A Dark Addiction Explorer masterpiece from Leo Scala
The Gibson Custom Master Artisan Collection brings together the skill, imagination, and individuality of some of the world’s most distinctive luthiers, and the Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer™ represents one of the most striking collaborations in the series. Handcrafted by renowned Master Artisan Leo Scala, this one‑of‑a‑kind instrument channels the energy of the original 1958 Explorer while pushing its character into bold new territory. Finished in Dark Natural, which deepens and shifts depending on the light, going from a shadowy, understated presence to a glowing amber under stage lights, this heavily aged (Ultra Aging ++) interpretation is built to perform, inspire, and stand apart.
Scala has spent more than 25 years crafting guitars in his small Los Angeles workshop, where his singular blend of creativity, European artistic influence, and obsessive craftsmanship has earned him a devoted following among discerning players. His background—rooted in classical music, chemical engineering, and the textured visual world of old European architecture and relics—infuses every instrument he creates. His guitars have been played and collected by artists such as Slash, Richard Fortus, Phil X, Doug Aldrich, and Jason Momoa, all drawn to the unmistakable personality of his work.
That personality is shaped by Scala’s process, which centers on the idea that every element of a guitar deserves its own full attention. He focuses on materials, techniques, and design principles that echo those used during the Explorer’s earliest years, drawing on period‑correct methods while adding his own conceptual flair. A heavily aged 1958 Explorer known as “Big Ed” served as a key influence in this series, and after building custom Explorers for Slash and Jason Momoa, Scala created ten related but distinctly unique Explorers for the Master Artisan Collection. The Dark Addiction Explorer is one of the three individual builds in that group, offering its own identity, voice, and visual impact.
Its Korina body and hide‑glue‑fit Korina neck establish a resonant, harmonically rich foundation. The Indian rosewood fretboard features pearloid dot inlays, 22 reissue frets, and a ’58 Vintage neck profile with rounded edges for an inviting, broken‑in feel. A distinct neck dent at the 4th fret mirrors the matching mark found on the vintage “Big Ed,” adding a subtle historical reference. Scala’s hand‑wound Retrophonic humbuckers™, with Alnico 2 magnets in the neck and Alnico 5 magnets in the bridge, are voiced for clarity, warmth, and articulate power, complemented by 50s‑style hand wiring, VIPots vintage taper potentiometers, and a phone book capacitor.
Leo Scala hand‑aged and color-infused Kluson® tuners, an ABR‑1 Tune‑O‑Matic™ bridge, a lightweight aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, and Master Artisan‑aged gold hardware elevate both feel and function. The white 4‑ply pickguard, aged gold Top Hat knobs, and raised metal Gibson headstock logo complete the instrument’s expressive aesthetic. The Dark Addiction Explorer ships in a custom wine suede G&G hardshell case with matching accents and Leo Scala aged hardware, along with a handcrafted darker brown leather Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe in Spain and aged by Scala, plus a custom certificate of authenticity.
The Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer is more than a collector’s piece—it is a performing work of art, purpose‑built for players who want a guitar with a story, a voice, and a singular presence all its own.
Highlights
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k) humbucker in bridge position
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k) in neck position
- '58 Vintage neck profile
- Korina body and neck
- Handmade black caiman leather strap by Don Pepe from Spain
- Hand‑crafted Certificate of Authenticity box from Leo Scala
- Custom G&G wine suede hardshell case with Leo Scala custom-aged hardware
- Leo Scala Master Artisan Dark Addiction aging
Spezifikationen
Korpus
Korpus
Farbe Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Korpus Korina
Modell Explorer
Hals
Hals
Griffbrett-Material Indiana Rosewood
Griffbrettradius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Anzahl Bünde 22
Bünde Reissue
Griffbretteinlagen Cellulose Dot
Hals-Korpus-Verbindung Hide glue fit
neck-finish Big Ed dent at 4th fret
Hals-Material Korina
Sattelmaterial Nylon
Sattelbreite 42.8mm / 1.69in
Halsprofil \Big Ed\ 1958 Explorer
Mensur 628.65mm / 24.75in
Elektronik
Elektronik
Bridge-Pickup Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Kontrollen 2 volume, 1 tone
Hals-Pickup Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Ausgangsbuchse 1/4"
Pickup-Wahlschalter 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Brücken & Stege ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Elektronikfach-Abdeckung White
Regler Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Schlagbretter White
Pickup-Abdeckungen Gold
Saitenhalter Stop Bar
Mechaniken Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Sonstiges
Sonstiges
Zubehör Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Dark_Dark
Koffer Custom G&G Wine Suede
Kopfplatteneinlage Raised metal Gibson Logo
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer, Natural
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer, Natural
Kostenloser & Schneller Versand
Kostenloser & Schneller Versand
Bestellungen, die montags bis freitags vor 13:00 Uhr aufgegeben werden, werden noch am selben Tag bearbeitet (ausgenommen Feiertage). Bestellungen nach dieser Zeit werden am nächsten Werktag versendet. Alle Bestellungen über 50 € erhalten kostenlosen Standardversand.
Lebenslange Garantie
Lebenslange Garantie
Sorgenfrei einkaufen und spielen mit dem Schutz der eingeschränkten lebenslangen Garantie. Weitere Informationen zu Garantien und Ausnahmen finden Sie hier .
