I remember the guy that bought it new had worked at a Southeastern Wisconsin music store or knew the owner very well. He said they talked to Gibson about the guitar, and that the guitars came around on a rotisserie. The Explorer was next to a group of guitars that were being painted wine red and it got put in that group by mistake. He played it around central Wisconsin all the time in the late 70's and early 80's in cover bands and after that I lost track of him. I remember drooling over that guitar, the gold hardware, creme Dimarzio pickups, with the wine red was awesome. I had bought an Explorer from him that was converted to a triple pickup guitar and painted black 00241029 and it had the Gibson/Norlin warranty card for his red Explorer in my case. I asked him if he wanted it and he said no so I filed it away. Now, many years later, I started looking for a couple Gibson's that I had back in the day and that's how I found the post. I guess I should have that red Explorer, or the owner should have the paperwork, right?
If anyone knows the whereabouts of my 1982 White Flying V that I bought new in Madison please let me know, it's 80502019.
Or my 1980 black Flying V 80250026 that I bought new.
Or the triple pickup Explorer 00241029
