A performing piece of art from acclaimed Master Artisan Leo Scala
The Gibson Custom Master Artisan Collection celebrates the rare intersection of visionary craftsmanship and authentic Gibson tradition, and the Leo Scala Custom Addiction Explorer™ is among the most compelling expressions of that mission. Handcrafted by renowned luthier Leo Scala, this one‑of‑a‑kind Dark Cherry Korina creation is a deeply personal interpretation of the 1958 Explorer, shaped by Scala’s distinctive aesthetic, his obsessive attention to detail, and his longstanding passion for Gibson instruments. Fully functional, unmistakably Gibson, and entirely unique, it represents a merging of historical inspiration and modern artistry in a way only the Master Artisan Collection can deliver.
Scala’s work is rooted in more than 25 years of building guitars in his workshop near Los Angeles, where his background in art, engineering, and European design sensibilities converge. His instruments are known for their singular character, dramatic visual presence, and a relentless focus on sound. That commitment informs every decision he makes, from materials and construction techniques to hand-applied finishes, precision-aged hardware, and his own hand-wound Retrophonic pickups. For Scala, each part of the instrument is treated as its own project. He builds the details first, then brings them together to create a guitar that feels alive in the player’s hands.
The Custom Addiction Explorer draws heavily from the spirit of the original 1958 design, as well as from a heavily aged vintage model known as “Big Ed,” one of the central inspirations for this series. After creating individual Explorers for Slash and Jason Momoa, Scala turned his attention to producing ten distinctive Explorers for the Master Artisan Collection. Each one is related in concept, yet entirely individual. The Custom Addiction Explorer is one of the three singular builds in the collection, and it stands apart with a deep Dark Cherry Korina finish, heavily aged lacquer work, and a voice that is as nuanced as its visual impact.
Its Korina body and Korina neck, joined with hide glue, establish a resonant tonal core that is both warm and articulate. The Indian rosewood fretboard, fitted with 22 reissue frets and shaped to a ’58 Vintage neck profile with rounded edges, provides a smooth, inviting playing experience. Scala’s Retrophonic humbuckers™ contribute a wide expressive range, with the neck pickup wound with Alnico 2 magnets, reverse-mounted, and wired out of phase for added dimension, while the bridge pickup’s Alnico 4 magnets deliver punch, clarity, and definition. Every element of the electronics, including 50s-style hand-wiring, VIPots vintage taper potentiometers, and phone book capacitors, supports a dynamic, harmonically rich sound.
Leo Scala hand-aged and color-infused Kluson® tuners, an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, a lightweight aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, aged hardware, custom black appointments, and a raised metal Gibson headstock logo complete the instrument. It arrives in a custom wine suede G&G hardshell case with matching accents, complemented by a handcrafted Don Pepe leather strap aged by Scala, and a custom certificate of authenticity box.
Bold, sculptural, expressive, and unmistakably crafted with intention, the Leo Scala Custom Addiction Explorer is a true performing piece of art that is built to inspire, built to be played, and built to be unlike anything else.
Highlights
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k) humbucker in bridge position
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k) in neck position
- Leo Scala Master Artisan Custom Addiction aging
- '58 Vintage neck profile
- Cuerpo y mástil de korina
- 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
Guitar Specifications
Cuerpo
Cuerpo
Acabado del cuerpo Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Cuerpo Korina
Forma del cuerpo Explorer
Mastil
Mastil
Material del diapasón Indiana Rosewood
Radio del diapasón 304.8mm / 12.0in
Recuento de trastes 22
Trastes Reissue
Incrustaciones Cellulose Dot
Union Hide glue fit
neck-finish Big Ed dent at 4th fret
Material del mastil Korina
Material de la cejilla Nylon
Ancho de la cejilla 42.8mm / 1.69in
Perfil \Big Ed\ 1958 Explorer
Longitud de la escala 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electrónica
Electrónica
Pastilla de puente Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Controles 2 volume, 1 tone
Pastilla de mástil Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Conector de salida 1/4"
Pastilla de diapasón 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Puentes ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Cubiertas de controles White
Controles Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Golpeadores White
Cubierta de pastilla Gold
Cordales Stop Bar
Clavijeros Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Miscelánea
Miscelánea
Accesorios Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Custom_Da
Estuche Custom G&G Wine Suede
Incrustación en la pala Raised metal Gibson Logo
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Custom Addiction Explorer, Dark Cherry
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Custom Addiction Explorer, Dark Cherry
Garantía de por vida
Garantía de por vida
Toca tu instrumento con la seguridad de nuestra garantía limitada de por vida. Obtén más información sobre las garantías y sus excepciones aquí .
