Uploaded February 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
We are excited to announce a brand-new offering in the Master Artisan Collection from iconoclastic luthier Leo Scala! Introducing the ’58 Addiction Explorers Collection.
▶ Shop the Leo Scala ’58 Addiction Collection: bit.ly/4aaN2dc
▶ Shop Gibson Explorer guitars here: bit.ly/4qu9Nxu
▶ Have a great idea for a custom Explorer and want Gibson Custom to build it for you? Find out more about our Made to Measure program: bit.ly/3M5ARoV
▶ Dinesh is using a MESA/Boogie MARK VII™ head: bit.ly/3MEOLOR
▶ MESA/Boogie 4X12 Rectifier® Standard Slant Cabinet, Black Bronco: bit.ly/3MEbeeS
A heavily aged vintage 1958 Explorer™ nicknamed “Big Ed” was one of the inspirations behind this latest batch of Master Artisan guitars from Leo Scala. After building customized Explorers for Slash and Jason Momoa, Leo turned his attention to building 10 similar, but individually unique Explorers.
Building and creating are Leo’s addictions; crafting and delivering cool, bespoke guitars to folks who are addicted to playing and collecting cool guitars.
Watch as Gibson Gear Guide host Dinesh Lekhraj joins Leo Scala for a tour of his Los Angeles workshop to get a close-up look at each guitar in intricate detail. Learn more about Leo’s process of aging guitars, the reason he chose the Korina Gibson Explorer, and enjoy learning about each element that makes these guitars unique, from the pickups to the tuning pegs, to the pots and scratchplates. Each part of the guitar has been meticulously designed to make every guitar a work of art. Most importantly, we get to hear what each guitar sounds like, too.
There are five different types of Korina Explorers in this collection: Four in the Heavy Addiction group, three in the Ultra Addiction group, and three individual guitars—The Maestro™ Addiction, Dark Addiction, and Custom Addiction Explorers. Each guitar, including the individual guitars in the Heavy Addiction and Ultra Addiction groups, is individual, distinct, and unique. In total, there are ten individual guitars, each sharing the same ’58 Addiction vision inspired by the vintage 1958 Explorer known as “Big Ed” with their own unique finishes and hand-aging. No two guitars are the same. In addition, each guitar comes with a customized wine suede G&G hardshell case with Leo Scala aged hardware, along with a handcrafted leather strap made by Don Pepe in Spain and aged by Scala, plus a custom Certificate of Authenticity.
Each guitar within the Leo Scala ’58 Addiction Explorers Collection is not simply rare. It is deeply personal, relentlessly crafted, and built for players who want a guitar full of character.
0:00 Meet Master Artisan Leo Scala
1:57 Why did Leo choose Gibson Explorers for this collection?
3:05 Meet the Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer guitars
4:12 The sound of Korina vs mahogany
4:50 Unique specs and features
8:02 Exploring Leo’s workshop
8:24 Meet the Leo Scala Ultra Addiction Explorers
9:22 50s style wiring, pots, and how it affects the tone
11:15 Playing demo
11:47 Leo Scala’s guitar aging process
14:45 How Leo started customizing guitars
16:00 Meet the Leo Scala Custom Addiction, Dark Cherry Korina
18:58 The aging reference process and perfecting the pickups
20:54 Playing demo
21:20 More of Leo’s workshop
21:47 Meet the Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer, Dark Natural
23:14 A unique story, specs, and features
25:46 Play demo
26:25 Meet the Leo Scala Maestro Addiction Explorer with custom “Rat Rod” style Natural finish
28:09 Unique specs and features
31:50 Unique customized guitar cases and COAs (Certificates of Authenticity)
33:07 How Gibson and Leo Scala collaborate on the guitars
33:46 Play demo
34:12 What’s next for Leo Scala and Gibson
📼 Related Videos To Watch Next:
▶ Should you buy a Gibson Explorer? youtu.be/U1d6oyr56cU
▶ We Found The "Best" Gibson Explorer For You in 2026: Epiphone vs Gibson vs Custom Explorer: youtu.be/hrxOtH6bu7I
▶ The Leo Scala Theodore Retroliners - Gibson Master Artisan Collection: youtu.be/INbiXs-zJek
Subscribe to the Official Gibson Gear Guide: youtube.com/@gibson?sub_confirmation=1
📩 Get Gibson guitar news before ANYONE else: bit.ly/GetGibsonNEWS
Learn to play with Gibson App - Interactive Lessons with Real-Time Feedback, New Songs Added Every Week, a Digital Amp (iOS only), and Personal Guides from the Best Guitarists in the World: bit.ly/GetGibsonApp
ABOUT GIBSON GEAR GUIDE:
Welcome to Gibson Gear Guide – the official YouTube channel made by gearheads, for gearheads. Get first access to our latest guitars, basses, amps, pedals, and pro-audio gear. Watch equipment reviews, exclusive artist interviews and performances, deep dives into the history of the world’s most iconic guitars, and more.
