The Gibson Explorer has been embraced by hard rockers the world over (and quite a few here at Sweetwater) for decades; its set-neck construction and fast-playing SlimTaper neck profile combine to give you an unbeatable sonic weapon onstage or in the studio. Raise, lower, or leave the action. How to set up your Gibson Les Paul with Kip Bradford - YouTube 1 Finish Options . Fingerboard: Thicker one-piece rosewood fingerboard. If you find that fretting a note is difficult due to increased string tension, the action is too high. Pluck the low E-string and tighten the machine head until the tuner display indicates proper tuning. Terms & Conditions | Registered Trademarks. 1 Options Les Paul Standard Pickguard, Creme $34.99. Not intended as entertainment. The action adjustment can influence the intonation. Love the Explorer though. Pluck the low E-string and tighten the machine head until the tuner display indicates proper tuning. These Burtbucker pickups are my favorite humbuckers from Gibson. The Gibson Explorer has two of the sweetest sounding humbuckers installed by default of all time. It has traveled to stages around the world, but the ‘70s icon is back to explore a new generation of players. Do this so that you’re... 3. 1 Options Pickguards. Gibson Explorer. Here are over three dozen precise setup specs collected by Dan Erlewine as he interviewed famous players and roadies. Featuring a Mahogany body in a gloss Ebony finish, Epiphone ProBucker™ humbuckers with CTS electronics, and Grover® tuners. Shane Playing the Gibson Explorer . ** Warning: long and unedited video ahead. Enjoy! Adjust the saddle position. Tune the guitar to pitch and ensure that your neck relief has been properly adjusted. - fingerboard: rosewood, 22 medium frets, dot inlays, 24.75 inch scale You don’t need to completely slacken the strings. They adjust the height of the stop-bar, which in turn alters the string height. Place the ruler on the 12th fret, making sure the ruler ticks are parallel to the string. Neck profile: Explorer slim taper neck profile. 1957 Les Paul Junior Reissue. Pickups and Tone. Some Luthiers will install a... 2. I am shocked that Gibson produces a product of such poor quality. And yet another disapointment by Gibson. The biggest mistake Gibson makes is by continuing to stuff that horrible 500T/496R pickup combination into their Explorers. Examine the level of the bridge from the bottom of the guitar, looking down toward the headstock. There are a couple of styles of tun-o-matic but the basic operation is the same. Unlike the original Explorer which used a Korina body, later Explorers used Mahogany. If the strings are tuned correctly, there is too much tension on the bridge to perform any adjustments. Manuals and User Guides for Gibson Explorer. Personally I play 10's or 11's depending on the guitar and the set up. Finish: High-gloss nitro finish. From the '57 Classic and '57 Classic Plus pickups, to its comfortable neck, high-quality locking hardware and unmatched Gibson setup, the Limited Edition Lzzy Hale Explorer is a lean, mean, sizzling machine. By submitting this form you are agreeing to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Product Registration Customer Service Repair and Restoration Report Counterfeits Serial Number FAQ Gibson Guitar Specs (2015-2019) Dealer Resource Center Locate A 1984 - GIBSON Explorer Model "EXP 83" "so what" - shape: Explorer Model "EXP 83" (no pickguard and different pots configurations compared to standard gibson explorers) - construction: Set-Neck - neck: maple or mahogany? What do you pro techs/luthiers think is the best neck relief and string height for low/fast action and minimal buzz on a Les Paul? Each instrument celebrates Gibson’s legacy through accuracy, authenticity and attention to detail. If there is a tilt either way, adjust the thumb screw on the lower side. The Bridge pickup is a BurstBucker 3, and the neck pickup is a BurstBucker 2. To get the best results from your Explorer, the string height above the fretboard, or action, must suit your playing style. Pickups: Powerful 496R and 500T humbuckers. Repeat for the other strings. Gibson decided to reintroduce the Explorer in 1976. ... 