Need some help

[Sonic]

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum and I have a couple of questions.
I played guitar for around 7 years now, first 5 years acoustic fingerpicking stuff and than I bought an electric guitar (Ibanez GIO starter thing) and started to play electric more and more. Now I have a new amp (fender frontman212r) and I'm really into playing Metallica and Pantera. I like the heavy riffs and practising the solo's and atm I play with some friends too (drummer, second guitarist and bass).

So now I'm looking for a new guitar and I personally LOVE the explorers shape its the most brutal coolest and beautiful guitar ever (imo:P). Than I started to look for some brands that sell it, I saw the original Gibson explorer, the ESP Ex and ofc this Jackson Kelly. I liked the Jackson Kelly shape most (this is not to compare the brands, tho if you guys have any experience with other explorers I'd like to hear it).

My first question is, what is the real diffrence between the kelly's, I mean you have the KE2 wich is like 1000 to 2000$ more expansive than the KE3. I was thinking of taking the KE5FR with floyd rose but it doesnt have active pickups :/. So whats the best one?

As I said this might not be the right place to compare the brands but, I hear alot people saying that ESP explorers are better. Any1 has experience with that? I personally prefer the shape of Kellys but who knows.

Also another question about importing guitars, every US online website I looked for only ships to the US or Canada... I dont have that much money to spend, or patcience to get it hehe but I live in europe and guitars are like twice as expansive here :S. Anyone knows a good shop?

Thats it, I hope to hear something soon

[DonP]

The Kelly body shape is sexy.

The difference between a KE2 vs. KE3 is a lot of things, but many USA vs. MIJ and neck-thru vs bolt on.

Marty says USA Kellys smoke ESPs so you can take his word for it.

Since you are in Europe, you have to go with what you can find.

[DalyTek]

I have a buddy in a band who has a Gibson Explorer (with active EMGs) and my old Kelly JS30KE sounded exactly like his Explorer (to my ears, and also to his.) The pointy edges of the Kelly make it look far sexier than the Explorer and ESP Ex-series guitars to me. I fell in love with the Kelly style, and that's why I stuck with it.

Basically the differences between them are varied, things such as USA made or import, type of woods, bolt-on necks or neck through, pickups, bridge styles, inlays, etc.

As far as the pickups go, if you're dead set on actives, you can always put actives in there. But you may just find that actives aren't really necessarily what you need for your style.

Best bet, look at your budget, then try out some of each guitar that is in your budget and see which one you click with.

[Sonic]

Thanks guys