When Gibson designed a new trio of futuristic-looking guitars in 1957 to bring bold, modern designs to the product lineup, one of them was the Futura, developed alongside the Flying V and Moderne. While many guitarists may not be familiar with the Futura by name, most know its direct descendant: the Explorer. The Futura closely resembled the modern Explorer but featured a more angular body shape and a distinctive split-V headstock design. That headstock was only used on a handful of the earliest Explorers before the transition to the scimitar-shaped headstock that defines the model today.

Features:

- Tonewoods updated for a warmer, denser tone
- Old-school electronic components ensures vintage tone
- Mahogany body and neck
- Indian Rosewood fretboard
- Unpotted Custombucker humbuckers
- True Historic Black Top Hat knobs
- Aged Gold hardware
- Historic Explorer case included

Unlike the Flying V and Explorer, the Futura was never officially released in the late 1950s. Only a few prototypes were built, and even fewer escaped into the wild -- making them exceptionally rare, surpassed in scarcity only by the Moderne, of which no authenticated '50s-era examples have ever been found.

While the first Flying V and Explorer models released in 1958 were constructed with Korina bodies, the earliest Futura prototypes were made from mahogany. Mahogany provides a somewhat warmer sound than Korina's brighter tonal character. It's also more readily available, making it an excellent choice… read more for modern players who want a denser, all-mahogany tone well-suited for rock and metal.

Now, Gibson Custom proudly introduces the 1957 Mahogany Futura Reissue, a faithful reproduction of those elusive '50s prototypes. It features a mahogany body built to vintage specifications, a mahogany neck with a 1950s Vintage profile, and the original Futura split-V headstock design, complete with reissue Kluson single-ring tuners. Its unbound Indian rosewood fretboard carries 22 reissue frets with cellulose dot inlays.

For tone, the 1957 Mahogany Futura Reissue is powered by a pair of un-potted Custombucker humbuckers with Alnico 3 magnets, hand-wired to two volume and one tone control with CTS potentiometers and a phone book capacitor. The Antique Natural nitrocellulose lacquer finish and aged gold hardware receive a VOS treatment, giving the guitar the look and feel of a "new old stock" instrument from the late '50s.

To complete the package, a Lifton historic reissue brown and pink hardshell case is included. This is your chance to own an authentic recreation of one of the rarest and most fascinating models in Gibson history.

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