Explorer fans...Gibson may be granting your wish.

[Dooky]

I dunno. It might be one of those things where expectations don't match reality. An ebony board I think is a good choice, but I think most would prefer mahogany construction?

Though honestly I'll take whatever construction eliminates neck dive on an Explorer.

I have an all mahogany Gibson Explorer ('76 reissues). It has not even the slightest bit of neck dive. It is extremely well balanced.

 

[zw470]

Then buy the Epiphone 84?

The bananaheads in charge decided to use the original '58 Explorer shape for that instead of the more pointier '76 Explorer shape

 

[cardinal]

I have an all mahogany Gibson Explorer ('76 reissues). It has not even the slightest bit of neck dive. It is extremely well balanced.

That's good to hear. I've played a few explorers and some are fine and others not so much. i assume it comes down to the specific weight of a particular guitar's body and neck.

 

[Voodoo Marshall]

Sorry if this has been covered...the original Explorers were Korina. I had a mid-70s reissue that was Korina as well.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Sorry if this has been covered...the original Explorers were Korina. I had a mid-70s reissue that was Korina as well.

The original '58 - '63 run were Korina. The '76 return (including the "limited edition" '58 reissue) were mahogany. I know Gibson did a reissue of those '76 Limited Edition '58 Reissues (holy shit ) and they were also mahogany.

 

[Masoo2]

imagine not jumping for joy over a production 84-style explorer

84 explorer best explorer* <3

*other than the MX-250

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

imagine not jumping for joy over a production 84-style explorer

84 explorer best explorer* <3

*other than the MX-250

*Explorer E2 has logged into the chat*

 

[cardinal]

Nope. '84 all the way, though tbh I'd rather an MX.

 

[Deadspeak1]

ESP dick slaps Gibson

 

[Mboogie7]

Realistically, what’s the general vibe that if they’re going to do this, they would also issue some quantity in the left handed variety?

I’ve never been drawn to Gibson at all, but I’ll 100% buy one If they offer a lefty model. James Hetfield ands white explorer is the definition of metal in my mind and I wouldn’t have any other choice but to buy one.

 

[Dr. Caligari]

The problem with MX is they're hard to get, expensive, and there's a lot of fakes.

And I also think the period when he played the Gibsons was peak Metallica.

 

[Nightside]

The problem with MX is they're hard to get, expensive, and there's a lot of fakes.

And I also think the period when he played the Gibsons was peak Metallica.

Yeah good luck finding an mx250 for a fair price. Good luck finding an mx220 that doesn't cost as much as a vintage fender.

Plus, the MoP era was peak Metallica so a Gibson explorer with chrome hardware and passives is the way to go.

 

[Andromalia]

AFAIK you can still order new MXes. Just, only in Japan. We should make a group order of 70 through Narad. I reckon they're 6K5ish apiece.
If I really wanted one I'd just have to refresh the guitars rebelliuon site every day to make sure not to miss when they have one in stock, they order all they can I think.

 

[Nightside]

AFAIK you can still order new MXes. Just, only in Japan. We should make a group order of 70 through Narad. I reckon they're 6Kish apiece.

Last I heard they were quitting the MX altogether.

 

[uni777]

The bananaheads in charge decided to use the original '58 Explorer shape for that instead of the more pointier '76 Explorer shape

Which is correct for the Gibson '84. Those guitars are more rounded on the points compared to the '76.

 

[manu80]

maybe they'll be more available than the mustaine sig ?

 

[zw470]

Which is correct for the Gibson '84. Those guitars are more rounded on the points compared to the '76.

Really? I know the MX220s Hetfield was using at the time were the '58 shape but I thought the '84 Gibsons were the '76 shape.

ETA: Looks pointier than the Epiphones to me

 

[soul_lip_mike]

AFAIK you can still order new MXes. Just, only in Japan. We should make a group order of 70 through Narad. I reckon they're 6K5ish apiece.
If I really wanted one I'd just have to refresh the guitars rebelliuon site every day to make sure not to miss when they have one in stock, they order all they can I think.

I’d instantly jump on that. The ESP MX is a grail for me.

 

[uni777]

Really? I know the MX220s Hetfield was using at the time were the '58 shape but I thought the '84 Gibsons were the '76 shape.

ETA: Looks pointier than the Epiphones to me
View attachment 113562

The Epi's might be even more rounded off but the difference is pretty obvious. The upper fin also varied a bit between the ones i've had in my hands/have seen.

The so called 2007 '84 reissue was just a 76 with triangle knob's just like the Shred-X and the trem versions which followed.

 

[zw470]

The Epi's might be even more rounded off but the difference is pretty obvious. The upper fin also varied a bit between the ones i've had in my hands/have seen.

The so called 2007 '84 reissue was just a 76 with triangle knob's just like the Shred-X and the trem versions which followed.

View attachment 113580

Looks like The Epi is different than both of them. Maybe the same upper horn as the '76, the same bottom horns as the '84, but the lower horn (too many horns) is different than either of them.