A Korina icon, reimagined by a Master Artisan
Fully functional, unmistakably Gibson, and completely one of a kind, the Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer™ stands as a powerful synthesis of historic design and obsessive modern craftsmanship. Created as part of the Gibson Custom Master Artisan Collection, each of the four guitars in this limited Heavy Addiction group reflects a singular artistic vision executed with uncompromising attention to detail.
The Master Artisan Collection unites Gibson Custom with a small circle of Master Artisans whose work transcends traditional production boundaries. For this collaboration, Gibson turned to Leo Scala, one of the world’s most respected contemporary guitar makers. When Gibson President and CEO Cesar Gueikian first visited Scala’s Los Angeles workshop, their shared reverence for Gibson history and handmade instruments sparked a collaboration rooted in authenticity, experimentation, and creative freedom.
Working from a foundation inspired by the original late-1950s Explorer design, Scala approached the form not as a replica, but as a living platform for expression. These Heavy Addiction Explorers are built from Korina for both the body and neck, honoring the material choices of the original era while emphasizing resonance, balance, and unmistakable tonal character. The Indian rosewood fretboard features rounded edges and is dressed with 22 reissue frets, creating a fluid, well-worn feel from the first moment in hand. The ’58 Vintage neck profile delivers a substantial yet inviting shape that rewards long sessions of expressive playing.
Every surface tells a story. Each individual guitar is hand-lacquered and aged by Leo Scala himself, producing a Natural finish that appears deeply permeated by time. Heavy aging is not cosmetic here; it is intentional, expressive, and unique to each instrument. Two guitars in the Heavy Addiction group feature white pickguards and jack plates, while two are fitted with black ones, further distinguishing the guitars within the group. No two are exactly the same.
Electronics are equally uncompromising. Leo Scala hand-wound Retrophonic humbuckers™ define the sound, with an Alnico 3 neck pickup and an Alnico 2 bridge pickup, both with double black bobbins and housed in aged-gold covers. These are paired with 50s-style hand-wiring, VIPots vintage taper 550k potentiometers, and a phone book tone capacitor to preserve clarity, touch sensitivity, and harmonic complexity. As Scala himself describes the process, the guitar is not built as a single object, but as a collection of precisely realized details that ultimately converge into a cohesive whole.
Though visually striking, this instrument was never meant to be admired from across the room. It is a performing piece of art, engineered for sound first and foremost. Each example includes a custom G&G wine suede hardshell case with Leo Scala aged hardware, a custom leather strap from Don Pepe in Spain, and a custom hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity box from Leo Scala.
The Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer is not simply rare. It is deeply personal, relentlessly crafted, and built for players who understand that true character cannot be replicated.
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 Heavy Addiction aging
- '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
Specificaties
Body
Body
Lak Body Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Korina
Vorm Body Explorer
Nek
Nek
Toetsmateriaal Indian Rosewood
Toetsradius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Aantal frets 22
Frets Reissue
Inlays Cellulose Dot
Verbinding Hide glue fit
Materiaal Nek Korina
Materiaal topkam Nylon
Breedte topkam 42.8mm / 1.69in
Profiel '58 Vintage
Mensuur 628.65mm / 24.75in
Elektronica
Elektronica
Brug pick-up Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Bediening 2 volume, 1 tone
Nek pickup Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Output jack 1/4"
Pickup-selector 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Bruggen ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Bedieningsknoppen Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Slagplaten Black
Kunststof onderdelen Black
Staartstukken Stop Bar
Stemmechanieken Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Diversen
Diversen
Accessoires Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Heavy4_Na
Koffer Custom G&G Wine Suede
Headstock Inlay Raised metal Gibson Logo
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer #4, Natural
Gibson Custom Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer #4, Natural
Gratis en snelle verzending
Gratis en snelle verzending
Bestellingen die op maandag t/m vrijdag uiterlijk 12:00 uur (tijdzone CET) worden geplaatst (feestdagen uitgezonderd), worden op dezelfde dag verzonden. Bestellingen die na dit tijdstip worden geplaatst, worden de volgende werkdag verzonden. Alle bestellingen boven de $ 100 worden gratis over land verzonden binnen de Verenigde Staten.
Levenslange garantie
Levenslange garantie
Winkel en speel vol vertrouwen in de wetenschap dat uw instrument wordt beschermd door onze beperkte levenslange garantie. Meer informatie over garanties en uitsluitingen vindt u hier .
