Gibson

Gibson Custom Shop Diablo Mod Shop “SO WHAT” Explorer Relic #2 Aged Alpine White Relic 1984 w/OHSC

Name: Gibson Custom Shop Diablo Mod Shop “SO WHAT” Explorer Relic #2 Aged Alpine White Relic 1984 w/OHSC
Brand: Gibson
Price: 7999.99 USD
Availability: InStock

$7,999.99 USD

~~$7,999.99 USD~~ $7,999.99 USD

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Vintage Gibson Custom Shop Diablo Mod Shop Replica "SO WHAT" Explorer Relic #2 in Aged Alpine White VOS finish made in 1984, Build Completed in 2024 with original hard shell case. This guitar features a solid alder body, maple neck and ebony fingerboard. upgraded with Tom Anderson H1 humbucker in the bridge position and Gibson 496R in the neck position. Controlled by 2 volume, 1 tone pot and a 3-Way toggle switch in the triangle knob layout. The 24.75" scale length neck has mother of pearl dot inlays and 22 medium frets on a 12" radius with a slim taper profile. The hardware is comprised of aged chrome gotoh replicated "Gibson" ink stamp sealed diecast tuning machines with cloche heads, a bone nut, a Gibson nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge with stop tail and knurled chrome dome knobs.

This build is based on the last mods known and done to the James Hatfield's "SO WHAT" Guitar, which were performed in 1990 according to the book "Messengers"

This Guitar started its life as a 1984 gibson custom shop purple burst explorer that had been previously refinished black. It was stripped back down to bare wood and prepared to be a full player again before being refinished with an aged nitro lacquer process to give it an authentic vintage look and feel. The original mother of pearl dots were worn and thin from levels over the years, so it received a fresh set. It was then meticulously hand reliced to match in extreme detail with James Hetfields actual "so what" explorer using plenty of close up reference photos, right down to the dings, wear, scratches and even simulated his headstock break by scaring the paint. James was known for loving to hit the crash cymbals with his guitars headstocks! The "SO WHAT" quote came from the Anti Nowhere league song title, this was hand carved into the top and accurate replica stickers were sourced. The "fist punch" sticker can be seen on Metallica's Japan Tour, the "Jump in the Fire" sticker was from Les Edward's illustration for The Devils of D-Day.

The instrument was the re-equipped with a hand aged chrome set of hardware. A set of Gotoh tuners got a simulated "Gibson" ink stamp, the Tom Anderson H1 bridge pickup / gibson 496R neck pickup were sourced, all the worn pots were replaced with Gibson spec 500k pots to get Hetfield's exact pickup tone and configuration at the time of the 1990 "Black Album" which is the last know mods to the real "So What" Explorer.

All Work Performed By Ronnie Monk (Former Gibson Custom Shop Luthier)

This guitar is in excellent condition with minimal signs of actual wear and play. All the Finish age, checking and relic is accurately simulated. (see pics)

Guitar is freshly setup and restrung with 10-52 strings. Includes Original Hard Shell Case and Diablo Mod Shop Build COA.

Specs

Brand: Gibson
Series: Diablo Mod Shop Replica
Model: Diablo Mod Shop "SO WHAT" #2 Explorer Relic
Year: 1984
Finish Type: Nitrocellulose
Finish: Aged Alpine White
Country: The USA
Serial: 82624512
Condition: Excellent
Weight: 8lbs .3oz
Body Type: Solid
Body Wood: Alder
Scale Length: 24.75"
Neck Joint: Set
Neck Wood: Maple
Neck Finish: Matching
Finger Board: Ebony
Headstock: Matched with Punch Sticker
Neck Radius: 12"
Neck Profile: Slim Taper
Neck Thickness@ 1st Fret: .785"
Neck Thickness@ 12th Fret: .932"
Frets: Mother of Pearl Dot
Nut: Bone
Nut Width: 1.72"
Frets: 22 Medium
Pickup Config: HH
Bridge Pickup: Tom Anderson H1 Humbucker
Neck Pickup: Gibson 496R
Switch Arrangement: 3-Way Toggle Switch
Pot Arrangement: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
Hardware: Aged Chrome
Tuning Machines: Gotoh Replicated Gibson Ink Stamp Sealed Diecast with Cloche
Strap Buttons: Schaller Locking
Bridge: Gibson Nashville Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stoptail
Knobs: Knurled Chrome Dome
Mod: Refin/Relic, Tuners, Pickups, Pots, replica stickers, "SO WHAT" carving, bone nut, new pearl inlays
Other Features: Mod Shop COA
String Gauge: 10-52
Case: Original Hard Shell Case