Gibson submitted patent on June 1957, numbered 181,865
Original Run 1958-63
1958-59 Shares same specs, total of 22 estimated manufactured
Several more examples were completed using parts from these years and shipped as late as 1963
1962-63 has nickel hardware and patent number humbuckers
Prototype at 1957 NAMM Show
Gibson 1958 Explorer Specs
Body Type : Solid
Neck Joint : Set
Scale 24.75″
Body : Korina (African Limba)
Neck : Korina
Fretboard : 22 Fret Rosewood with Pearl Dot Inlay, 12″ Radius
Headstock : Blackface Peghead with Pearl Logo Inlay. Split Headstock (57 – Spring 58 make) or Banana Shape (58 onwards)
Hardware : Gold
Bridge : Tune-o-matic
Pickups : 2 x Humbucker ( P.A.F.)
Controls : 2 Volume / 1 Tone, 3 Position Switch
Finish : Natural
Original List Price : $247.50
Gibson annual tally is 19 for Explorer in 1958
Rick Nielsen’s 1958 Gibson Explorer
Eric Clapton’s 1958 Explorer auctioned off at Christie’s in 1999
Eric Clapton’s Sawn off 1958 Gibson Explorer
Rick Derringer’s 1958 Gibson Explorer with V shaped peghead
Slash’s 1958 Gibson Explorer
Slash’s equipment 
Slash’s equipment
Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Allen Collins 1958 Explorer
1960 Gibson Explorer on sale from Reverb
1963 Gibson Explorer on sale from Elderly’s
The next Gibson Explorer model was released in 1976, read about it in this post!
Gibson Explorer Blog and More 