Gibson/Hamer Custom Shop Explorer?

[uwe]

"Dear Uwe,

Thank you for your email.

We found no records of this instrument and it is very difficult to say something about it. It does not appear to come out of regular Gibson production. It might be made of vintage Gibson parts, but this is not sure. It might have been made by Gibson for Entertainment and Artist relations purposes. Unfortunately we cannot tell you anything about the history of this bass. However, there is nothing about that looks like fake or copy.

If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us again or refer to our webpage at www.gibson.com

Kind regards,

Boris Franz
Customer Service
Gibson Europe
FREE NUMBER
00800-4GIBSON1
00800-44427661
www.gibson.com"

[Dave W]

I'm not surprised.

Are you going to pass?

[uwe]

To tell the truth, I'm deliberating. I read their email as: "we cannot rule out that this is a one-off thing we did". Frankly, I was expecting a stronger distancing (as they have done in the past in other cases) from this product so even they seem to be in doubt ("However, there is nothing about that looks like fake or copy."). And that is how I see it, you can't rule it out. I'm currently racking my brains how to quantify the "not rule out aspect" in Dollars.  Like a very good fake Rembrandt this thing has some curio value.

By now it is established that Rembrandt's most famous painting ("The Man with the Golden Helmet") which has been attributed to him for centuries is more likely than not a fake one of his then associates did. But wouldn't you still like to have it in your living room?

[Nocturnal]

I think if I was in Uwe's position I'd probably go for it. Not for the BIN price, but I'd take a stab at it. It would look great along side the other explorer's that you have. It wouldn't be the worst thing to have a "fake" in the collection if it was a cool & unusual piece.

[Dave W]

I can't see paying the BIN but it does have the look of a custom instrument. And Gibson hasn't completely disavowed it so it may have been made with Gibson's knowledge.

[Freuds_Cat]

Maybe a Foreigny?

[Basvarken]

Uwe is the notorious Gibson Kollekshöner who happens to be a completist too. An easy victim for malafide luthiers / forgers...

But on the other hand, Uwe; if you like it, and the price is right for you, why not?

[uwe]

I'm not going anywhere near the BIN, that's for certain. The fact that it is another short scale one, intrigues me. I can't really think of a bass more unlikely for short scale than an Explorer, yet here we have Gibson producing them as short scales both in the fifties (the original ones), eighties (my replica) and now this in the nineties (which seems a little like the replica of the replica, it certainly has more to do with that than with the eighties regular line models which were only medium scale too).

I've bid now, let's see where this goes. Those two Model Gs should pretty much roar. I've always been on the lookout for a really nice Gibson fake that is lovingly done, at the very least it might qualify for that.

Uwe

[godofthunder]

 I am surprised Gibson did not distance themselves more, maybe it is legit. With those two model Gs that bass is going to ROAR ! If you have a rythem guitarist you may as well let him go ! The flame top and bound body with model Gs make it look more Hamer like than Gibson. Good luck Uwe.

[Barklessdog]

It's  nice bass either way, and you do not have any basses with model G's that I know of?

[uwe]

No, I don't. All I had was a Kramer with a Schaller pup at one time which to all intents and purposes was a Model G rip-off. It sounded middish as hell, but lacked sublows and oresence. I changed for EMGs  and ended up with sublows and presence galore, but no mids at all!

[marcnorth]

Congrat's on the new one. It will make a fine addition to your collection.

[uwe]

Thanks, yes I did get it, my new Fakesplorer! I was running out of real Gibsons after all ...

Uwe

[godofthunder]

 I'm a bit jealous  look out for those Dimarzios !

[Dave W]

Congratulations, I think! Hopefully it's a good custom job.