Gibson Explorer: 3 Things You NEED to Know Before Buying

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Get my HX Stomp Worship Essentials Pack here: www.buymeacoffee.com/jcguitar/e/18427

[@davidvonjohnston]

Who knew worship guitar would be this epic

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

We serve an epic God, and so we give unto him epic gear and tones!

[@davidvonjohnston]

@All About Worship Guitar im not quite the go to church type, but if you were jammin these at church, id go every Sunday! Much love from Northern Canada

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Aw it's a shame I'm based in Singapore, I'd have invited you to come by church when I'm playing!

[@davidvonjohnston]

@@AllAboutWorshipGuitar if im ever in the area ill come by

[@DeweyJHall1]

Great video! The explorer is my favorite guitar shape of all time, thanks to James Hetfield of Metallica. They are big guitars but extremely comfortable to play, sitting as well as standing. The explorer shape is just so eye catching and cool looking. It's an extremely unique guitar, but when you put one on, you can feel the power! haha

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for the kind words! I'll admit, although I'm primarily a worship player, I do get my inspiration from very non-worship sources, James Hetfield being one of them (his monstrously powerful right hand and palm-muting). Definitely can relate to feeling the power!

[@DeweyJHall1]

@@AllAboutWorshipGuitar you're welcome! Thanks for the great content. Gonna check out your other video about this explorer next

[@danhooper3819]

I have been playing Explorers since 1978, I was originally attracted to them because of Rick Nielsen, I've had Dean's, Hamer's, Edwards, Epiphones and Gibson's. The 1976 body style is my favorite, they are very well balanced and they are what I am accustomed to playing, I have Les Paul's, 335's,Tele's and Strats, however the Explorer is my go to guitar...huge case, long awkward guitar but they look cool and have great ease to all the frets! My issue with Gibson is that they tend to change the fret wire size, especially on the newer models, my 1997 Gibson Explorer has meatier/larger frets than my 2014 Explorer 120, I also notice the difference on other newer models.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

You have such a cool history with the Explorer! I didn't expect the level of balance and comfort from playing an Explorer, but as you have noted, I'm finding the frets extremely tiny! I'm used to jumbo frets, so having position jumps and mis-fretting is a new experience for me.

[@jimyounger9490]

I’m 58 , love Gibson my whole life. Never heard of a high performance explorer ?? But I see it.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

There was a strange era of Gibson in the 2010’s until 2019. HP Les Pauls and SG’s had cool features like coil tapping and in 2019 they also had the HP4 circuit (the ridiculous push pull/internal dip switch system). The HP Explorers were more conventional, sporting the same hardware choices as the HP LP’s and SG’s but sticking to a familiar two humbucking, no coil splitting pickup set.

[@chuckshick]

Good video, Love my 2006 Explorer. 🇨🇦

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thanks! I’m learning to love this 2019 explorer!

[@mikemaceachern4590]

I’ve owned three of them over the years. I still have two of those three.It’s a comfortable guitar to play sitting down. I’ve been a fan of the Explorer since 1982. I still have a 1982 and 2017 model. 👍🤘

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

I’m jealous you have an old one! That must have some massive mojo.

[@whatarefriends4]

Your style is refreshingly unique. Very cool. And yeah you talked me out of the explorer. Dang

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for the kind words! Well, if you can get around these idiosyncrasies, it’s a cool guitar!

[@soundscapes4619]

Great review! Thanks and Godspeed!

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for watching! And god bless you!

[@michaeld2716]

Nice sounds. I will have to come back for the details.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for the kind words! I hope you get value out of the video later!

[@jakestewartmusic]

Some benefits to Explorers often overlooked- 1. simplified, easily-accessible control layout. Vol Vol Tone in a straight line 2. 6 in line headstock. arguably better break angle for tuning stability than the traditional headstock. 3. weight balance. usually not neck-heavy like most SGs, Firebirds, and some Flying Vs. 4. tonal sweet spot between SG and Les Paul. similar to no-capped LP. I think my main con for the Explorer is the lack of professional-quality gig bag. SKB has a relatively more compact hardshell available, but nobody makes a gig bag at the level of a MONO or Reunion Blues and I think that's a missed opportunity. You wouldn't want to toss an Explorer in a gig bag into the back of a trailer or under a plane, but it'd be really convenient for local gigs and rehearsals.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Interesting, thanks for the input! I haven't considered how easy the control layout in a straight line would be compared to the Les Paul. And indeed, how I wish Mono would make an Explorer/Firebird case! I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

[@jakestewartmusic]

@@AllAboutWorshipGuitar Totally! I've played and owned my Explorer *since 2007 and it's my favorite instrument, so I've got strong opinions on the design! And I agree, I'd buy one in a heartbeat too. Ritter makes a bag called the Arosa that looks of solid quality, you might be able to get one. They don't have a US distributor for that line of bags so I'm outta luck. I've emailed MONO and Gibson that they need to offer a pro-level Explorer gig bag and haven't really been met with much interest. Hopefully someday we'll luck out! If I knew the right people to get it done, I'd get into business making them myself lol.

[@lightinme217]

Just picked up one. Thanks for sharing!!

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

You’re welcome, Matt! I hope your experience is better than mine (I have a dramatised retelling of what happened to my Explorer…)

[@ethanreed8400]

This is pretty applicable to the firebird as well when it comes to the ergonomics. Firebirds are a different beast sound wise though

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Oh yeah because of that offset body! I agree about the different sound: those mini humbuckers are certainly something else.

[@satinwhip]

1. Size: Yeah, it's big... or more correctly long from end to end. You have be careful moving around with it. The case is massive but fits nicely in the back seat of my 2004 Honda CRV. 2. Stand: Hercules GS412B Plus. Thank me later. 3. Sound: My 1984 Explorer has an alder body and a maple neck. Sounds a bit different from the all mahogany or korina Explorers out there. Different Les Pauls also sound different. 4. Balance: It is the most well balanced guitar I have ever played or owned. Sitting down and playing is a little awkward but I never sit and play. Standing is a breeze. They are not for everyone but they are the coolest electric guitar in the world.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thanks for sharing! I ended up getting an SKB case for it which made transport much easier (shorter case with back straps). Noted on the guitar stand!

[@stevest3v3]

Excellent points, very well explained!

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@paulsadoff3661]

Great and honest take on the aspects of the explorer. I wish I had seen this video before I got mine but hey- I'm enjoying it ,even if it is a really huge plank of a guitar. Good point about needing hotter pickups- I'll try that in mine.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thanks for the kind words! I love how it draws a circle around you (especially the rear horn) for natural social distancing when being played. Nobody wants to be stabbed by it haha.

[@colten2524]

Like you said in the video, explorers don't like guitar stands. So I put my explorer on the recliner in the corner, so my guitar has a nicer chair than I do.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

I do the same! It sits on my massage chair in the corner sometimes. And here I am editing videos on a stool!

[@l0rd_breeigo-sama954]

Ok so a tip from an owner of a baritone Explorer. So its even longer than the average. String swing horizontal Wall hanger. Looks awesome, takes space, but also is much more relieving for the headstock if youre worried about breaking. And for travel an enki Avx (i Think) is made for these Ex and V bodies.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Oh that wall hanger looks so good, thanks for the tip! A baritone Explorer, that's gotta be a rare specimen.

[@IndyRockStar]

Get a Hercules guitar stand. The GS415B Plus model. It won't hurt the headstock and holds the guitar off the floor. I use Hercules stands for all my guitars when they are not on the wall rack.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thanks for the suggestion! I got rid of the robot tuners so I can hang it no issues on my wall hangers. And in church, I use a similar stand to the Hercules.

[@IndyRockStar]

@@AllAboutWorshipGuitar i just bought a new Gibson Explorer in Antique finish tonight. It's being shipped to me this week. I can't wait. Those guitars sound like they were custom made for a Marshall.

[@jukeboxjohnnie]

I find the Explorer exciting to pick up and play, I wouldnt feel as stimulated by the Les Paul

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

That's an interesting point, Jonathan! I hadn't considered if the visual impact of the guitar shape can be a source of inspiration.

[@herrcobra4144]

I have a Gothic Explorer. It makes evil demonic tones. 😂

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

I used to want a gothic explorer just for the look. Hard to beat an all-black aesthetic!

[@dalelacuna4299]

bro d guitar doesnt even suits ur personality! sell it whos a real rocker

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Oh man, I used to have shoulder length blonde hair, played in Visual Kei bands (was in an X Japan cover band), and a Dream Theater cover band. But you're right, I have mellowed over the years!

[@MarkTurner-vs7uc]

They are very large and tend to be heavy. They also tend to sound great.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Speaking of heavy and tending to sound great, I can still hear the sustain ringing from that early 80’s non-weight relief Les Paul…

[@mikaso]

Thank you for an honest and useful review! What about the three control knobs, do they work as well as they do on a (four knob) Les Paul? On a jazz base, the vol/vol/tone configuration doesn't work very well at all IMO.

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for watching and for the kind words! The control scheme is 2 volume and 1 master tone. The volume taper on this 2017 HP Explorer is really smooth and usable, and I use it to vary rhythm/lead tones with just the knob.

[@ericc.2770]

Gary More says in interview than he prefer the play ability of the neck shape and the high notes clearance of the explorer but the lespaul one win on the fine tuning than THE GUITAR have and i think the same both have great sound tuning when you use flor pedal and/or your amp proprely i think the neck shape is what we should look first in that case cause both sound great and play well but some style suite more one than the other

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Oh definitely, neck shape is a huge deciding factor! I sometimes regret my Joe Bonamassa LP Studio because it has a baseball bat of a neck (50’s specs).

[@nunyabusiness5075]

When Bernie Marsden (RIP) did his PRS model he used the explorer 3 knob layout.

[@powerfuld17]

You r the man that ive been looking for a year and now My personal hero by just playing an Explorer model on a worship song

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

Thank you for the kind words. I’m no hero, I’m just loving God the way I know how, giving Him my best in worship.

[@RavnerRavner]

I'm short. I play an SG! I love it!!!

[@AllAboutWorshipGuitar]

That's great! You're in great company, since Angus Young's also short but he absolutely ripped on an SG!