Besterhuizen Posted August 17, 2021 Share Posted August 17, 2021 Good Day all I am currently interested in a 2002 Epiphone Limited Edition 1958 Korina Explorer (Unsung Korea) with serial number U02032846 but not sure how I can validate that it is a Gibson version and Korina wood? Thank you for your time and effort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 (edited) I'm not sure what you mean by "Gibson version," but it's certainly an authentic Epiphone. I've never seen a counterfeit Explorer that isn't an obvious modification of some other (cheaper) guitar. Korina is another name for African Limba, which this guitar is definitely not. The original Gibson versions were, but modern Gibson versions (aside from the new, ultra-limtied Custom Shop versions) are just mahogany, and Epiphone arewhatever Asian-native "mahogany" (such as red cedar) is used at the time, with an amber finish. Edited August 18, 2021 by pohatu771 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Besterhuizen Posted August 18, 2021 Author Share Posted August 18, 2021 thank you for the detail but why do they have Gibson truss rod covers then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted August 18, 2021 Share Posted August 18, 2021 (edited) Some early Korean made Korina Explorers were made from large blocks of Korina (highly sought after). Later they are made from several Korina blocks covered top and back by a thin veneer of Korina. Korean made Epiphones almost all have a nut cover inscribed Gibson. Your Explorer does look authentic, also the bridge, stopbar, pickups and sometimes control pots will be marked Epiphone. Edited August 18, 2021 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 On 8/18/2021 at 3:22 AM, Besterhuizen said: thank you for the detail but why do they have Gibson truss rod covers then? Between 1988 and about 2004, all Epiphone guitars that were copies of Gibson models had truss rod covers with "Gibson" on them. The Epiphone-original models, like the Sheraton and Casino, did not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 People mod Guitars also….. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt4356 Posted August 20, 2021 Share Posted August 20, 2021 23 hours ago, pohatu771 said: Between 1988 and about 2004, all Epiphone guitars that were copies of Gibson models had truss rod covers with "Gibson" on them. The Epiphone-original models, like the Sheraton and Casino, did not. Between this period some if not most sheraton II came with a gibson truss cover, including my 93. I know the riviera had the E, as did the epiphone by gibson models which came before this period. I know people mod them but there are several on ebay and reverb at the moment with the gibson cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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