Gibson has just expanded their current lineup with fresh finishes across the ES and Explorer ranges, plus introduced a series of Custom Shop mahogany reissues that bring some of the most iconic designs back into reach.
Starting with the core range, Gibson has brought in new colour options for the ’70s and ’80s Explorers. The ’80s Explorer comes in Cherry, while the ’70s model is now available in Dark Walnut. Both tap into the era when the Explorer finally hit its stride – the ’70s introduced rockers to that futuristic shape and tone, but the ’80s is where it truly came alive as players like Adrian Belew and others made it a staple of hard rock.
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ES-335 Satin gets a Smokehouse Satin finish, sitting alongside the new ES-339 additions. Both the 339 colours – Honeyburst and Figured Dark Purple Burst – maintain that semi-hollowbody character that made the 335 the cornerstone of the ES range since 1958, with the 339 offering a slightly lighter, more compact option without sacrificing tone or sustain.
Gibson Custom’s new mahogany reissues of their most radical designs are where things get interesting. Both the 1958 Mahogany Flying V Reissue and 1958 Mahogany Explorer Reissue recreate those original models with all the classic vintage features intact. Instead of the rare Korina wood used on the originals, these use mahogany for a warmer, denser sound – perfect for players who want the iconic aesthetics but need a more aggressive rock and metal tone.
Completing the Custom Shop additions are two even rarer designs. The 1957 Mahogany Moderne Reissue and 1957 Mahogany Futura Reissue bring Gibson’s most experimental guitars into production. The Moderne was pure space-age thinking when it was patented – radically different from anything around it and still looking fresh today. The Futura resembles the Explorer but with more angular body lines and a split V headstock design that predates the scimitar shape we know now.
All mahogany reissues are finished in Ant Natural and meticulously recreated from Gibson’s archives, right down to the patent drawings. They’re based on those original designs rather than modern interpretations, making them genuinely faithful reproductions of some of the most innovative guitars ever conceived.
