Gibson Futura (1983-1985) Corvus body shape, ultraviolet finish
Overview
Brand name:
Product:
- electric guitars
Series name:
Dates of manufacture:
1983 to 1985
The original Gibson Futura was an electric guitar designed in 1957 and patented in 1958 (U.S. patent number 181,865) which was the precursor of the Gibson Explorer. These mahogany prototypes, dubbed the Futura in later years, looked the production Explorers, but had a slightly different body with a split or forked headstock. In 1996 Gibson eventually put this design into production as the 1957 Futura Korina Reissue.
This page, however, is for the other Gibson Futura (which has nothing to do with the Explorer prototype). In 1983 Gibson introduced another model named the Futura. This Futura's body shape was an upscale version of the Gibson Corvus can-opener shape guitar. Production of this Corvus Futura lasted until 1985.
Specifications (18)
Body
| Body material | wood body |
| Body style | can opener style |
| Pickguard material | 3-ply pickguard |
Hardware
| Bridge | tune-o-matic bridge |
| Hardware color | chrome hardware |
| Tailpiece | stop tailpiece |
Fretboard
| Fingerboard material | rosewood fingerboard |
| Fingerboard position markers | dot fingerboard position markers |
General
| Finish colors | ebony finish, violet finish, white finish |
| Number of strings | 6 strings |
Neck
| Neck joint | neck through body |
| Neck material | maple neck |
| Number of frets | 22 fret |
| Tuner layout | six-in-a-row tuners |
Controls
| Pickup selector controls | 3-way selector switch |
| Tone controls | 1 tone control |
| Volume controls | 2 volume controls |
Electronics
| Pickups configuration | 2 humbucker pickups |
Prices (3)
| Date | Price | Condition | Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | $2000 | new | Rob | |
| 1985 | $899.00 | new | Bruce | I've also purchased on in 1989 for $290 another in 1998 for $560 and most recently one for $1200 in 2018 |
| 2017 | $600 | poor |
3 Comments
1983 Gibson Futura ( Corvus style)
Submitted by Bruce Bennett (not verified) on
there are some rather important details about this unusual model that folks are either ignoreing or are just plain incorrect.
1 st . is the fingerboard on the Futura models were ALL Gaboon Ebony, not rosewood.
2nd. the body is NOT a neck through. whch would normally mean a single piece neck with glued up body wings.
and the hidden detail I'm about to reveal is what makes this guitar worth whatever it takes to purchase this model.
The 1983-85 Futura models are ALL made from 1 single solid piece of maple that was carved by CNC. the ONLY glued piece on it is the fingerboard.
So how do I know, first I'm an ex-gibson employee who worked there in the early 90s and I saw left over futura bodies in the Gibson warehouse. needless to say I was pretty stoked to learn this obscure detail about these guitars.
second I've owned many of them starting in 1985 and I've refinished several of them since I left Gibson. they were all made from a single chunk of solid maple.
and if you look at profile from the side, you can see exactly how they did it.
Futura
Submitted by Mr d (not verified) on
The 2 side pieces are also glued on
Futura
Submitted by William Lewellyn (not verified) on
The guitar IS a neck through, I have a natural finish guitar and you can clearly see the grain continue throughout the guitar