What's the difference between early 90's & newer Explorers?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dimebag11
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Dimebag11

Dimebag11

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I'm looking into buying a 2nd guitar, as of now I only own a 25th Anniversary EBMM (which I love), and I really dig the Gibson tone...but vastly prefer the playability of the Explorers to the Les Pauls I've played on. I've only played on late model Explorers, but finding a used early 90's model doesn't seem like an impossible feat. Is there a reason I should purchase one over the other?

Also, I'm not fond of the stock pickups...so any pickup suggestions? '57 Classic Plus? Suhr Aldrich? DiMarzio 36th Anniversary?
 
I agree regarding Explorer playability over LP's, to me there is a night and day difference. Regarding year models, I'm not aware of any significant difference between current production and early 90's models. With all things Gibson, try before you buy.

Regarding the pickup, I can't recommend the Dimarzio Norton (not air norton) enough. Outstanding pickup for mahogany set neck guitars. Lots of color, medium high output. Plenty of bass without getting flubby.
 
For someone who has never played an explorer, how exactly are they easier to play on than a Les Paul? Just curious... :)

Did this for sale thread spark the question of the best years for explorers? viewtopic.php?f=6&t=121307
 
I've got a newer one that is Plek'd, and it's fretboard is a zillion times better than my mid 2000 one.


ESP Snakebite has me the most interested now for Explorer shapes.
 
Blackba, yes :) That...and everything I read on the forums lol
 
blackba":3bokdsps said:
For someone who has never played an explorer, how exactly are they easier to play on than a Les Paul? Just curious... :)

Did this for sale thread spark the question of the best years for explorers? viewtopic.php?f=6&t=121307
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Neck and upper access..
 
Dont forget explorer pro's if you can find one, I love mine!!
 
Have you tried the brand new traditional pro or the older pro models? I've played dozens of newer Gibson explorers and found them to be very hit or miss. Hell, I played an Epiphone a few months back that played circles around all of them. But the explorer trad pro I played, that thing had serious mojo to it. Those are only $1299 I believe. The binding is a nice touch too.
 
I've only owned and played my 2000 Gothic explorer, and it's a good one. Great tone, plays fast, feels right, etc. What I have gathered, is that a lot of the guitars that were in that Gothic series were really good guitars.

I personally think the T500 bridge pickup in mine is perfect. My gothic explorer is bone stock and I wouldn't change a thing, that guitar has got mojo.
 
Probably the only other guitar I would be remotely interested in right now.
 
I bought one of the Gibson Explorer 1984 reissues that came out in January of 08' I believe. It was so beautiful, snow white, ebony board, EMG pickups, however, something was wrong with it. I'm not sure if the neck was tweaked or what, but I could never get the action set up right. No matter what I did, there was always a buzz, and forget about getting a comfortable action with it. It was my first Gibson and I was really disappointed. I know you're supposed to try before you buy but being stationed over seas kind of limits that. I took it to three different guitar techs and no one could fix it. Instead of going through the hassle of sending it back to gibson and all that stuff, I opted to sell it for 800 bucks. Some dude bought it for his grandson to learn on.......haha. Makes me sick. Anyway, I'm not saying Gibson makes crap guitars cause' they definitely don't. I've played a few explorers in stores that were incredible! Since all this has happened I read somewhere that they ran behind on that specific series of guitars and were rushing them out of the factory. Gibson, being the reputable company that they are, should have pushed the release of the guitar back so they could have taken there time and done things right the first time. You live and you learn. I'll eventually buy another explorer, I'll just play it first. :-)
 
blackba":3kwbsdrr said:
For someone who has never played an explorer, how exactly are they easier to play on than a Les Paul? Just curious... :)

Did this for sale thread spark the question of the best years for explorers? viewtopic.php?f=6&t=121307
Click to expand...

They aren't necessarily easier to play, just easier to play to me. I can't play LP's. I think it's the frets, small and relatively flat. Never met an LP I was worth a darn on. Obviously lot's of players disagree.


Chrisbarrett27":3kwbsdrr said:
I bought one of the Gibson Explorer 1984 reissues that came out in January of 08' I believe. It was so beautiful, snow white, ebony board, EMG pickups, however, something was wrong with it. I'm not sure if the neck was tweaked or what, but I could never get the action set up right. No matter what I did, there was always a buzz, and forget about getting a comfortable action with it. It was my first Gibson and I was really disappointed. I know you're supposed to try before you buy but being stationed over seas kind of limits that. I took it to three different guitar techs and no one could fix it. Instead of going through the hassle of sending it back to gibson and all that stuff, I opted to sell it for 800 bucks. Some dude bought it for his grandson to learn on.......haha. Makes me sick. Anyway, I'm not saying Gibson makes crap guitars cause' they definitely don't. I've played a few explorers in stores that were incredible! Since all this has happened I read somewhere that they ran behind on that specific series of guitars and were rushing them out of the factory. Gibson, being the reputable company that they are, should have pushed the release of the guitar back so they could have taken there time and done things right the first time. You live and you learn. I'll eventually buy another explorer, I'll just play it first. :-)
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Gibson pushes all of its guitars out the door as quickly as possible.
 
My buddy had a similar issue with a new Firebird he bought. The neck was twisted and wouldn't intonate, causing the whole neck to feel wrong in your hand. This coming from a diehard Firebird lover/player who knows those guitars very well. Don't think he bought another Gibson after that. The poor store support also fueled that fire.
 
Dude, you need to play my guitars before you decide on a pickup. Ive got a dimarzio breed in one and a dominion in the other. Both are mahogany with maple tops.
 
The '76 RI Explorers made in the early to mid 90's have a different neck profile on them which makes them super comfortable. I can attest to that as I currently own a '91 '76 RI and had a 2005 Explorer in the past. Night and day difference to me and I so;d the '05 pretty quick.

Also, I think the 500T is the exact right pickup for those guitars. Wouldn't change mine for any other.

 
I had an early 90's RI explorer. Sounded mediocre and all frets above the 12th were laid out wrong when measured with the proper scale length template. Impossible to intonate.

Shameless spam, if anyone wants a killer explorer, seek mine out in the classifieds.
 
Moot point now I suppose :) Purchased the '91 Explorer in the classifieds. $800+shipping :)
 
Dimebag11":3bk7kqsf said:
Moot point now I suppose :) Purchased the '91 Explorer in the classifieds. $800+shipping :)
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Cool, looking forward to your review :)
 
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