Lets Upgrade my Epiphone Explorer!

[@Megadeth7811]

I have the Goth model Explorer, and after switching out the stock pickups for EMG 81/85s and giving it new black metal knobs for aesthetics, I can safely say that this thing is a now metal machine.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

The goth explorers are awesome. They beg to be shredded on! ⚡️🦩

[@Rogata_Dusza76]

Beautiful Explorer, bro. This week my wife bought me a brand new Epiphone 58 Korina Explorer with Burstbucker 2 and 3 pickups as a gift!!! Great machine! By the way, these EMG 81 and 85 pickups do the job! I have EMG 57/66 in my Kramer Vanguard - they also rock beautifully... 🤘

[@Electric.Flamingo]

The new Korina Explorers are AMAZING. I need to get me one!

[@rodneyketsa8554]

Yeah, I have a swack of epiphone guitars. Never had a problem with the original pups, but I did up grade the pots and switches on all of them. Tried pup swaps on epi les pauls, out of four les pauls three are running stock pups, the fourth has Dimarzios ( found that the stock pups really do rock). On the V's and Explorers ( three of each).One V is running Iron gear Blues driver, truly a killer sound. One Explorer is running Dimarzios, very solid rock, early california metal sound.I swapped out the pups just for the hell of it, always felt that the epiphone pups were cool and could hold their own. Maybe it's just me , but i really like epiphone guitars the playability and sound quality is out standing. For all the epiphone haters out there, if you can't rock an epiphone, maybe you just can't rock.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Got some killer upgrades going yourself there! Yeah, man, Epiphone make great bones for upgrades. The newer models are even great stock since they already have the higher end stuff in them to begin with!

[@Donnie_Thornberry]

I put a Duncan Distortion (my favorite bridge pickup) in mine and It rules! I have a Pearly Gates in the neck position with a pickup cover

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Nice combo!

[@brentlineberry4098]

Same combo in my korina v. This guy gets it🎉

[@marcogiampa283]

with a gibson style stobar tail piece and tune o matic bridge you can simply slacken off the strings at the tuners and slide the tailpiece backwards with the strings still in it and set it aside while you take the pickups out! if you cant get enough slash you can just wind up the posts until they come out too

[@Electric.Flamingo]

That actually makes sense. I'll have to try that next time I do an upgrade! ⚡️🦩

[@mboyer68]

I recently traded for the same guitar and I absolutely love it, it sounds great, low action, very light, plays well. The truss rod is loose, I loosened it and it slid down, I got it pulled back up and if there was clearance, I could've pulled it out. But thankfully it went back in and it actually still tightens up and works. Mine has the stupid looking Gibson branded truss rod cover that came with it. It looks so stupid because right above the Gibson truss rod cover is the Epiphone logo. No clue why they thought that was a good idea. But mine needs new pots and wiring, it cuts out here and there, so thank you!

[@Electric.Flamingo]

That's weird with the truss rod, but at least it works! I never understood the cover either honestly. lol. Glad I could help! ⚡️🦩

[@Electric.Flamingo]

@@mboyer68 this one is a korean made, I think it's 04 if I remember correctly.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

One of my favorite guitars is my 2002 Epiphone Dot, it was very similar in terms of the pros and cons. Great player, really comfortable neck stays in tune and plays easily. Stock pickups sucked, especially the bridge pickup. The neck pickup was actually OK, but I damaged a coil trying to remove the coffin of wax surrounding it. Decided to gut the dodgy electronics with good CTS controls and a ‘57 Classic neck pickup and Seth Lover bridge pickup. I won’t ever change another thing on that guitar but strings. Love it.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Hell yeah! Awesome to hear that! I've always wanted a dot I'm just afraid I won't like it after awhile.