70s Explorer. Clearly, dreams really do come true because exactly 40 years ago, Allen was able to check that off of his list when a chance encounter resulted in him actually buying Eric’s ’58 Gibson Korina Explorer in 1976, ditching his Gibson Firebird and falling in love with what would become his main guitar for the next several years.. After years of making Allen one of the happiest men on earth, … We have 3 Gibson Explorer manuals available for free PDF download: Owner's Manual . It’s no secret that Hetfield is a Gibson type of guy and that he prefers Explorers. Privacy Policy | There are many, (many!) User manuals, Gibson Guitar Operating guides and Service manuals. Those pickups have a very narrow usable range in my opinion. Stock setup for the Explorer - anyone find any issues with a sound that you would describe as thin? (Gibson produced some 32"-scale Explorer basses in the 1980s, including one model that featured a futuristic piezo pickup in place of the traditional pickups found on the other models) After the initial, failed introduction in 1958, the model went on hiatus. This Explorer Trem model though, is in a league of its own. Download 351 Gibson Guitar PDF manuals. After its short but noteworthy premier in 1958, the Gibson Explorer went out of production until the mid-'70s. 1. Plug an instrument cable into the output jack of the Explorer and connect the other end to an electronic tuner. Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Personally I am unsure if its the wood that is causing the tone or the pickups themselves because of their known output. If there is a buzz, detune the strings and raise the bridge level slightly. Explorer replied to rockman82's topic in Gibson USA How are 10's too thick? Got the 2019 Explorer B-2 delivered today. Play each fret on each string, starting with low E. If there is a residual buzz on any of the frets, the action is too low. Anybody that listens to a song or recording and says, "That's definitely an Explorer" is full of it. Retune the strings. - body: alder or mahogany? In order to continually improve the design, quality and performance of our products and instruments and to make use of the best materials at all times, Gibson reserves the right to change specifications without notice. My other Gibsons are def the not perfect, but they're good. Last week, I covered a few of my favourite ways to clean and set up a Gibson Les Paul guitar. Detune the strings. Modern. He began his writing career after graduating with a Bachelors of Arts degree in music from Salford University. In the mid-1970s Gibson realized that other companies were successfully building their own Explorer shaped guitars … 2019 Gibson Explorer in Antique Natural Finish. He has contributed to and written for various magazines including "K9 Magazine" and "Pet Friendly Magazine." Repeat for the other strings. We use cookies to understand how you use our site, give you an awesome experience, and deliver our services. // Leaf Group Lifestyle. Now that you have a taste of what awaits you in this selection of Gibson Explorers, by all means check out the rest of the catalog. Play each fret … Body: Solid mahogany body. This new Epiphone Brendon Small Ghost Horse Explorer is brutal! Inlays: Traditional dot inlays. A third guitar known as the Moderne was designed concurrently but never made it out of the prototype stage. Start date: Nov 30, 2015. photos on this page of the process of building a custom Gibson Explorer guitar. I've always heard about Gibson's poor quality but usually thought much of it was Internet forum hyperbole and exaggerated. He has two of these awesome guitars – one named ‘So What’ and the other going by the name of ‘More Beer’ of all things. His 1984 Gibson Explorers are also among the most iconic pieces in his collection. This item is out of stock, but we build most left-handed guitars on demand. I've seen some different setup opinions so I figured I'd ask here. Aside from the body shape, the Explorer followed classic Gibson spec cues established by the Les Paul models. This is what's generally installed across a huge swath of the Gibson range and it's almost certainly what's installed on your Les Paul, SG, Firebird, Explorer, 335, etc., etc. This week, we’ll dive a little deeper into the process of setting up your favourite single cut, and tackle the dreaded truss rod adjustment! The Gibson Explorer is a solid-body electric guitar strongly associated with rock music. The Explorer’s stop-bar Tune-o-matic bridge relies on string tension to hold it in place. He has also written for Dogmagazine.net. The 12th-fret note should give the same reading as the open string. For daily photo updates on my current builds, visit my Jakalian Guitars Facebook page. They are crap. Les Paul Studio Pickguard, Black $29.99. I adjusted my truss rod and capoing … Gibson Brands, Inc. respects your right to privacy. