Flying V vs Explorer

[Guitardude86]

Been posting a lot of threads today, but it's been an exciting day..
Here's the deal: A guy in my town is selling an Gibson Flying V '84 and a Gibson Explorer '95. Both are white.
The V is a bit more worn in because of its age. The Explorer appears to be in pretty good shape.
He's also selling The Explorer slightly cheaper than the Flying V.
I'm GASing bigtime here and concidering going for one of 'em.
I love flying v's, so many of my favorite players have played on them; Michael Schenker, Jeff Waters, Accept etc. Cool as hell. The downside is I'll have to stand up when practicing, or put it in a 45 degree angle.

The Explorer is new to me, never really tried out one properly. Good thing is I can sit down when practicing. But I can't think of many kick-ass guitarists playing Explorers except for James Hetfield, who apparently swears by them..

What should I go for? I'd like your opinion.. Flying V vs. Explorer.. Pros/cons.. Whatever.. Discuss

[Rsmacker]

I have one of each, and they are totally different guitars (obviously, duh!). The Explorer is quite a weighty piece, very chunky, and took a lot of getting used to, whereas the V feels a lot erm, well, "cheaper", but no less of a fantastic guitar.

I'll tell you that I haven't played any other Explorers which feel as good as mine, some felt like they were made out of balsa wood!!! The V feels like every other V I have picked up - it feels right, kinda natural. There's obviously big differences between Explorer models as well as individual guitars. So, with that in mind, I'd advise you to go and play both guitars and pick the one which feels the best to you.

[charvelguy]

If the white V is original..I'd do that over an Explorer in a heartbeat.
White was sometimes an upcharged or limited color from manufacturers.
I personally do not care for the explorer shape (own a few Dean Z) for practicing much either so its a toss up on the sitting down issue.
I prefer a Les Paul similar Gibson or Strat shape when practicing.

Whatever one plays the best and sounds the best to you.

[StukaJU87]

If it is an 84 V without the full pickguard, it is nothing special and they were cheap new.... like $450. I would pass on it in favor of the 95 Explorer.

[Guitardude86]

Hehe.. Ever since I first saw the cover of Accept's "Restless and Wild" I've been dying to get hold of a white flying v.. But I won't dis the Explorer without giving it a try first.. I'm sure there's a reason why Hetfield prefers them.

[SEEGERMANY]

I'm a Flying V fanatic, however, 1984's model was not a stellar build. Personally, I feel the Explorer is more bang for the buck!

[SEEGERMANY]

Sorry Scott, you just type faster than me.

[charvelguy]

Norlin vs non Norlin..

[lhrocker]

I've never owned a V, or even gassed for them, but I love explorers and still have a 76RI. Does the explorer have the pickguard and 3 inline controls or no pickguard and the controls in a triangular position. I think that other than a strat style, the explorer is really comfortable to play from a sitting position and they hang really well from a standing position.

[skorb]

many of the guitars Gibson produced from like 83 - 89 were poorly made and stylistic departures from their earlier classics.

I love Flying V's and own a 2003 white one with the ebony board. it's a great guitar.

if that V looks anything like this, design-wise, I'd avoid it.




see how even the HS looks different than on the classic ones?

I would only go for the ones with the large pickguards, either pre-83 or post 89, like Schenker used.

[Newc]

I've owned a couple of those 84 Vs and they were definitely not crap. The lack of the giant retarded pickguard was a welcome change IMO, regardless of the original design (read: it's not an original 1958 V, and "looks like" and "is" are 2 different things).

Sitting with the Explorer is not as comfy as a Strat, and even less comfy than with a V, because of the rear of the body - unless you really like playing jumbo acoustics with your elbow sticking way out past your head, because that just about how an Explorer plays when sitting.

So you'll have to stand up with either of them.

[siggy14]

I agree with Newc, i have a 1984 V, black with ebony board, jumbo fretts no pickguard, i picked it up for $485 with no case. It came with a air norton cream in the bridge and a PAF zebra in the neck.

Anyway i originaly picked up the guitar to flip it, but instantly fell in love with it, so much i ended up selling my 2000 V which was cream which happens to be one of my fav colors besides white.

I can also tell you i had a early 90's explorer, nice guitar, just wasnt my thing.

[toejam]

So you'll have to stand up with either of them.

Why? What the hell is wrong with you people that you can't figure out how to sit with the guitar classical style and play it?!?
Explorers and Vs are comfortable to play sitting down.

[ApeDosMil]

Why? What the hell is wrong with you people that you can't figure out how to sit with the guitar classical style and play it?!?
Explorers and Vs are comfortable to play sitting down.

Ya seriously, I play all guitars classical style ever since I used a Jackson King V Professional. Its not hard at all.

[MichaelLitvak]

dont forget the dude from scorpions plays an explorer as well...
(but then again.. the other dude plays a V .. )
i love the shape of explorers more than the V .. i wish i had an explorer
i played an explorer in GC .. it felt very comfortable sitting down in normal position