[@corneliuscrewe677]

@@Electric.Flamingo I have no idea what they are like now, but I bought mine new straight off the wall of a local shop. The guts of those Korean Epi’s were garbage, but the guitars themselves were solid. I’ve got one of the new Koa Les Paul Customs I just picked up a couple of months ago, I’m pleased as hell with that. I even dig the pickups on that one

[@Canadianwheelchairguitar]

My Explorer is exactly the same cosmetically but now with black EMGs & all stickered on the pick guard with Foo Fighters stuff & a small Canadian flag.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Gotta have that Canadian flag on there! I bet it looks as sick as it sounds!

[@Canadianwheelchairguitar]

@@Electric.Flamingo Born & raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada & I'm still here. It's a stick on tatoo with clear nail polish over top to keep it on there. It sounds great, waiting for some hardware to be shipped. Tuners & the stop tail piece.

[@anthonyarredondo6356]

I just ordered a black one from zzounds ! It's suppose to have a graphtech nut and cts electronics with probucker pickups ! We will see when I get it ! Thanks for posting !!😁👍

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Awesome!

[@nickola5834]

I recently got this guitar and for me it is the best, I was surprised by the quality for such a low price. They say it's the closest thing to a gibson in epiphone, I don't know how true it is, but it's better.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

It's pretty close to a Gibson feel wise, in my opinion. This one was Korean made so the electronics were meh. Feels great to play though!

[@ibanez2010]

I had that exact model (same year and factory) for a while and I loved everything about it except the sound. It was just too dark no matter what pickups I tried (and boy did I try a lot of them lol.) I've had a few Explorers and none were that dark. Anyways, absolutely beautiful and great feeling guitar. Glad you jive with yours!

[@Electric.Flamingo]

It's always weird how different pickups don't seem to change the sound all that much in some guitars. A good argument for tonewood, I guess. lol. Fortunately, mine didn't have the issue. They do play amazing!

[@adriantomo5688]

i know my reply is 2 years late. but maybe you can solve the issue by changing the value of the potentiometer, higher valued ones might make it brighter.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

@adriantomo5688 perhaps!

[@AQMusic10]

Cool video. I’m in the process of upgrading my new explorer also. 👍🏼🎸

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Thanks! How's that going?

[@AQMusic10]

@@Electric.Flamingo I dropped it off at my guitar technician that I use who does my set ups. At this point I don’t have the time or the patience to do it myself. It’s nice because they charge me $30 to change the pick ups so to me it’s well worth it.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Leaving it to the pros. I dig it. lol. I completely get not having the time. I got a local guy like that, treats me right so I keep coming back!

[@AQMusic10]

@@Electric.Flamingo my local guitar technician has been working on my guitars for the last 10 years. You’re absolutely right when you find someone who is reliable, it’s worth avoiding the headache if possible.

[@scottbrown9008]

I recently installed a set of SD Invaders in my Wolf Les Paul style guitar and they sound really amazing. I had been wanting to get a Duncan Distortion for my Dean Z but I came across a set of EMG 81/60

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Invaders are some I want to check out at some point. EMGs you can never go wrong with. !

[@Trashslayer76]

Wow, man! What a difference! 🤯

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I agree. So much more power to the sound the clarity is unreal. I love the pickup choice and I'm so glad I don't have to strum so hard to maybe get some noise out of it. lol

[@austinwilkens1104]

Great video, keep it up

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Thank you! ⚡️🦩

[@mortesanta4924]

I HAVE ONE I HAVE ONE :) and I would love to see the soldering part

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I have some ideas for upgrade videos in the future, I may feature some in there. Gotta stick around to know when that comes out. 😉

[@zippy0n942]

Hello, really like the video, I have the exact same guitar and I love it, bought it for £350 in 2005 if my memory serves me, do you recommend a video I could watch on how to solder guitar pots, pickups etc? Thank you

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Check out either Seymour Duncan's channel or StewMac's channel!

[@zippy0n942]

@@Electric.Flamingothank you!