We are excited to announce a brand-new offering in the Master Artisan Collection from iconoclastic luthier Leo Scala! Introducing the ’58 Addiction Explorers Collection.
▶ Shop the Leo Scala ’58 Addiction Collection: bit.ly/4aaN2dc
▶ Shop Gibson Explorer guitars here: bit.ly/4qu9Nxu
▶ Have a great idea for a custom Explorer and want Gibson Custom to build it for you? Find out more about our Made to Measure program: bit.ly/3M5ARoV
▶ Dinesh is using a MESA/Boogie MARK VII™ head: bit.ly/3MEOLOR
▶ MESA/Boogie 4X12 Rectifier® Standard Slant Cabinet, Black Bronco: bit.ly/3MEbeeS
A heavily aged vintage 1958 Explorer™ nicknamed “Big Ed” was one of the inspirations behind this latest batch of Master Artisan guitars from Leo Scala. After building customized Explorers for Slash and Jason Momoa, Leo turned his attention to building 10 similar, but individually unique Explorers.
Building and creating are Leo’s addictions; crafting and delivering cool, bespoke guitars to folks who are addicted to playing and collecting cool guitars.
Watch as Gibson Gear Guide host Dinesh Lekhraj joins Leo Scala for a tour of his Los Angeles workshop to get a close-up look at each guitar in intricate detail. Learn more about Leo’s process of aging guitars, the reason he chose the Korina Gibson Explorer, and enjoy learning about each element that makes these guitars unique, from the pickups to the tuning pegs, to the pots and scratchplates. Each part of the guitar has been meticulously designed to make every guitar a work of art. Most importantly, we get to hear what each guitar sounds like, too.
There are five different types of Korina Explorers in this collection: Four in the Heavy Addiction group, three in the Ultra Addiction group, and three individual guitars—The Maestro™ Addiction, Dark Addiction, and Custom Addiction Explorers. Each guitar, including the individual guitars in the Heavy Addiction and Ultra Addiction groups, is individual, distinct, and unique. In total, there are ten individual guitars, each sharing the same ’58 Addiction vision inspired by the vintage 1958 Explorer known as “Big Ed” with their own unique finishes and hand-aging. No two guitars are the same. In addition, each guitar comes with a customized wine suede G&G hardshell case with Leo Scala aged hardware, along with a handcrafted leather strap made by Don Pepe in Spain and aged by Scala, plus a custom Certificate of Authenticity.
Each guitar within the Leo Scala ’58 Addiction Explorers Collection is not simply rare. It is deeply personal, relentlessly crafted, and built for players who want a guitar full of character.
0:00 Meet Master Artisan Leo Scala
1:57 Why did Leo choose Gibson Explorers for this collection?
3:05 Meet the Leo Scala Heavy Addiction Explorer guitars
4:12 The sound of Korina vs mahogany
4:50 Unique specs and features
8:02 Exploring Leo’s workshop
8:24 Meet the Leo Scala Ultra Addiction Explorers
9:22 50s style wiring, pots, and how it affects the tone
11:15 Playing demo
11:47 Leo Scala’s guitar aging process
14:45 How Leo started customizing guitars
16:00 Meet the Leo Scala Custom Addiction, Dark Cherry Korina
18:58 The aging reference process and perfecting the pickups
20:54 Playing demo
21:20 More of Leo’s workshop
21:47 Meet the Leo Scala Dark Addiction Explorer, Dark Natural
23:14 A unique story, specs, and features
25:46 Play demo
26:25 Meet the Leo Scala Maestro Addiction Explorer with custom “Rat Rod” style Natural finish
28:09 Unique specs and features
31:50 Unique customized guitar cases and COAs (Certificates of Authenticity)
33:07 How Gibson and Leo Scala collaborate on the guitars
33:46 Play demo
34:12 What’s next for Leo Scala and Gibson
📼 Related Videos To Watch Next:
▶ Should you buy a Gibson Explorer? youtu.be/U1d6oyr56cU
▶ We Found The "Best" Gibson Explorer For You in 2026: Epiphone vs Gibson vs Custom Explorer: youtu.be/hrxOtH6bu7I
▶ The Leo Scala Theodore Retroliners - Gibson Master Artisan Collection: youtu.be/INbiXs-zJek
Subscribe to the Official Gibson Gear Guide: youtube.com/@gibson?sub_confirmation=1
📩 Get Gibson guitar news before ANYONE else: bit.ly/GetGibsonNEWS
Learn to play with Gibson App - Interactive Lessons with Real-Time Feedback, New Songs Added Every Week, a Digital Amp (iOS only), and Personal Guides from the Best Guitarists in the World: bit.ly/GetGibsonApp
ABOUT GIBSON GEAR GUIDE:
Welcome to Gibson Gear Guide – the official YouTube channel made by gearheads, for gearheads. Get first access to our latest guitars, basses, amps, pedals, and pro-audio gear. Watch equipment reviews, exclusive artist interviews and performances, deep dives into the history of the world’s most iconic guitars, and more.
