Image: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain — via Wikimedia Commons
Gibson Futura
| Category | Strings (electric guitar) |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | USA |
| Classification | electric guitar |
| Wikipedia | en.wikipedia.org |
| Wikidata | Q5559337 |
Overview
“Gibson Futura” is a name Gibson has attached to two different electric guitar designs. First, it was the original 1957 prototype name for what eventually became the . Second, the name was revived in the 1980s for a bolt-neck angular guitar marketed as part of Gibson’s response to the superstrat era.
Origin & History
In 1957 Gibson introduced a trio of futuristic angular electric guitars — the Flying V, the Explorer, and the Moderne — designed to signal modernity and to challenge Fender’s growing grip on the cutting-edge guitar market. The Explorer was originally named the Futura; an even more radical variant with a sharply hooked headstock was also named Futura in early sketches before the designs were finalised. Only a handful of prewar-release Futura-period prototypes are known to exist, and these are among the most valuable collectible Gibsons.
The name returned in the 1980s attached to a new Gibson electric with an angular body and a bolt-on neck, intended to compete with the superstrats then dominating hard-rock sales. This later Futura was only produced briefly and is not closely related to the 1957 prototype.
How It’s Played
Both Futura instruments play as standard six-string electrics. The 1957 prototype handles like an early Explorer. The 1980s Futura plays like an 80s bolt-neck rock guitar, with a thin neck, high-output pickups, and a tremolo suited to dive-bomb and pitch-bending work.
Cultural Significance
The Futura name is historically important as the original branding for what became one of Gibson’s most iconic designs — the Explorer. Original-era Futura prototypes are among the most valuable vintage Gibsons in existence.
Related Instruments
- – the model the 1957 Futura became
- – companion angular design
- – the third member of the 1957 angular trio
- Dean Z – Explorer-inspired Dean interpretation
- Gibson Sonex – contemporaneous 1980s Gibson budget experiment
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Futura the same as the Explorer?
The 1957 Futura became the Explorer; they are the same underlying design. The 1980s Futura is a separate later model that reuses the name.
How many original Futuras exist?
Only a handful — they are among the rarest Gibson prototypes.
Image: Gibson Explorer patent drawing, public domain (Wikimedia Commons).
