Best Gibson Explorer or Explorer style guitar you've ever played?

[MetalHeart]

I'm not finish with this guitar. Putting real EMGs in it . Feels good in the hands and not too heavy I call it the Joker cause its a Chinese copy

 

[SgtThump]

The strap button is on that same spot on the SG and Flying V. I bet you can live with it if you just give it a while.

If it’s also neck heavy, I like a strap with suede backing to keep it in place.

 

[BeZo]

Chapman Ghost Fret

 

[DrewJD82]

Definitely heavier than any Gibson Explorer I’ve picked up-

Impeccable fretwork (SS)-

Now that it’s broken in I’m loving it more and more each time I pick it up. This won’t be my last Solar E-type, but I’m undecided on the Evertune on a tonal front. It does the job it claims, but there’s some deadening of the overall guitar that occurs as a result and I need to hear it live to hear much of a negative effect it has.

The necks are comfy as fuck on these, mid-sized C shape, thicker than a Gibson Explorer. The ebony fingerboards will have me checking on these more than an actual Gibson.

 

[andefalko]

I'm a Les Paul guy but have had a growing interest in Explorers. Any big, heavy, thick sounding Gibson style guitar is where I feel at home tonally and feel-wise. Don't know too much about the different Explorer models and copies but am curious which ones people have had the best experiences with.

I have two Gibson Explorers, One Custom and another 2012 reissue with a floyd, if you can get your hands on a Custom you won't regret it. I played LPs for years but after getting that explorer i no longer have any LPs.

 

[OnePingOnly]

I had one Gibson "The Explorer" that I got brand-new.... had a black Floyd Rose installed in, and SD pickups ('59, Custom Custom) to replace the dirty fingers. It was gorgeous natural finish with the figured top. Pretty good construction. Overall though, it was a pinup girl with no depth sound-wise. Later, my wife got me a Hamer Standard Custom- beautiful guitar, exceptionally made, great sounding and I used it in a few live appearances; sadly I could not bond with the neck profile that it had, and curiously, was different than other Hamers I had, and others encountered. I'd always wanted the original Ibanez Destroyer, as I'd had a few Rocket Roll Sr's that were superb siblings to that lawsuit era guitar, but I'd never acquired one.

 

[Geo]

 

[Devin]

Alembic Exploiter (literally the single nicest instrument I've ever played)

 

[DeathlyFighter]

My October. It’s my number one favorite between it and my Sykes…just depends on when you ask me….View attachment 409476

Not to derail the thread but nice EO hymn and icon print. October guitars seem really rad, I recall either Exciter or Raven were using them? Forgot exactly what happened to that brand, but I'd assume the synopsis would be Gibson suing them or something along the lines of that.

While it's nowhere near the absolute "best" Explorer, even if I had a much higher-end one this would still be my favorite. My Yakima branded (Hondo) Explorer copy from the 80s that I got back when I turned 18 (which isn't that long ago, I'm 22 now lol). I'll never upgrade the pickups because I love the way the stock ones sound, the bridge humbucker is somewhat similar to a Dimarzio Super Distortion but has quite a bit of single-coil qualities to it in the sound. I've played many shows and recorded most of my band's material with it.

 

[LPMojoGL]

My 2016 Explorer T plays amazing.
The sound is closer to my LP than SG, but a bit darker.
Can't imagine liking another one better.

 

[Tone Monster]

Ken Lawrence.

 

[JF Scarfi]

Anyone see these yet?

 

[JackBootedThug]

I’m playing my explorer more than any of my other guitars…. Now I need an iceman….