Frank Brothers Arcade Classic Korina (USED, 2025)

A lightweight Korina Frank Brothers Arcade that pairs impeccable build quality with rich, mid-forward tones and an easy, balanced feel.

The Frank Brothers Arcade Classic showcases their signature body silhouette with a nod to the late '50s Gibson Explorer—featuring a golden-hued Korina body and neck, aged off-white pickguard, aged gold hardware, and two Frank Brothers V.O. humbuckers. The result? A stunning, drool-worthy guitar that’s impossible to resist and feels like an old friend from the first note.

It’s been a while since we’ve had an Arcade in the shop, and this Korina example is a great reminder of why Frank Brothers guitars left such a lasting impression on us in the first place.

What draws us in is how naturally everything comes together. The look, the feel, the weight (or lack of it) and, most importantly, the way it plays and sounds. It’s impeccably built, with the kind of fit and finish you notice the moment you pick it up, but it never feels overworked or sterile. There’s a real sense of character here. Solid in the hands, balanced on the strap, and inspiring. Plugged in, the picture comes into focus. The V.O. humbuckers deliver rich, mid-forward clean tones that stay articulate and full, and when pushed, the guitar comes alive in a way that has you exploring your dynamics and pick attack. Expressive is the word that comes to mind.

The bridge has plenty of bite, the neck stays round and woody, and the overall range makes it easy to move from classic rock territory - AC/DC, Allman Brothers - to whatever else you need without fighting the instrument.

So who’s it for? Players who love Gibson-style tones; Les Paul fans looking for something different without jumping fully into Fender territory; Collings players (attention to detail, build quality, and playability being the connection); Anyone who values originality that’s rooted in tradition and executed at a very high level.

We sold this guitar new, and we're thrilled to have one of our favorite Frank Brothers spec'ed builds back in here for another round! The guitar shows some light wear through the factory aging, but nothing out of the ordinary. Some light nicks and small dings that seem to blend in really well given the finish and woodgrain. It feels and plays just as it did when we first received it as a new instrument.