Estuche incluido
Estuche incluido
Tu instrumento incluye un estuche rígido o blando de fábrica para guardarlo y transportarlo con seguridad. Consulta las especificaciones del producto para más detalles.
Ajuste incluido
Ajuste incluido
Nuestros técnicos artesanos llevan a cabo una pormenorizada inspección final y configuran los instrumentos antes de que se embalen y envíen.
A performing piece of art from acclaimed Master Artisan Leo Scala
The Gibson Custom Master Artisan Collection celebrates the rare intersection of visionary craftsmanship and authentic Gibson tradition, and the Leo Scala Custom Addiction Explorer™ is among the most compelling expressions of that mission. Handcrafted by renowned luthier Leo Scala, this one‑of‑a‑kind Dark Cherry Korina creation is a deeply personal interpretation of the 1958 Explorer, shaped by Scala’s distinctive aesthetic, his obsessive attention to detail, and his longstanding passion for Gibson instruments. Fully functional, unmistakably Gibson, and entirely unique, it represents a merging of historical inspiration and modern artistry in a way only the Master Artisan Collection can deliver.
Scala’s work is rooted in more than 25 years of building guitars in his workshop near Los Angeles, where his background in art, engineering, and European design sensibilities converge. His instruments are known for their singular character, dramatic visual presence, and a relentless focus on sound. That commitment informs every decision he makes, from materials and construction techniques to hand-applied finishes, precision-aged hardware, and his own hand-wound Retrophonic pickups. For Scala, each part of the instrument is treated as its own project. He builds the details first, then brings them together to create a guitar that feels alive in the player’s hands.
The Custom Addiction Explorer draws heavily from the spirit of the original 1958 design, as well as from a heavily aged vintage model known as “Big Ed,” one of the central inspirations for this series. After creating individual Explorers for Slash and Jason Momoa, Scala turned his attention to producing ten distinctive Explorers for the Master Artisan Collection. Each one is related in concept, yet entirely individual. The Custom Addiction Explorer is one of the three singular builds in the collection, and it stands apart with a deep Dark Cherry Korina finish, heavily aged lacquer work, and a voice that is as nuanced as its visual impact.
Its Korina body and Korina neck, joined with hide glue, establish a resonant tonal core that is both warm and articulate. The Indian rosewood fretboard, fitted with 22 reissue frets and shaped to a ’58 Vintage neck profile with rounded edges, provides a smooth, inviting playing experience. Scala’s Retrophonic humbuckers™ contribute a wide expressive range, with the neck pickup wound with Alnico 2 magnets, reverse-mounted, and wired out of phase for added dimension, while the bridge pickup’s Alnico 4 magnets deliver punch, clarity, and definition. Every element of the electronics, including 50s-style hand-wiring, VIPots vintage taper potentiometers, and phone book capacitors, supports a dynamic, harmonically rich sound.
Leo Scala hand-aged and color-infused Kluson® tuners, an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge, a lightweight aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece, aged hardware, custom black appointments, and a raised metal Gibson headstock logo complete the instrument. It arrives in a custom wine suede G&G hardshell case with matching accents, complemented by a handcrafted Don Pepe leather strap aged by Scala, and a custom certificate of authenticity box.
Bold, sculptural, expressive, and unmistakably crafted with intention, the Leo Scala Custom Addiction Explorer is a true performing piece of art that is built to inspire, built to be played, and built to be unlike anything else.
Highlights
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k) humbucker in bridge position
- Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k) in neck position
- Leo Scala Master Artisan Custom Addiction aging
- '58 Vintage neck profile
- Cuerpo y mástil de korina
- 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
Guitar Specifications
Cuerpo
Cuerpo
Acabado del cuerpo Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Cuerpo Korina
Forma del cuerpo Explorer
Mastil
Mastil
Material del diapasón Indiana Rosewood
Radio del diapasón 304.8mm / 12.0in
Recuento de trastes 22
Trastes Reissue
Incrustaciones Cellulose Dot
Union Hide glue fit
neck-finish Big Ed dent at 4th fret
Material del mastil Korina
Material de la cejilla Nylon
Ancho de la cejilla 42.8mm / 1.69in
Perfil \Big Ed\ 1958 Explorer
Longitud de la escala 628.65mm / 24.75in
Electrónica
Electrónica
Pastilla de puente Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Controles 2 volume, 1 tone
Pastilla de mástil Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Conector de salida 1/4"
Pastilla de diapasón 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Puentes ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Cubiertas de controles White
Controles Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Golpeadores White
Cubierta de pastilla Gold
Cordales Stop Bar
Clavijeros Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Miscelánea
Miscelánea
Accesorios Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Custom_Da
Estuche Custom G&G Wine Suede
Incrustación en la pala Raised metal Gibson Logo
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Previously from Leo Scala
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