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 A distinct neck dent at the 4th fret mirrors the matching mark found on the vintage “Big Ed,” adding a subtle historical reference.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
Caractéristiques
Corps
Corps
Finition du corps Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Corps Korina
Forme du corps Explorer
Manche
Manche
Matériau de la touche Indiana Rosewood
Radius de la touche 304.8mm / 12.0in
Nombre de frettes 22
Frettes Reissue
Incrustations Cellulose Dot
Jonction corps/manche Hide glue fit
neck-finish Big Ed dent at 4th fret
Matériau du manche Korina
Matériau du sillet de tete Nylon
Largeur du sillet de tete 42.8mm / 1.69in
Profil \Big Ed\ 1958 Explorer
Diapason 628.65mm / 24.75in
Électronique
Électronique
Micro chevalet Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Les contrôles 2 volume, 1 tone
Micro manche Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Prise de sortie Jack 1/4"
Sélecteur de micro 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Chevalets ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Finition des contrôles White
Boutons de contrôle Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Pickguards White
Capots Micros Gold
Cordiers Stop Bar
Mécaniques Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Divers
Divers
Accessoires Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Dark_Dark
Etuis Custom G&G Wine Suede
Headstock Inlay Raised metal Gibson Logo
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer, Natural
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer, Natural
Livraison gratuite et rapide
Livraison gratuite et rapide
Les commandes passées avant midi (heure CST) du lundi au vendredi (hors jours fériés) sont expédiées le jour même. Les commandes passées après cette heure seront expédiées le jour ouvrable suivant. Toutes les commandes de plus de 50 € bénéficient de la livraison standard gratuite.
Garantie à vie
Garantie à vie
Achetez et jouez l’esprit tranquille : votre instrument est protégé par notre garantie limitée à vie. Pour en savoir plus sur les garanties et les exclusions, cliquez ici .
Étui ou housse inclus(e)
Étui ou housse inclus(e)
Votre instrument est livré avec un étui rigide ou une housse pour un rangement et un transport en toute sécurité. Veuillez vous reporter aux spécifications du produit pour plus de détails.
Réglage inclus
Réglage inclus
Nos techniciens formés en atelier effectuent une inspection minutieuse et un réglage complet juste avant que votre instrument ne soit emballé et expédié.
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
Caractéristiques
Corps
Corps
Finition du corps Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Corps Korina
Forme du corps Explorer
Manche
Manche
Matériau de la touche Indiana Rosewood
Radius de la touche 304.8mm / 12.0in
Nombre de frettes 22
Frettes Reissue
Incrustations Cellulose Dot
Jonction corps/manche Hide glue fit
neck-finish Big Ed dent at 4th fret
Matériau du manche Korina
Matériau du sillet de tete Nylon
Largeur du sillet de tete 42.8mm / 1.69in
Profil \Big Ed\ 1958 Explorer
Diapason 628.65mm / 24.75in
Électronique
Électronique
Micro chevalet Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Les contrôles 2 volume, 1 tone
Micro manche Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Prise de sortie Jack 1/4"
Sélecteur de micro 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Chevalets ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Finition des contrôles White
Boutons de contrôle Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Pickguards White
Capots Micros Gold
Cordiers Stop Bar
Mécaniques Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Divers
Divers
Accessoires Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Dark_Dark
Etuis Custom G&G Wine Suede
Headstock Inlay Raised metal Gibson Logo
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Previously from Leo Scala
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