Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar Flame with Short Vibrola

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zZounds Gear Experts Say...
Gibson's "Guitar of the Week" for week 43. Limited run of 400.

The Explorer’s radical body shape debuted in 1958 and was almost 20 years ahead of its time. Not until the late 1970s did rock and roll’s most daring guitarists embrace the Explorer, and that classic 1976 styling is captured on today’s Explorer, now embellished with a short vibrola, Trans Amber finish, and a pair of ’57 Classics.

Limited run of 400

Body
Top Species: Mahogany

Back Species: Mahogany

Neck
Species: Mahogany

Profile: Explorer

Peghead Pitch: 17°

Neck Joint Location: 19th Fret

Head Inlay: Gibson Logo

Fingerboard
Species: Ebony

Scale Length: 24 3/4 in.

Number of Frets: 22

Nut Width: 1.695 in.

Inlays: Dot

Hardware
Plating Finish: Gold

Tailpiece: Short Vibrola

Bridge: Nashville

Knobs: Black Speed Knobs

Tuners: Gold Mini Grover

Neck Pickups: Gold Covered '57 Classic humbucker

Bridge Pickups: Gold Covered '57 Classic + humbucker

Controls: Two volume, one tone, three-way switch

Other
Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 800-444-2766
Email: service@gibson.com
Web: https://www.gibson.com/pages/contact-support

Submitted June 25, 2008

"Well worth the price and a real player."

Overall: 5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I will own and play this guitar till my last day and then I will give it to my daughter so she can rock into the future.

Sound
I have had this Explorer for about 6 months now and put in a couple hours a night with it playing music I make up and classic rock. The ability for this guitar to go from clean and I do mean clean to snarl like any of those 70s & 80s classic rock sounds is right on. I play it through the Mesa Boogie 5:50 express and I get an incredible match. Those pickups really do give it that vintage sound

Features
I think the short tremolo makes all the difference in this Explorer for playability. I know a lot of people love the stop bar and say that the guitar goes out of tune when using the tremolo but the truth is the Explorer I have with the tremolo goes out of tune just as much as the stop tail Explorer I have. When I hear comments about the tremolo causing the guitar to go out of tune I think to my self, “what is the person doing with the tremolo?”

Ease of Use
I have had Explores in the past so slipping into this one was seamless. One recommendation I would make is buy a strap that will slip over your shoulder so you can move around and get better usage out of the tremolo.

Quality
No issues. Great looking guitar. Trans Amber is nice to look at.

Value
You get what you pay for and more.

Manufacturer read more Support
Never needed any for this Explorer but I have called Gibson for support for my other Explorer and it was excellent dealing with them.

The Wow Factor
Great looking guitar.

Musical Background:
Active Musician

Musical Style:
All guitar
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No longer available at zZounds

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