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images, How to Adjust the Neck of an Ovation Guitar, How to Set the Intonation on a Fender Telecaster, How to Set the Action on a Fender Stratocaster, Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. The Explorer and its counterpart the Flying V were first built by Gibson as ultra-modern design concepts the late-'50s . It's a matter of preference, but low action typically suits those that like to play fast and higher action suits players who prefer longer notes and string bending. The Antique Natural finish, all mahogany set-neck construction, rosewood fingerboard and slim taper neck provide incredible classic looks, sound and playability. Use a string winder to expedite the detuning process. 1 Options Les Paul Custom 5-Ply Pickguard, Black $39.99. The saddle is the individual metal ridge on which the string sits. Simon Foden has been a freelance writer and editor since 1999. Turn clockwise to raise the action and counterclockwise to lower the action. Check the string intonation. Use a small Phillips screwdriver to turn the screw in the back of the saddle for any string that has incorrect intonation. Plug an instrument cable into the output jack of the Explorer and connect the other end to an electronic tuner. Fret buzz is particularly prevalent on the first three or four frets. Explorer Jack Plate $13.99. More information can be found in the last chapter of Dan's book, including a detailed "10-step Fender Setup." But this is even worse. I already had reduced expectations since the 2019 Flying V B-2 arrived yesterday. Copyright 2021 Gibson Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. Original Flying Vs and Explorers from this era were produced in extremely limited numbers using Korina as the body wood, and intact examples rank as the … Setup: Comprehensive hand-finished setup. Tighten the screw to adjust sharp intonation and loosen it to correct flat intonation. Gibson Explorer Owner's Manual (64 … Featuring a pair of ‘70s tribute humbuckers, hand wired with orange drop capacitors, this Explorer begs to be played loud. $1,999.00. Gibson Explorer Electric Guitar Vintage USA 1983 Ebony All Original w / OHSC For sale is a truly stunning, 1983 Gibson Explorer in ebony! If you've got a wraparound-style tailpiece bridge, check out that article. Adjust the thumb screws that sit underneath each edge of the stop-bar. With its classic white finish, bound rosewood fingerboard, black speed knobs and chrome hardware, it looks as iconic as the generation of music it helped create. Loosen them so that they are slack to the point that they lie flat against the pickups. 10's are the bread and butter of guitar strings. Model# DSX19ANCH1. 8.4lbs. The Epiphone Explorer from the Inspired by Gibson Collection recreates the ultra-rare classic from 1958. So, it had two P.A.F humbucking pickups, a tune-a-matic bridge/stop tailpiece setup to anchor the strings to the body (a few examples had Bigsby vibratos factory fitted), plus a glued in Korina neck with a rosewood fingerboard [with a 12” radius]. Once you have set the action to a height that suits your playing style and have retuned the strings, play the 12th fret of each string and observe the electronic tuner display. 1 Options ... Gibson Brands, Inc. respects your right to privacy. This incredible guitar features a mahogany body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, tune-o-matic bridge, 22-low wide frets and chrome hardware throughout. Action was a ludicrous 9 mm on the high e string at the 12th fret. This will be a custom Gibson Explorer build with the following specs: full-size Gibson ’58 Explorer-style By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to our An error has occured and this guitar could not be added to your cart. All of these came from Dan's hands-on measurements of the actual guitars. The Explorer Bass employs a set-neck design rather than the bolted-neck construction used in the Epiphone version of the Gibson Thunderbird. Over 60 years later the Gibson Explorer is utilized by artists of all genres making it one of the true classics of the guitar world. A special set of calibrated Burstbucker 2 (neck) and Burstbucker 3 (bridge) pickups provide … The Gibson Custom Shop is the pinnacle of craftsmanship, quality and sound excellence.