Gibson Explorer Questions

[SEEGERMANY]

That's Zinc vs. Aluminum you heathen

That's me!

[toejam]

Is your hip made of aluminum or zinc?

[SEEGERMANY]

It's the $20 platinum model!

[toejam]

So it could crumble at any time!

[Grandturk]

And I'm not going to topwrap.

WHAT!!!!????

That's where the TONE is, man!!!

[85 San Dimas]

I own a 92 Explorer a year ago (nashville bridge) that I bought used for like 630 and I bought a new one (later sold) back in 93. I would just say to get one after they quit putting the maple necks on them. Someone here may know what year but most of the 80's ones had maple necks. Get mahogany. Also (I may be a snob here but) I would try and find something as far back as I could before GC ruined it all. The new explorers in the GCs are horrible. If Gibby can justify 2200 for a Slash then I don't know how they can sell explorers for 1149. Theoretically the only real diff is binding, inlays and a maple top. Something doesn't add up. I think GC and Gibby were combined under one corporate roof in 97 so a 97 or earlier (back to about maybe 88) should be a pretty good quality guitar. Its preference but try to get a mahogany neck, and in a lot of those years if you find a "semi-transparent" or "cherry" finish you may even score a 1 piece body.Black is guranteed to be 2 or 3 pieces. Good luck.

[DonP]

Someone here may know what year but most of the 80's ones had maple necks.

Gibson used three piece maple necks from 1976 to 1982. I specifically looked for an LP Custom in these years and found a 1977 that rocks.

True, it doesn't sound like my other three LP's with 1 piece mahogany necks, but they don't sound like each other either.