The Gibson Explorer Korina is a Gibson electric guitar, currently around $6500. Close alternatives include the ESP Custom V Red Sparkle and the Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy". It pairs well with the Victory Amps V10 The Baron and the Fender Prosonic.
Gibson Explorer Korina
Gibson · electric guitar
Kirk Hammett owns a 1963 Gibson Explorer assembled from korina body and neck stock left over from the model's original, extremely limited late-1950s production run, one of the roughly 17 rare vintage Gibsons he showcased in an episode of Gibson TV's The Collection alongside a 1957 Korina Flying V prototype and Peter Green and Gary Moore's famous 1959 Les Paul, Greeny. Korina, a lightweight African wood Gibson used briefly for the Explorer and Flying V before both models were discontinued in 1958 due to poor initial sales, gives these guitars a brighter, more resonant voice than the mahogany used on most other Gibson solid bodies from the era. As one of the rarest body shapes Gibson ever produced in this wood, Hammett's example represents a significant piece of guitar history well outside the metal-oriented gear he's more commonly associated with.
- metal
- solid
- resonant
- attack
- rock
- blues
- mix
- resonance
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Gibson Explorer Korina is commonly used in
- Blues
- Metal
- Country
- Rock
- Jazz
- Heavy Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Gibson Explorer Korina
Victory Amps V10 The Baron
Victory
35% matchGibson Explorer Korina's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying
Fender Prosonic
amplifier
23% matchFender Prosonic leans warm right where the bright tone needs it
Orange Matamp
Orange
23% matchOrange Matamp's smooth balances out the bright tone
Revv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
20% matchRevv Generator 100R MkIII 3-Channel Head's smooth balances out the bright tone
Dumble Steel String Singer
Dumble
tonal matchDumble Steel String Singer leans smooth right where the bright tone needs it
Gibson GA-50
Gibson
tonal matchRun Gibson GA-50 after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp
Orange
tonal matchRun Orange BT1000H Terror Bass 1000-Watt Bass Amp after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Orange Terror Bass
Orange
tonal matchOrange Terror Bass's warm balances out the bright tone
Pedals that stack with the Gibson Explorer Korina
One Control Lingonberry Overdrive
One Control
16% matchOne Control Lingonberry Overdrive's warm balances out the bright tone
Cusack Music Screamer
Cusack Music
14% matchCusack Music Screamer's smooth balances out the bright tone
Orange - Vintage Distortion
Orange
tonal matchOrange - Vintage Distortion's warm balances out the bright tone
SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive
Solidgoldfx
tonal matchRun SolidGoldFX Commodore Breaker Overdrive after it and the bright edge settles into something more smooth
Behringer Chorus Symphony
Behringer
tonal matchBehringer Chorus Symphony's smooth balances out the bright tone
Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo
Dunlop
tonal matchWhere this leans bright, Dunlop Blue Hippo Optical Tremolo answers back warm
Pigtronix gamma drive
Pigtronix
tonal matchRun Pigtronix gamma drive after it and the bright edge settles into something more warm
Dunlop Echoplex Preamp
Dunlop
tonal matchDunlop Echoplex Preamp's smooth balances out the bright tone
Cheaper alternatives
Ibanez Iceman Electric Guitar
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-125
electric guitar
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson Es 335 Tdc
Gibson
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Dean Michael Schenker Signature V
Dean
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
ESP Custom V Red Sparkle
Esp
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy"
Dan Erlewine
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Harmony Rocket Guitar
Harmony
94% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Wavecaster Lucite Electric Guitar
Esp
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
Gibson
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Hamer Phantom GT
Hamer
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gibson Explorer Korina (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson Explorer Korina?+
The closest matches in character are the ESP Custom V Red Sparkle, the Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy", the Harmony Rocket Guitar. Budget picks: Ibanez Iceman Electric Guitar, Gibson ES-125, Gibson Es 335 Tdc. Boutique upgrades: Gibson Tony Iommi SG Signature.
What pairs well with the Gibson Explorer Korina?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Victory Amps V10 The Baron, Fender Prosonic, Orange Matamp — Gibson Explorer Korina's own bright character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the Gibson Explorer Korina cost?+
Around $6500 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs ESP Custom V Red Sparkle
- vs Ibanez Iceman Electric Guitar
- vs Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy"