Gibson Explorer Shortage?

[Amerturk]

Has anyone else noticed that a majority of the online huge music stores are out of Gibson Explorers? This is the first time I've ever seen this. I love explorers and routinely look on those sites for deals. Weird.

In fact, they don't even list the at all...unlike "project due date".

[Rich#6]

guitar center has them and sweetwater. right now so many shops are working on NAMM and not working about inventory.

[guitarguy2237]

Mmm...Exploerers are way too much fun, and are kinda underrated, I think.

[The Rossness]

Gibson is retiring the Explorer an V for a few years, FYI.

[Carbuff]

Gibson is retiring the Explorer an V for a few years, FYI.

Off to the Disney Vault with them!

[Sephiroth]

Mmm...Exploerers are way too much fun, and are kinda underrated, I think.

It's the cheap dot inlays..................and the lack of fretboard binding........................and the mediocre 496r/498t pickup set.........................and the front routing with big piece of plastic.................and a neck that could be a wee-bit thinner...........................and the lack of black hardware........................and the lack of finish options



The closest Gibson has ever come to building the perfect explorer in my admittedly prejudiced metal perspective is the "robot explorer" from approx. 3 years ago, and it was only available in red (HOW WAS THAT THING NOT MADE IN BLACK OR A NICE TRANS FINISH?????) and costed way too much thanks to that built-in automatic tuner.

[goodwood]

It's the cheap dot inlays..................and the lack of fretboard binding........................and the mediocre 496r/498t pickup set.........................and the front routing with big piece of plastic.................and a neck that could be a wee-bit thinner...........................and the lack of black hardware........................and the lack of finish options

That's a lot of whining.

[Amerturk]

I just check GC website that normally has pages of Explorer for sale....there are not many left.

Maybe Obama mentioned a ban on them?

[DonP]

Ebay seems to have 71 available at the moment. There's a 50th anniv. one with block inlays and binding; a cool Explorer 89 with ebony and split diamond inlays.

What is the problem???

[straycat]

That's a lot of whining.

What a pussy to whine like that, almost the funniest thing I ever read.

[Larz]

Just Gibson trying to over-inflate their already inflated prices

[Sephiroth]

What a pussy to whine like that, almost the funniest thing I ever read.

You think that.

There's a reason why Gibson struggles in the metal demographic and why ESP kicks their asses in sales producing more "metal" versions of Gibson's own guitars.

Just Gibson trying to over-inflate their already inflated prices

Possibly because explorers really are cheap (relatively speaking) and don't really hold their value as well as certain other Gibson models, and they'd probably like to change that by artifically forcing a little scarcity.

[toejam]

You think that.

There's a reason why Gibson struggles in the metal demographic and why ESP kicks their asses in sales producing more "metal" versions of Gibson's own guitars.

A more metal version of the Explorer? Charvel had the pointy Explorer in the '80s and ESP just ripped it off. Either way, it's still a crappy looking guitar compared to the regular Explorer and not more metal.

[Radiohead]

I have been looking for an Explorer for some time as well. The 76' Reissue appears to be only available in Black with the crappy looking White pick guard. The Cheri and Vintage White are no longer available. Looks like Gibson has a few new models as per their web site but I have never seen these in any stores. They have a floyd model.

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Explorer/Gibson-USA/Explorer-Tremolo.aspx

If you check out the customer reviews, it appears that many are not happy with the quality, specifically as it relates to the Floyd routes being misaligned.

Looks like the Thunderhorse is their Medal version of the Explorer.

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Explorer/Gibson-USA/Dethklok-Thunderhorse-Explorer.aspx

[goodwood]

I have a cherry one with a mirror pickguard.

The reason thet ESP kicks their ass in that department is that ESP builds fine instruments but also focuses heavily on marketing to that genre/demographic & even tailor their options (but they always have) to suit that demographic.