Gibson Reverse Explorer Limited 1 of 400 Collectable! Guitar of the Month 2008 Here is a crazy one. A must for Explorer fans or Gibson collectors who want something different. Good condition, just some small dings here and there. Comes with original papers and hardcase. Here is the story: Following the success of the Reverse Flying V, the Reverse Explorer defines Gibson's commitment to the past while looking decidedly forward. Along with the unique reverse body style - wrapped in an Antique Walnut finish and crowned with gold hardware - the Reverse Explorer sports a cool retro-style logo pulled from the drawings of former Gibson president and guitar innovator Ted McCarty. Other unique features on the Reverse Explorer include Steinberger gearless tuners, a lightning bolt-shaped carbon fiber pickguard,. and concealed pole pieces. Collectors and players will love the Reverse Explorer! Unique touches The limited edition Reverse Explorer - Gibson USA's Guitar of the Month for September 2008 - is a guitar ready for the 21st century. Once again, the engineers at Gibson USA have flipped the body of one their most iconic guitars, and - once again - the result is stunning. The Reverse Explorer's one-piece mahogany body is now inverted so that the small horn is on the upper bass-side bout extending upward, while the larger horn is now positioned on the lower treble-side bout, pointing downward. Highlighting the unique body outline is a carbon fiber pickguard shaped like a lightning bolt, extending the entire length of the body. The Reverse Explorer sports an art-deco style logo designed by legendary Gibson President Ted McCarty during the mid-1950s. The logo was found amid some old drawings that were recently recovered, and convey McCarty's vision for a more futuristic design that ultimately resulted in guitars such as the original Explorer and Flying V. The headstock on the Reverse Explorer is a design also inspired by the late Ted McCarty. It was used briefly on the short-lived Moderne - a Gibson experimental guitar of the mid-1950s that saw very limited production. It is reproduced today exactly as it was then, along with the art-deco style logo recently uncovered among some old drawings from McCarty. The headstock is equipped with a set of Steinberger Gearless Tuners, which prevent string slippage by securing the strings with locking knobs and deliver an incredible 40:1 tuning ratio for accuracy and smooth tuning action. Body and Neck The original Explorer body is a striking example of Gibson ingenuity, but the body of the Reverse Explorer is even more creative. Turned upside down, the Reverse Explorer is as striking as ever, and the body is still as balanced and comfortable to play as the original. The neck profile on the Reverse Explorer is a combination of the traditional '50s rounded profile and a '60s slim-taper profile - two of the most popular necks in Gibson history. So while it still has the basic characteristics of each profile, each neck will be slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel. Rosewood is one of the world's most resonant woods, which is why Gibson has used it ever since the company's beginnings in the 1890s. It has graced the fingerboards of the world's finest stringed instruments. The classic inlays have given way to understated carbon fiber inlays at the fifth and twelfth frets.   Pickups The '57 Classic and '57 Classic Plus pickups are the result of Gibson's drive to capture and recreate the subtle variations of the legendary PAF humbuckers of the late 1950s and early 1960s. This renowned characteristic makes them the perfect choice for the Reverse Explorer. Introduced in 1992, the '57 Classic provides warm, full tone with a balanced response, packing that classic Gibson PAF humbucker crunch. The '57 Classic Plus is the perfect bridge-position companion to the '57 Classic, inspired by those original PAFs that received a few extra turns of wire. Both are made by Gibson to the exact same specs as the original PAFs, including Alnico II magnets, nickel-plated pole pieces, nickel slugs, maple spacers, and vintage-style, two-conductor braided wiring. Instead of enamel-coated wiring, Gibson added poly-coated wiring-which improves consistency by eliminating thin or thick spots on the wire - and wax potting, which removes all internal air space and any chance of microphonic feedback. In the Reverse Explorer, the pickups' pole pieces are concealed by covers that are copper-plated and powder-coated, giving them a tougher surface that stands up better to the wear and tear of everyday playing.   Gibson Reverse Explorer Features: Body Type: Reverse Explorer Body Wood: Mahogany Antique Walnut finish Carbon fiber pickguard Neck Wood: Mahogany Fingerboard: Rosewood Explorer neck profile Carbon fiber inlays at 5th and 12th fret Pickups: 57 Classic and 57 Classic + Two volume, one tone, 3-way toggle Unique Moderne-style headstock shape Ted McCarty-designed headstock logo