What Gibson would you prefer?

[Drazden]

I have an opportunity here to exchange one of my guitars that I don't really play (one of three Strats) for a Gibson. I've got two options: a mid-90s Explorer, in a see-through cherry finish, with the stock 500T/496R pickups, or a 1980 SG Firebrand.

Which, through my research, isn't actually worth that much. But I'm intending to just put EMG's in whatever I get anyway, and a natural finish SG with an 81/85 combo in it would be sweet.

All other things (cost, hardshell case with each) being equal, which of the two Gibsons would you take?

[straycat]

The fire brand Gibsons have no resale value and can be had very cheaply.I would go for the explorer.

[Axewielder]

Don't be a dildos, ya goes with the Explorers, it is the most brutals.

[Drazden]

I noticed the Firebrands have a really low resale; why is that? I'd think a walnut-bodied regular production guitar would have a little bit of cache. Is it just a Norlin thing?

Haha. Actually, one of the Explorers I've been looking at is black, just like Skwisgar's. Would definitely need EMG's, though.

[nateb]

Play before trade....

There are a lot of people on this board that feel that that the quality of gibsons can be hit or miss. Sometimes you can pick up one and just jell with it other times, you wonder why they are still in business. Play the instrument and check it out a bit before pulling the trigger.

-Nate

[lhrocker]

Explorer - definitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[toejam]

Explorer - definitely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

+1.

[minh80]

Explorer..not only does it sound good..it looks good on anybody.

[skorb]

Explorer - easy choice there.

[thetroy]

SG. I like light weight guitars

[Rupe]

The Explorer would get my vote from a looks/value standpoint, but play them both and see which one suits you better. Although I love the look, I've never been able to bond with a Gibson Explorer. On the flip side, I don't really care for the looks of SG's but I love the feel and playability of many of them.

[straycat]

True play it first by all means its up to you in the end.The explorer is a very comfy guitar to play sitting down standing up with a strap is just plain uncomfy to me.

[Ace]

Get the explorer and leave out the EMGs.

[Chasbo]

The explorer is the most obvious choice just because of resale. However...play both through your rig if possible and choose the one that you like the most. Play before you buy/trade is the number one rule. Who cares about resale if the guitar is a dog?

chuck

[Racerx2k]

Play before trade....

There are a lot of people on this board that feel that that the quality of gibsons can be hit or miss. Sometimes you can pick up one and just jell with it other times, you wonder why they are still in business. Play the instrument and check it out a bit before pulling the trigger.

-Nate

Ain't THAT the truth?! I told our singer I'd set up his Les Paul, cause it played like ass. It buzzed at just about every fret. Holy smoke, when I opened the control cavity to fix the short he was complaining about, I quickly found out why! Talk about a shitty wiring job! I was convinced that either: A) HE screwed it up, or B) He bought it second-hand, and that the previous owner botched it. Imagine how surprised when he told me he bought it, new, and that noone ever worked on it. Really worrid, blobbic solder joints, shodding wire routing, you name it, it was there. It was shorting because some toad at the factory, I guess, decided to pass the hot lead through a solder point for the ground, and a huge blob of solder was touching it, shorting it to ground.
The guitar plays alot better, now, with a decent set-up, but it still sounds a bit shrill. But, hey, he's happy, and it's not MY guitar, so job done.