Koffer inbegrepen
Koffer inbegrepen
Uw instrument wordt vanuit de fabriek geleverd met een harde of zachte koffer voor veilig opbergen en vervoeren. Raadpleeg de productspecificaties voor meer informatie.
Afstelling inbegrepen
Afstelling inbegrepen
Onze vakkundig opgeleide technici voeren een laatste grondige inspectie en zorgvuldige afstelling uit voordat uw instrument wordt verpakt en verzonden.
A Korina icon, reimagined by a Master Artisan
Fully functional, unmistakably Gibson, and completely one of a kind, the Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer™ stands as a powerful synthesis of historic design and obsessive modern craftsmanship. Created as part of the Gibson Custom Master Artisan Collection, each of the four guitars in this limited Heavy Addiction group reflects a singular artistic vision executed with uncompromising attention to detail.
The Master Artisan Collection unites Gibson Custom with a small circle of Master Artisans whose work transcends traditional production boundaries. For this collaboration, Gibson turned to Leo Scala, one of the world’s most respected contemporary guitar makers. When Gibson President and CEO Cesar Gueikian first visited Scala’s Los Angeles workshop, their shared reverence for Gibson history and handmade instruments sparked a collaboration rooted in authenticity, experimentation, and creative freedom.
Working from a foundation inspired by the original late-1950s Explorer design, Scala approached the form not as a replica, but as a living platform for expression. These Heavy Addiction Explorers are built from Korina for both the body and neck, honoring the material choices of the original era while emphasizing resonance, balance, and unmistakable tonal character. The Indian rosewood fretboard features rounded edges and is dressed with 22 reissue frets, creating a fluid, well-worn feel from the first moment in hand. The ’58 Vintage neck profile delivers a substantial yet inviting shape that rewards long sessions of expressive playing.
Every surface tells a story. Each individual guitar is hand-lacquered and aged by Leo Scala himself, producing a Natural finish that appears deeply permeated by time. Heavy aging is not cosmetic here; it is intentional, expressive, and unique to each instrument. Two guitars in the Heavy Addiction group feature white pickguards and jack plates, while two are fitted with black ones, further distinguishing the guitars within the group. No two are exactly the same.
Electronics are equally uncompromising. Leo Scala hand-wound Retrophonic humbuckers™ define the sound, with an Alnico 3 neck pickup and an Alnico 2 bridge pickup, both with double black bobbins and housed in aged-gold covers. These are paired with 50s-style hand-wiring, VIPots vintage taper 550k potentiometers, and a phone book tone capacitor to preserve clarity, touch sensitivity, and harmonic complexity. As Scala himself describes the process, the guitar is not built as a single object, but as a collection of precisely realized details that ultimately converge into a cohesive whole.
Though visually striking, this instrument was never meant to be admired from across the room. It is a performing piece of art, engineered for sound first and foremost. Each example includes a custom G&G wine suede hardshell case with Leo Scala aged hardware, a custom leather strap from Don Pepe in Spain, and a custom hand-signed Certificate of Authenticity box from Leo Scala.
The Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer is not simply rare. It is deeply personal, relentlessly crafted, and built for players who understand that true character cannot be replicated.
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 Heavy Addiction aging
- '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
Specificaties
Body
Body
Lak Body Master Artisan aged nitrocellulose lacquer
Body Korina
Vorm Body Explorer
Nek
Nek
Toetsmateriaal Indian Rosewood
Toetsradius 304.8mm / 12.0in
Aantal frets 22
Frets Reissue
Inlays Cellulose Dot
Verbinding Hide glue fit
Materiaal Nek Korina
Materiaal topkam Nylon
Breedte topkam 42.8mm / 1.69in
Profiel '58 Vintage
Mensuur 628.65mm / 24.75in
Elektronica
Elektronica
Brug pick-up Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 2 (8.4k)
Bediening 2 volume, 1 tone
Nek pickup Leo Scala Retrophonic Alnico 3 (7.7k)
Output jack 1/4"
Pickup-selector 3-way toggle
Hardware
Hardware
Bruggen ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Bedieningsknoppen Aged Gold Top Hats
finish Aged Gold
Slagplaten Black
Kunststof onderdelen Black
Staartstukken Stop Bar
Stemmechanieken Kluson Deluxe with Leo Scala Custom-Color-Infused Celluloid Tips
Diversen
Diversen
Accessoires Custom-made Certificate of Authenticity from Leo Scala and Blue Bell strap made by Don Pepe
Model: CS-ART-114_Heavy4_Na
Koffer Custom G&G Wine Suede
Headstock Inlay Raised metal Gibson Logo