Gibson Explorer/explorer Pro

[jaydog]

i see that gibson explorers and explorer pro are selling cheap online at musicians friend etc. $1050 explorer and $1100 explorer pro. which is cheap for a gibson and it comes with a hardshell case. i like alot of other people love the explorer design. however i have never played one,never even got to touch one. do any of you own or have played one? i will list some questions below. thanks,

does it have a fast neck?
is it light or heavy in weight?
how are the stock pickups?
stay in tune?

[Cygnus X1]

does it have a fast neck?
is it light or heavy in weight?
how are the stock pickups?
stay in tune?

1: Depends, I rate it "medium"
2: Again, "Medium"
3: OK, average
4: Yes.

[slash-ed]

Based on the '06 Explorer I had last year:

1: Pretty fast for a Gibson
2: Heavy but because of that balanced very well
3. Great for rock / classic metal
4. Mini-Grovers IIRC, no problems there.

[toejam]

does it have a fast neck?

That would be subjective. A neck doesn't move, so it would depend on how fast your fingers can move.

[scotty]

I played one the other day that I couldnt put down.

[lhrocker]

Great guitars, but if you get a natural finish, note that it will have at least a 3 piece body an the regular explorer. On a solid color, it doesn't matter and it sounds great anyway. On a natural finish, you may see where the body pieces are joined.

[Predator1]

I had a 2002 76 RI in Naturalburst that I sold to a fellow JCF'er. It was a beautiful guitar with a 3 piece body however they did a great job of book matching and you really had to look hard to see the joints. It was very well balenced, but was a very big guitar. It was just too big for playing here at home. It sounded killer and the neck was more of a 60's slim taper. Very comfy to play. I do miss it! It matched my 2002 Naturalburst V98 that will go to the grave with me. I got a big shock when I went to ship it. $80.00. Maybe the new owner will chime in.

[jaydog]

Great guitars, but if you get a natural finish, note that it will have at least a 3 piece body an the regular explorer. On a solid color, it doesn't matter and it sounds great anyway. On a natural finish, you may see where the body pieces are joined.

i like the cherry finish explorers. hell, i think the natural finish explorer pros are like $100 or $200 dollars more which i think is stupid.

[toddstaples]

I had a black explorer I got her, and sold here.....

It ripped. Plain and simple.....

Wish I still had it....

[straycat]

Explorer pro's are smaller body wise and not very desireable to the collectors.I have had my eye on a trans black pro for some time.Flame maple top white binding body and neck with pearl block inlays and pearl logo,ebony board.A stunning guitar and very comfy to play.Tone wise its OK not quite as throaty as the full sized explorer but nothing an rsguitarworks upgrade kit couldn't fix.

[jaydog]

Explorer pro's are smaller body wise and not very desireable to the collectors.I have had my eye on a trans black pro for some time.Flame maple top white binding body and neck with pearl block inlays and pearl logo,ebony board.A stunning guitar and very comfy to play.Tone wise its OK not quite as throaty as the full sized explorer but nothing an rsguitarworks upgrade kit couldn't fix.

straycat, how much is the explorer pro your talking about? it sounds expensive to me.

[cdwillis]

They have the pro at musicians friend for around the same price as the explorer. You want a rare one try to find a Mattias Jabs signature model Explorer. The body on it is 90% the size of the regular explorer and it had an OFR if I remember correctly.

[slash-ed]

Explorer pro's are smaller body wise and not very desireable to the collectors.I have had my eye on a trans black pro for some time.Flame maple top white binding body and neck with pearl block inlays and pearl logo,ebony board.A stunning guitar and very comfy to play.Tone wise its OK not quite as throaty as the full sized explorer but nothing an rsguitarworks upgrade kit couldn't fix.

Why aren't they desirable? I've always thought the features were a step up from a standard Explorer. I've always wanted one, too

[asix]

imo and i do have a 76 get a 76 no the pro. rings like a piano.

[slayer]

I liked the original pro`s when they first came out. They had amber flame tops, ebony boards with real mop block inlays. I should have bought one!! I like the natural satin swamp ash one also. I think they are discontinued, but I am looking

Jack