Gibson Electric Solid Body Information

Explorer

Introduced: 1958 - 1959, reissued mid 70’s
Dimensions: 16 ¼” x 22”
Wood: Solid Korina, no binding
Neck: Solid Korina, no binding
Finish: Natural
Pickups: Two Humbucking
Hardware: Nickel or Gold plated
Tuners: 6 in line strip Kluson

Notes: First of Gibson’s Modern/Future looking guitars. Was discontinued due to low appeal. Early 60’s several were built with leftover parts from 1958 and 59.
Firebird I, III, V, & VII

Introduced: 1963
Dimensions: 14 1/2” x 19 9/16”
Scale: 23 ¾”
Body: Mahogany, no binding
Neck: Mahogany, no binding, VII with binding
Finish: Sunburst and custom colors
Pickups: One, two, or three (VII), mini Humbucking
Hardware: Nickel or Gold plated
Tuners: Banjo style tuners late 60’s 6 in line strip Kluson

Notes: Introduced to compete with the Fender Stratocaster, the earliest models were reverse body and headstock.
Flying V

Introduced: 1958 - 1959, reissued mid 70’s
Dimensions: 16 3/4” x 19 1/2”
Wood: Solid Korina, no binding
Neck: Solid Korina, no binding 22 frets dot inlay
Finish: Natural
Pickups: Two Humbucking
Hardware: Gold plated White or Black pickguard
Tuners: 6 Kluson Deluxe

Notes: First of Gibson’s Modern/Future looking guitars. Was discontinued due to low appeal in 1959 then reintroduced in the 1970’s. Some shipped in early 60’s with left over 50’s parts.
Les Paul Custom

Introduced: 1954-1957. reissued 1968
Dimensions: 12 3/4” x 17 1/4”
Body: Solid Mahogany, White 7 ply binding, Single Cutaway
Neck: Solid Mahogany, white binding 22 frets block inlay
Finish: Solid Black
Pickups: One Alnico Pickup One P90, 1957 Three gold plated Hummbuckers
Hardware: Gold plated Black pickguard, Tune-o-matic bridge, and stud tailpiece, Some with Bigsby Vibrato
Tuners: 6 Individual Kluson Super


Notes: Referred to as the ‘Black Beauty' and the ‘Fretless Wonder’. It was the deluxe version of the Les Paul Standard.

Les Paul Junior

Introduced: 1954-1958
Dimensions: 12 3/4” x 17 1/4”
Body: Solid Mahogany, No binding, Single Cutaway 1958 Double Cutaway
Neck: Solid Mahogany, no binding 22 frets block inlay
Finish: Brown Sunburst / Cherry in 1958
Pickups: One P90
Hardware: Nickel plated, combination stud bar tailpiece, single ply black pickguard
Tuners: 2 3 on a plate Kluson

Notes: A lower end cheaper version of the Les Paul Standard. Available in a 3/4 version.
Les Paul Standard

Introduced: 1952
Dimensions: 12 3/4” x 17 1/4”
Scale: 24 ¾”
Body: Solid Mahogany carved Maple top, cream binding on top, Single Cutaway
Finish: Gold / Cherry Sunburst in 1958
Pickups: Two P90’s – 1957 Two Humbuckers
Hardware: Nickel plated, Trapeze tail piece - 1954 combination stud bar tailpiece late
1955 Tune-o-Matic bridge and stud tailpiece. White single ply pickguard
Tuners: 6 individual Kluson

Notes: Gibson’s first solid body guitar. Named and associated with famous artist Les Paul. Seven different variation were made between 1952 and 1969.