What pickups do you have in your Gibson Explorers?

[Dimebag11]

Bought that '91 Explorer in the classifieds and it has the stock pups (500T/496R I'm guessing) I'm not huge on the 496R in the neck, but the 500T is pretty cool. What are you guys rockin? And y...and what pickups have y'all tried?

 

[Capulin Overdrive]

Gonna be hard to beat the 500, maybe clip the cap to ground on the tone pot and see if you like it better. Could solder back easy enough, if not.

I switched to an Anderson H3 and left it in there, but don't think it's really any better than the 500.


Have Suhr Aldrich bridge in a Hamer Standard, and it's not as good as the 500 or Anderson.

 

[DoomBuggi]

The original dirty fingers sounded really good in explorers. If I had one now, I would put a Bare Knuckle Painkiller in the bridge. Don't know about the neck pickup though.

 

[anthonymunoz]

I just picked up a 1981 Explorer with the original Dirty Fingers, and it sounds really great. The neck pickup is a little dark but it has a lot of character and sounds nothing like my other guitars.

 

[DoomBuggi]

I just picked up a 1981 Explorer with the original Dirty Fingers, and it sounds really great. The neck pickup is a little dark but it has a lot of character and sounds nothing like my other guitars.

That guitar in the pic you have is an E2, completely different than most explorers. How are you liking that baseball bat neck?

 

[anthonymunoz]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it is an E2 Explorer (big E2 on the truss rod cover that you can't see on the photo). As far as the neck: it does not feel all that big to me. I'm not sure what the size/measurement the neck is since I don't know alot about the specs of guitar necks, but it feels perfect in my hands. I'm used to a 82 Les Paul custom, and it feels just a bit bigger than that. Its very heavy and resonant. I thought that I would need to change the pickups out, but they are a great match for this guitar.

 

[dwizted]

Im rockin seymour duncan EMTYs in mine and it sounds great.

 

[DoomBuggi]

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention it is an E2 Explorer (big E2 on the truss rod cover that you can't see on the photo). As far as the neck: it does not feel all that big to me. I'm not sure what the size/measurement the neck is since I don't know alot about the specs of guitar necks, but it feels perfect in my hands. I'm used to a 82 Les Paul custom, and it feels just a bit bigger than that. Its very heavy and resonant. I thought that I would need to change the pickups out, but they are a great match for this guitar.

Those E2 are one of my favorites Gibson put out. I played one in the vintage shop here in Austin. I was going to buy it, and someone beat me to it. I think the one I was going to buy was an 82. It had the yellow to red burst. I regret every time I see one on the net. One of the most awesome sounding, and feeling guitars I have ever played stock.

 

[Chrisbarrett27]

+1 to the Seymour Duncan EMTY's. Amazing pickups. If you want something a little less aggressive go for the AHB-1's.

 

[threadkiller]

I've got a Dimarzio Norton in the bridge and it sounds great. Manlius hot 59 in the neck sounds great but was in the guitar when I got it so I don't know how it compares to the stock pickup. I didn't like the same Manlius pickup in the bridge.

 

[chunktone]

I personally don't care for the 500T or Dirtyfingers. Both are just to gritty and harsh for me. I'd checkout MCP's. I've got an Afwayu set and a Detroiter set and like them both. The Afwayu has a lot of bass/low-mids, and is hotter than the Detroiter's. I also really like the Rio Grande BBQ bucker.

 

[killertone]

The 500T fits the Explorer so well. I have changed pickups in all my guitars except my Explorer.

 

[Rødskjegg]

I've got a BKP Warpig in the bridge position and to me it sounds too muddy/bassy so I'll probably swap it for something different. Got a 2001 Gothic btw.

 

[vultures]

I had EMG 81/85 in my explorer. I love active pickups and these sounded great in it. Huge chunky tone

 

[Dimebag11]

Not big on EMGs. I'll see how the stock pickups sound and go from there I guess. It's look badass w black/white zebras though

 

[Ignoramus]

Congrats on the Explorer NGD. I have two, and while I originally liked the 496/500 combo, those pickups are long gone. I've also tried the Dirty Fingers reissue in the bridge (not much different than the 500T, IMO). I've also tried PRS 250 and Tremonti pickups (pretty similar as well). My guys now sport a MCP Afwayu set in one and a BG Lizard neck/Hellabucker bridge in the other. Both highly recommended.

 

[cnote]

Original Dirty Fingers are just awesome in the old ones, but those were alder bodies.

Big mahogany guitars do well with JBs. Try the 35th anniversary JB/Jazz set. It's a wicked set

 

[benduncan]

i have a gothic explorer with emg's, 81 85. hate it for rhythm, love it for lead

 

[Badronald]

EMG's. Wait! I don't have an Explorer....but if I did, it'd have EMG's.