[@guitarstuff5340]

Do you know if the new 2020 epiphone explorer is any different? I’m considering buying it. And you said yours was from 2004, so I guess they’ve made a new model?

[@Electric.Flamingo]

They have made a new model for the revamped range (Inspired by Gibson). I haven't personally tried one yet, but I can say that everything I have played from the new ranges have been phenomenal. Had I not gotten this one, I most certainly would have picked up a new one.

[@POLARIS2]

Wow what a difference!

[@Electric.Flamingo]

It is! Massively different!

[@jessereyna7408]

Why didn’t you go with a more professional replacement pickup like Seymour Duncan that looks exactly like the stock ones you are replacing? Anything Seymour Duncan sounds better than Gibson stock ones? Just asking?

[@Electric.Flamingo]

That was too obvious a choice. Had to throw a curveball. 😉

[@GitarinRuhu]

Nice first of all.. i have same guitar (its 2009 edition i guess) im thinking on replacing its pickups with emg 60-81 or JH set. What do you think about this? Is it worth? Will there be a huge difference?

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I think it would definitely add some Metallica flair to it either way! But if you want the full experience, go with the JH set.

[@IndyRockStar]

go with Bare Knuckle Pickups. You can custom order them the way you want and they are FAR superior to Seymour Duncan pickups off the shelf. I put BK pick ups in all my guitars, and I only have higher end guitars.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I've never tried a set of Bare Knuckles but I have heard great things.

[@IndyRockStar]

@@Electric.Flamingo I recommend checking out a set of Bare Knuckle Polymath pickups. I think that's what I'll be doing when my Gibson Explorer 70s comes in. The pickups are handmade to order, so it takes about 3 weeks to get them shipped from England.

[@hypermoose5794]

I really want one of these but is there a case that will fit it I’ve seen the epiphone explorer case but someone showed that it wouldn’t fit

[@Electric.Flamingo]

A Gibson case will fit it, I'm not sure why an Epiphone case wouldn't fit it.

[@hypermoose5794]

@@Electric.Flamingo I guess I could always try the epiphone case

[@nickdrey1200]

Hey bro, I have a question. So, I am really digging the Epiphone 'inspired by Gibson' Les Paul Jr special in TV yellow , with the P90s. So, I am mainly a single coil player, minus my Ibanez Scofield, which uses hums but can split. I have a ton of experience with electronics so difficulty does not matter. My question is, can P90s be wired to be split? Like the TV yellow, if it's possible to wire those pickups, myself, to split, then I will snag one for sure. Thanks in advanced, Me

[@Electric.Flamingo]

So, P90s are technically single coils. To my knowledge, P90s can't be split because of that. The TV Yellow LP is gonna be great how it is, I personally wouldn't jump straight into upgrading it if you get it/have it. Just my opinion!

[@nickdrey1200]

@@Electric.Flamingo well, that was beautiful information! Thank you very much, brotha. I honestly believe that kinda seals the deal for me lol. I absolutely love the little yellow bastard and am now like 95% sure I'm going to be getting one. The Ibanez JSM10 I have is my first , and only, non fender instrument in my 19 years of playing lol. I have played a ton of Gibson's, both new store examples and older ones that players in other bands use....never really dug them enough to justify the cost/weight/seemingly trash tier QC lmao. But I am a big proponent of Squier and other budget brands, as they are becoming very very well made. Epiphone seems to have less QC bullshit than Gibson and they are doing this cool vintage release shenanigans that I really dig. So TV yellow Jr Special, here I come!! Thank you very much for the info After the Jr, I think daddy is gonna get him an Explorer

[@dacanadiandrummer326]

hey if your up for it ill gladly take the bridge pickup like seriously if wanna get rid of it ill take it

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I've already given it away, dude. Sorry about that!

[@tomb8430]

Hey bro... I have the 2006 with gold hardware. Is this Korina wood ?

