Ken Lawrence Explorers

[EXPcustom]

Ya, I dig some bolt-ons. Especially strats 'n teles.

I think bolt-ons are great as strats and teles. Explorers not so much and at that cost of a EXP you can get a second hand older Suhr or Anderson. Bolt on EXPs have crappy ergonomics etc. Its like buying a V6 Mustang you are getting something that looks like it performs.

Explorers are supposed to be big huge pieces of mahogony with a set neck that can sustain for days.

You probably think that way because most strats and teles have always been bolt-ons and most explorers are usually set neck. I've owned both set neck and bolt-on ESP explorers and there is no difference other than personal preference if both are built well. Some don't like bolt-ons because of the heel and that's just a feel thing that some get along with and some don't. Other than that the tone and sustain is about the same with either neck construction.

I would buy another ESP EXP (bolt-on) in a heartbeat before paying $3k or more for a ESP MX (set-neck). If I had to have a set neck I would go with another Gibson.

I think we can agree that cost being the prohibitive factor here that if you want a EXP the Gibson is the way to go right now, as in today. Except for those crappy 84 reissues.

 

[EXPcustom]

when were these made?

Junk

I think we can all agree on that.

 

[RJF]

I have a 2000 Gibson goth explorer and it doesn't have any playing issues, but the paint is sub par. There are paint fractures all over the body and headstock.

 

[dbsens13]

I like my current explorer. The paint is nice all over. I forget what year it is. Like an '03 or '04 or something. Any way of telling if it's a RI or something? I don't know much about it other than I love the finish and how it plays. Just wanna throw new pups in it. Looking at it now though, It would look a heck of a lot sweeter w/ no pick guard. It's still a beauty in my book though.

 

[BlinkTwice]

I like my current explorer. The paint is nice all over. I forget what year it is. Like an '03 or '04 or something. Any way of telling if it's a RI or something? I don't know much about it other than I love the finish and how it plays. Just wanna throw new pups in it. Looking at it now though, It would look a heck of a lot sweeter w/ no pick guard. It's still a beauty in my book though.

I find most guitars look much better without pick guards

 

[dbsens13]

I like my current explorer. The paint is nice all over. I forget what year it is. Like an '03 or '04 or something. Any way of telling if it's a RI or something? I don't know much about it other than I love the finish and how it plays. Just wanna throw new pups in it. Looking at it now though, It would look a heck of a lot sweeter w/ no pick guard. It's still a beauty in my book though.

I find most guitars look much better without pick guards

I've really never put too much thought into it but obviously many do look better without.

 

[jlb32]

My Gibson Gothic explorer was my main guitar for a long time. It is definitely one guitar I regret letting go. It had a weird diamond plated pickguard that I put on it but I loved that guitar for a long time.

 

[dbsens13]

My Gibson Gothic explorer was my main guitar for a long time. It is definitely one guitar I regret letting go. It had a weird diamond plated pickguard that I put on it but I loved that guitar for a long time.

I wouldn't mind having another Gothic. Next time 'round though I want the second run they did with the emg's. But then again, why get a gothic with emg's when I could get a KL, RAN, or ESP w/ emg's.

 

[BlinkTwice]

My Gibson Gothic explorer was my main guitar for a long time. It is definitely one guitar I regret letting go. It had a weird diamond plated pickguard that I put on it but I loved that guitar for a long time.

I wouldn't mind having another Gothic. Next time 'round though I want the second run they did with the emg's. But then again, why get a gothic with emg's when I could get a KL, RAN, or ESP w/ emg's.

To save yourself a couple thousand

 

[dbsens13]

My Gibson Gothic explorer was my main guitar for a long time. It is definitely one guitar I regret letting go. It had a weird diamond plated pickguard that I put on it but I loved that guitar for a long time.

I wouldn't mind having another Gothic. Next time 'round though I want the second run they did with the emg's. But then again, why get a gothic with emg's when I could get a KL, RAN, or ESP w/ emg's.

To save yourself a couple thousand

Good point. Then I can spend more money going to see the Saints this fall! Good call.

 

[jlb32]

My Gibson Gothic explorer was my main guitar for a long time. It is definitely one guitar I regret letting go. It had a weird diamond plated pickguard that I put on it but I loved that guitar for a long time.

I wouldn't mind having another Gothic. Next time 'round though I want the second run they did with the emg's. But then again, why get a gothic with emg's when I could get a KL, RAN, or ESP w/ emg's.

To save yourself a couple thousand

No doubt. You can buy 6 Gibson explorers for what a KL would cost you and at least 2 or 3 Gibsons for what the ESP's cost. IMO the Gibson explorers are damn good guitars also. I find them very comparable to any of the ESP's.

 

[dbsens13]

My Gibson Gothic explorer was my main guitar for a long time. It is definitely one guitar I regret letting go. It had a weird diamond plated pickguard that I put on it but I loved that guitar for a long time.

I wouldn't mind having another Gothic. Next time 'round though I want the second run they did with the emg's. But then again, why get a gothic with emg's when I could get a KL, RAN, or ESP w/ emg's.

To save yourself a couple thousand

No doubt. You can buy 6 Gibson explorers for what a KL would cost you and at least 2 or 3 Gibsons for what the ESP's cost. IMO the Gibson explorers are damn good guitars also. I find them very comparable to any of the ESP's.

I look forward to owning an ESP so that I can make that comparison between it and the Gibson's. Meanwhile I plan to collect at least 1 more Gibson Explorer.

Hey, off topic. I wanna throw some V30's in my jcm 2000 tsl 602. I don't understand the difference between 8/16ohms though.

 

[jlb32]

My Gibson Gothic explorer was my main guitar for a long time. It is definitely one guitar I regret letting go. It had a weird diamond plated pickguard that I put on it but I loved that guitar for a long time.

I wouldn't mind having another Gothic. Next time 'round though I want the second run they did with the emg's. But then again, why get a gothic with emg's when I could get a KL, RAN, or ESP w/ emg's.

To save yourself a couple thousand

No doubt. You can buy 6 Gibson explorers for what a KL would cost you and at least 2 or 3 Gibsons for what the ESP's cost. IMO the Gibson explorers are damn good guitars also. I find them very comparable to any of the ESP's.

Hey, off topic. I wanna throw some V30's in my jcm 2000 tsl 602. I don't understand the difference between 8/16ohms though.

IMO there's not much difference tonewise between 8 ohm speakers and 16 ohm speakers. What ohm rating are the speakers in your JCM now? I would just go with the same ohmage for the V30's as what you are taking out.

 

[dbsens13]

that makes sense. cool. thanks.