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

[ZLE]

Maybe they should do a reissue of the fake bolt on flying V, that James used to record Master of Puppets. It was made in Japan an ironically probably have more to do with ESP than with Gibson

 

[zw470]

That was weird

 

[zw470]

Maybe they should do a reissue of the fake bolt on flying V, that James used to record Master of Puppets. It was made in Japan an ironically probably have more to do with ESP than with Gibson

If they did that I'm sure it would make the $15,000 Hammett V look like a bargain

 

[gnoll]

Anybody got an idea when this mythical white whale is supposed to be released?

I don't think so. I suppose it's all part of the marketing.

"Guys guuuuys!!! 80s Explorer!!! Check it ooooout!!!!"

"Oh but only in black."

"There will totally be white ones though."

"Or will there? *wink wink*"

 

[gnoll]

Maybe they should do a reissue of the fake bolt on flying V, that James used to record Master of Puppets. It was made in Japan an ironically probably have more to do with ESP than with Gibson

I don't think this is correct.

I believe it went like this:

RTL: The Electra V.
MoP: Gibson Explorer with stock DF.
AJFA: Gibson Explorer with Emgs.

But he would also use Kirk's guitars for some rhythm tracks.

 

[ZLE]

I don't think this is correct.

I believe it went like this:

RTL: The Electra V.
MoP: Gibson Explorer with stock DF.
AJFA: Gibson Explorer with Emgs.

But he would also use Kirk's guitars for some rhythm tracks.

Ye I meant Kill em all, but couldn't edit the post.

 

[DarkstarII]

I don't think this is correct.

I believe it went like this:

RTL: The Electra V.
MoP: Gibson Explorer with stock DF.
AJFA: Gibson Explorer with Emgs.

But he would also use Kirk's guitars for some rhythm tracks.

This is correct (the Electra probably had aftermarket pickups, SD Invaders is most commonly implied). On Master, when James used Kirk’s guitars for rhythm tracks, that meant EMG was indeed used on that album as Kirk had already installed EMGs in most, if not all, of his main guitars.

 

[complex-barb.0t]

Personally I don’t want Hetfield anywhere around the release of the white 80s exp. It will make it so annoying and expensive to get one.

The black models I see just sit at local shops. Low interest. You can order one from Sweetwater right now. Guess everyone is holding out for white? Haha.

 

[Guitarded81401]

The guy that got me playing almost 40 years ago had a brand new 1984 Gibson Explorer that was white in his collection. That guitar was my favorite and I had dreams about that thing for years after not seeing that guitar again. A few years ago he died and I wanted to see about buying that damn thing but I also didn't want to even bring it up When Gibson releases them I will have to buy one I fear.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

I don't think this is correct.

I believe it went like this:

RTL: The Electra V.
MoP: Gibson Explorer with stock DF.
AJFA: Gibson Explorer with Emgs.

But he would also use Kirk's guitars for some rhythm tracks.

Some corrections:
KEA: Electra
rtl: Gibson Explorer Stock + one with a Tom Anderson H3+
MoP: same as RTL but also used a Jackson KV custom a lot as well
Garage Days: Explorer with EMGs
AJFA: ESP MX

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Also for all we know maybe they're taking so long so they can try to get James back and endorse these? Lol
I hope not though since yeah, fucking skyrocketing price of that's the case.

 

[gnoll]

Some corrections:
KEA: Electra
rtl: Gibson Explorer Stock + one with a Tom Anderson H3+
MoP: same as RTL but also used a Jackson KV custom a lot as well
Garage Days: Explorer with EMGs
AJFA: ESP MX

Yeah Idk...

For KEA I'd agree with Electra but I think he was still using it for RTL also.

For MoP I don't think the KV ended up used much.

And I think AJFA was still Gibsons.

The Anderson pickup, I don't know. I don't remember ever seeing good evidence for that.

But I will say I'm not 100% sure. But atm this is what I think.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

Yeah Idk...

For KEA I'd agree with Electra but I think he was still using it for RTL also.

For MoP I don't think the KV ended up used much.

And I think AJFA was still Gibsons.

The Anderson pickup, I don't know. I don't remember ever seeing good evidence for that.

But I will say I'm not 100% sure. But atm this is what I think.

The Electra neck snapped during the KeA tour. He got tired of it breaking so he switched to the Explorer which became his main going into the RTL sessions

The KV was still used a good bit. There's pictures out there during the MoP sessions. He just got it around the MoP recording sessions but he decided he didn't like it as much so it was regulated to C# tuning during the tour.

He got his first 2 MXs in 1987 so there's a good chance he used both but switches (mostly) full time to ESP during the tour.

There's pictures of one of the Explorers with what's clearly a TA pickup in the bridge when it was restored to pre-EMG specs.

 

[DarkstarII]

The Electra neck snapped during the KeA tour. He got tired of it breaking so he switched to the Explorer which became his main going into the RTL sessions

The KV was still used a good bit. There's pictures out there during the MoP sessions. He just got it around the MoP recording sessions but he decided he didn't like it as much so it was regulated to C# tuning during the tour.

He got his first 2 MXs in 1987 so there's a good chance he used both but switches (mostly) full time to ESP during the tour.

There's pictures of one of the Explorers with what's clearly a TA pickup in the bridge when it was restored to pre-EMG specs.

RTL recording was the O.G. V (Electra).
RTL tour was the first time an Explorer showed up. Then a second one was acquired. That tour is when he finally retired O.G. V (neck snapped as you said).
MoP was Explorer and King V
Garage Days was Explorer w/ EMGs
AJFA was same Explorers w/ EMGs. The ESP MX explorers didn’t show up until halfway through that tour. He got 3 white ones, one of which had the middle finger inlays (EET FUK). This was end of ‘88 or very early in ‘89.
Black was ESP explorers.

kirk got his first ESP in ‘87.
The next time the Gibson Explorers show up on a ‘tallica recording was Death Magnetic.

 

[l1ll1]

Anybody got an idea when this mythical white whale is supposed to be released?

Should have been end of this year (so now?), but somehow delayed. As soon as they deliver the white ones, they will sell out immediatelly and they know it.

 

[DarkstarII]

Maybe Gibson are waiting for 2024 to tie into the ‘84 aspect…40 year anniversary… c’mon Gibson, lets gooooo!

 

[l1ll1]

There where a couple of slips that came out that they were supposed to be on the market by the end of '23 (I think its even in one of the andertons vids). I'm so close to buying a non-year antique natural explorer, a 70s AN or a 70s classic white to finally have an Explorer again. Played one for 2,5 hours today and I just love them. But a part of me wants to wait for the white 80s, to either get one of those or get lucky on the 2nd hand market when people unload their 70s etc...

 

[DarkstarII]

Yeah I read that rumor about it being in a shot of one of the Anderton vids —I just don’t have 2 hrs to sit there studying the background for a glimpse (anyone got a time stamp?)

 

[DarkstarII]

Edit: found some info here



1 month ago in the beginning of the 2-hr Anderton’s vid, there’s two 80s white explorers in the background. A release must be coming soon…

 

[OmegaSlayer]

If Gibson rereleases Moderne, but doesn't rerelease the US-1 or the Victory, I'll riot