short-lived due a complete lack of demand. The body-design was considered futuristic, perhaps to futuristic. Today, many of us would associate the design to various musicians of the 1970s and 1980s especially the heavy metal rock bands. The shape reminds me of an X with one of its lines or a Z with its center line grossly exaggerated. The Explorer did have a come back when it was re-released in 1975. Variations of the Explorer are still in production today.
The body and neck of the original Explorer guitars are made from korina and used a 3+3 tuner layout with a split-shaped head. The newer version, 1975 and up, are made from maple and/or mahogany and went to placing the tuners in a straight line and a hockey stick shaped head. With production estimates as low 50, these early models are highly valued by collectors.
The Flying V (1958 to 1959 and 1967 to Present)
Originally released in 1958 and met the same fate as the Explorer when production ended in 1959. This vintage Gibson guitar however had an earlier revival and was re-released in 1967, 8 years before the Explorer. This was due in part to a handful of musicians, like Jimi Hendrix, picking it up in the 1960s. The body of these vintage Gibson guitars are very much shaped like upside down Vs, or Ys if you include the neck.
The Flying V had a 496R and 500T bridge in the neck and bridge position respectively, and 2 humbucker pickups. The body was made from korina and mahogany. The V Bass, a four-string bass version, was released in 1981.
Reportedly, a few Flying Vs and the Explorers, built from original spare parts, were shipped in 1963.
The Moderne (designed in 1957 released in 1982)
Although designed and patented in the same time frame as the other two vintage Gibson guitars in the modernist line, it was not released until 1982. It was quickly discontinued in 1983 because popularity fell far behind that of the Explorer and Flying V. It had a shape that resembled the letter “A” only one side, the top, was short while the bottom leg was longer. There was also a short stub towards the top of the A. Please excuse my written description. The idea behind these guitars was to be abstract a not really resemble anything.
Ted McCarty filed for his design patent on these three vintage Gibson guitars nearly 20 years before their prominence. Makes you wonder if he saw spiked bracelets, make-up, and big hair coming.