[@Electric.Flamingo]

The one in the video is not, it is mahogany. If you're asking about yours, if it is painted, it most likely isn't Korina. Those typically aren't painted, since the whole gimmick is the look of the wood with those.

[@tomb8430]

@@Electric.Flamingo I thought the ones with the gold hardware might be different. The other aspect of korina is the tone is meant to be a bit more honky (which mine is), and the whole guitar is very light. Can you weigh your and do a comparison?

[@Electric.Flamingo]

@tomb8430 I don't have thr guitar anymore to weigh it.

[@MilitantOldLady]

It's a good guitar but the pickups are absolutely gutless.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

The original pickups were trash.

[@sooner91]

Did the same thing to mine. But my soldering job looks like shit lmao

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Mine doesn't look much better, I'm sure, but it works so I don't question it. ⚡️🦩

[@Mcwaddler]

Were they short or long pots?

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Short, I believe. it doesn't have an arch top, so they should work.

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

oh deeeeaaaaaaammmmmmnnnn!!!

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

I'm a string coil-er. I have two precocious young boys and I don't trust em as far as I can throw em LOL! Gotta coil them thangs.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I feel that. lol.

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

@@Electric.Flamingo BTW, I replaced a wiring harness in a cheap Harley Benton and just doing that made the pickups sound about 50-60 percent better. That's not your imagination. The pot quality makes a big difference to my ear (dependent on situation of course). The pots/cap I pulled out were the most basic and terrible materials that can be used to transmit sound. I bet that orange drop cap did quite a bit for the neck pickup on the explorer. Fun video dude!

[@Electric.Flamingo]

It could have. The neck pickup still isn't perfect by any means, but it definitely sounds better. I'm an advocate for better quality electronics can help cheap pickups sound better! I even say that's partly why the newer Epiphones sound so good. CTS Pots and much better caps contribute to it!

[@Sean_Plays_Guitar]

@@Electric.Flamingo Whole heartedly agree buddy. Hopefully the youtube is good to you on this video. The upgrade vidz seem to hit pretty well. Then you'll get a nice pink doom workbench for the next upgrade video! HAHA!

[@michaeld2716]

Thank you.

[@Electric.Flamingo]

My pleasure ⚡️🦩

[@ciskemerlijn6161]

Is this the ebony explorer?

[@Electric.Flamingo]

If by that you mean it's an Explorer in Ebony, then yes. If you mean that the fretboard is ebony, then no.

[@ciskemerlijn6161]

@@Electric.Flamingo the Epiphone explorer line you can still buy new to this day for 600 dollars

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Yes. I haven't played any of the new ones though, but I've heard good things!

[@ciskemerlijn6161]

@@Electric.Flamingo yeah man,was really thinking about buying one for (possible) modding but,did end up buying a gothic explorer for just 200€ (second hand but amazing condition)! so that means I have a lot of possibilities for mods! Do you have any recommendations modwise for the gothic ex guitar? Have a nice day:)

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I would definitely upgrade the electronics. Gut it and put new pots, capacitors, and wiring in. The pickups might be alright, but I would swap those too. If it has Grover tuners on, you will be fine there. Otherwise, rock out on it! ⚡️🦩

[@snafu1957]

hotch pups are usually great pups...just saying.

[@lucyfuir6386]

You want to upgrade your Epiphone buy a Gibson

[@Electric.Flamingo]

Nah, it's much cheaper and fun to do it this way.

[@lucyfuir6386]

@@Electric.Flamingo Maybe I just say it cause I have a Gibson

[@Electric.Flamingo]

I never would have guessed.

[@lucyfuir6386]

@@Electric.Flamingo lol I bought it used 26 years ago. I do actually own a 2021 epiphone ej200 I love dearly. Plays as well as the Gibsons imo. Bought that new. 600 instead of 6000.

[@samyose3882]

forget it sir. I sold my epi and purchased a copy cheaper and better quality. The only adjustemnet I made was the action, thatr said I wont be buying american guitars anymore