1976 Gibson Explorer First Reissue

Gibson first reissued the Explorer in 1976, manufacturing began from 1975-1980.

The reissue used mahogany for body and neck instead of korina.

There were two versions manufactured in 1976. The ‘Limited Edition’ models with the thicker 50’s style neck, and the production model sporting a thinner neck. The ‘Limited Edition’ models were only made in 1976.

Quote from The Edge’s guitar tech Dallas Schoo about the difference between the two models

“The right ones are hard to find because Gibson had two different Explorers in production that year. The ones that were produced from June through December had a thin neck, but the models that were produced during the first part of that year had a thick baseball bat neck. Those are the ones Edge prefers. Gibson didn’t make many of them, only about 1800 of them or so, and people hang on to them.”

Available Finishes : Natural, Ebony, White.

Shipping Totals according to Gibson

1975: White (total 2)

1976: Ebony 104, Natural 1835, White 67

1977: Ebony 203, Natural 760, White 124

1978: Ebony 65, Natural 149, White 60

1979: Ebony 133, Natural 94, White 60, Explorer II (E2) 586

The Pickups were Super Humbucking Pickups aka Tarbacks designed by Bill Lawrence when he worked for Gibson.

From Gibson : ” Designed in 1971 by Gibson, The super humbucking has a stronger, hotter output that the Original humbucking, combined with better low and high end frequency respeonse. This is somewhat of a paradox in that as a general rule the hotter the pickups, (higher the impedance); the less high end response you have at your disposal. ”

Inductance 4.7 Henries
Resonant Peak 5.8 Khz
DC resistance 7.8 K ohms (at 1000 cps)
Impedance High
Two Active upper coils
One Ceramic Magnet (indox 7)
Adjustable pole pieces
Removable pickup cover
2 point height adjustment

1976 Gibson Explorer in Natural Finish (photos from Reverb)

1976 Gibson Explorer in White Finish (photos from Gbase)

1976 Gibson Explorer in Ebony Finish (photos from Reverb)

The Edge’s 1976 Limited Edition Gibson Explorer. The guitar was auctioned off in 2008 to benefit the non-profit organization Music Rising. It sold for $240,000.