The Gibson Futura was an electric guitar which was the precursor of the model now known as the Explorer.
The Futura resembled the eventual Explorer design, but had a "split-V"
shaped headstock and a differently-proportioned body. Gibson obtained
U.S. Design Patent number 181,865 for the Futura body shape.
Gibson shipped only a few Futuras between 1957 and 1958 before
redesigning it and renaming it in 1958. Some of these Futuras had the
new Explorer body shape but retained the "split-V" headstock. One of
those "transitional" models is today owned by Rick Nielsen. The Explorer offered a radical, "futuristic" body design, much like its sibling, the Flying V. Its initial run was unsuccessful and it was discontinued in 1959 after shipping less than 50. The Gibson Explorer was reintroduced in the 1970s and is still sold today. | 
Gibson Electrics 