Inklusive Koffer
Inklusive Koffer
Im Lieferumfang Ihres Instruments ist ein Hartschalen- oder Softshell-Koffer für Lagerung und Transport enthalten. Weitere Informationen finden Sie in den Produktspezifikationen.
Inklusive Werks-Einstellung
Inklusive Werks-Einstellung
Unsere ausgebildeten Techniker prüfen Ihr Instrument gründlich durch und nehmen alle Einstellungen vor, bevor es verpackt und an Sie geliefert wird.
A Dark Addiction Explorer masterpiece from Leo Scala
The Gibson Custom Master Artisan Collection brings together the skill, imagination, and individuality of some of the world’s most distinctive luthiers, and the Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer™ represents one of the most striking collaborations in the series. Handcrafted by renowned Master Artisan Leo Scala, this one‑of‑a‑kind instrument channels the energy of the original 1958 Explorer while pushing its character into bold new territory. Finished in Dark Natural, which deepens and shifts depending on the light, going from a shadowy, understated presence to a glowing amber under stage lights, this heavily aged (Ultra Aging ++) interpretation is built to perform, inspire, and stand apart.
Scala has spent more than 25 years crafting guitars in his small Los Angeles workshop, where his singular blend of creativity, European artistic influence, and obsessive craftsmanship has earned him a devoted following among discerning players. His background—rooted in classical music, chemical engineering, and the textured visual world of old European architecture and relics—infuses every instrument he creates. His guitars have been played and collected by artists such as Slash, Richard Fortus, Phil X, Doug Aldrich, and Jason Momoa, all drawn to the unmistakable personality of his work.
That personality is shaped by Scala’s process, which centers on the idea that every element of a guitar deserves its own full attention. He focuses on materials, techniques, and design principles that echo those used during the Explorer’s earliest years, drawing on period‑correct methods while adding his own conceptual flair. A heavily aged 1958 Explorer known as “Big Ed” served as a key influence in this series, and after building custom Explorers for Slash and Jason Momoa, Scala created ten related but distinctly unique Explorers for the Master Artisan Collection. The Dark Addiction Explorer is one of the three individual builds in that group, offering its own identity, voice, and visual impact.
Its Korina body and hide‑glue‑fit Korina neck establish a resonant, harmonically rich foundation. The Indian rosewood fretboard features pearloid dot inlays, 22 reissue frets, and a ’58 Vintage neck profile with rounded edges for an inviting, broken‑in feel. A distinct neck dent at the 4th fret mirrors the matching mark found on the vintage “Big Ed,” adding a subtle historical reference. Scala’s hand‑wound Retrophonic humbuckers™, with Alnico 2 magnets in the neck and Alnico 5 magnets in the bridge, are voiced for clarity, warmth, and articulate power, complemented by 50s‑style hand wiring, VIPots vintage taper potentiometers, and a phone book capacitor.
Leo Scala hand‑aged and color-infused Kluson® tuners, an ABR‑1 Tune‑O‑Matic™ bridge, a lightweight aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, and Master Artisan‑aged gold hardware elevate both feel and function. The white 4‑ply pickguard, aged gold Top Hat knobs, and raised metal Gibson headstock logo complete the instrument’s expressive aesthetic. The Dark Addiction Explorer ships in a custom wine suede G&G hardshell case with matching accents and Leo Scala aged hardware, along with a handcrafted darker brown leather Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe in Spain and aged by Scala, plus a custom certificate of authenticity.
The Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer is more than a collector’s piece—it is a performing work of art, purpose‑built for players who want a guitar with a story, a voice, and a singular presence all its own.
Highlights
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k) humbucker in bridge position
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k) in neck position
- '58 Vintage neck profile
- Korina body and neck
- Handmade black caiman leather strap by Don Pepe from Spain
- Hand‑crafted Certificate of Authenticity box from Leo Scala
- Custom G&G wine suede hardshell case with Leo Scala custom-aged hardware
- Leo Scala Master Artisan Dark Addiction aging
Spezifikationen
Korpus
Korpus
Farbe Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Korpus Korina
Modell Explorer
Hals
Hals
Griffbrett-Material Indiana Rosewood
Griffbrettradius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Anzahl Bünde 22
Bünde Reissue
Griffbretteinlagen Cellulose Dot
Hals-Korpus-Verbindung Hide glue fit
neck-finish Big Ed dent at 4th fret
Hals-Material Korina
Sattelmaterial Nylon
Sattelbreite 42.8mm / 1.69in
Halsprofil \Big Ed\ 1958 Explorer
Mensur 628.65mm / 24.75in
Elektronik
Elektronik
Bridge-Pickup Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Kontrollen 2 volume, 1 tone
Hals-Pickup Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Ausgangsbuchse 1/4"
Pickup-Wahlschalter 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Brücken & Stege ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Elektronikfach-Abdeckung White
Regler Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Schlagbretter White
Pickup-Abdeckungen Gold
Saitenhalter Stop Bar
Mechaniken Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Sonstiges
Sonstiges
Zubehör Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Dark_Dark
Koffer Custom G&G Wine Suede
Kopfplatteneinlage Raised metal Gibson Logo
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Previously from Leo Scala
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