Gibson Explorer Trem

The Archer · 11-13-2011, 07:02 PM

I just brought home one of these. It sounds and plays great.

The only thing that needed a trem angle correction so I popped off the cover and found this:

Pretty sloppy work Gibson.

The guitar is otherwise great and I'm OK with it when all is said and done but this is, absolutely, an example of the case for horrid QC at Gibson

Squirrel · 11-14-2011, 10:07 AM

What's wrong with it?

The Archer · 11-14-2011, 05:02 PM

The claw is positioned incorrectly, the cavity looks like it was chewed out by ants and there is a chunk of mahogany missing in the lower left part of that photo.

VERY, VERY sloppy workmanship

TKOjams · 11-14-2011, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Archer

The claw is positioned incorrectly, the cavity looks like it was chewed out by ants and there is a chunk of mahogany missing in the lower left part of that photo.

VERY, VERY sloppy workmanship

.....put the cover back on.

The Refugee · 11-14-2011, 05:46 PM

Looks pretty damn good. Apart from the cavity. But even that is fine.

The Archer · 11-14-2011, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKOjams

.....put the cover back on.

After some spring adjustment I did.

Tommyvee · 11-15-2011, 12:43 PM

Mine is similar, the trem cavity is pretty rough, no missing wood though. The rest of the guitar is very good, nice finish, plays great, good feel to the neck, sounds good, trem works well. I guess they save labor $ by skimping on the cavity cutouts.

The Archer · 11-15-2011, 07:07 PM

I couldn't deal with the stock ceramic pickups...horrible sounding.

I put in a set of Gibson Burstbuckers that I had kicking around, did the frets, set up the trem, replaced the 9 gauge strings with 10's and changed the stock cheap cap with an NOS .33 tropical fish cap.

HUGE difference. I never though I would like a set of Burstbuckers and I LOVE the look of the covers on this guitar.

themisfit138 · 11-17-2011, 01:02 AM

I like that guitar, I have an ESP that is close to that.
What color it is? I can't really tell in the pictures. It is snow white or more of a cream?

The Archer · 11-17-2011, 05:15 AM

Classic white...so its more of a cream.

The bridge burstbucker doesn't do it for me so I ordered up a Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAF...it has a little more output, fatter mids and a stronger low end.

Tonelover · 11-18-2011, 11:52 AM

Dude, that hole in the cavity is ridiculous!

The Archer · 11-18-2011, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tonelover

Dude, that hole in the cavity is ridiculous!

I agree, but the guitar is fantastic.

Its like a women...may appear perfect on the surface but when you get to know here there may be issues

22Frets · 11-18-2011, 06:12 PM

Yeah, but look at the entirety. The hole in the cavity is adding something to the whole, the "mojo" of that instrument. Sloppy workmanship or not its working for you.

The Archer · 11-19-2011, 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 22Frets

Yeah, but look at the entirety. The hole in the cavity is adding something to the whole, the "mojo" of that instrument. Sloppy workmanship or not its working for you.

Absolutely, I love this thing.

I can't wait to get the Dimarzio in the bridge...that wee bit more output and slight boost in the mids and low end will make this guitar sing even better

Kalamazuu · 11-20-2011, 10:53 AM

That looks great with the covers on, let us know how that DiMarzio sounds!

The Archer · 11-24-2011, 09:14 PM

And here is the final product:

Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF in the bridge and neck positions...AWESOME pickups.

I also decided to kick up the vintage vibe by adding chrome top hat control knobs.

lpstudiored · 11-24-2011, 10:42 PM

where's the toggle switch tip?

The Archer · 11-25-2011, 04:28 AM

On the toggle switch

joesatch · 11-26-2011, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Archer

The claw is positioned incorrectly, the cavity looks like it was chewed out by ants and there is a chunk of mahogany missing in the lower left part of that photo.

VERY, VERY sloppy workmanship

The trem model is Ash right?

The Archer · 11-27-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joesatch

The trem model is Ash right?

No it is Mahogany

11-13-2011, 07:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
The Archer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 22 Thanked 39 Times in 22 Posts	Gibson Explorer Trem I just brought home one of these. It sounds and plays great. The only thing that needed a trem angle correction so I popped off the cover and found this: Pretty sloppy work Gibson. The guitar is otherwise great and I'm OK with it when all is said and done but this is, absolutely, an example of the case for horrid QC at Gibson

11-14-2011, 10:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Squirrel Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tennessee Posts: 151 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem What's wrong with it?

11-14-2011, 05:02 PM	#3 (permalink)
The Archer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 22 Thanked 39 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem The claw is positioned incorrectly, the cavity looks like it was chewed out by ants and there is a chunk of mahogany missing in the lower left part of that photo. VERY, VERY sloppy workmanship

11-14-2011, 05:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
The Refugee Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,539 Thanks: 131 Thanked 30 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem Looks pretty damn good. Apart from the cavity. But even that is fine. __________________ #ForNico

11-15-2011, 12:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Tommyvee Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem Mine is similar, the trem cavity is pretty rough, no missing wood though. The rest of the guitar is very good, nice finish, plays great, good feel to the neck, sounds good, trem works well. I guess they save labor $ by skimping on the cavity cutouts.

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11-15-2011, 07:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
The Archer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 22 Thanked 39 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem I couldn't deal with the stock ceramic pickups...horrible sounding. I put in a set of Gibson Burstbuckers that I had kicking around, did the frets, set up the trem, replaced the 9 gauge strings with 10's and changed the stock cheap cap with an NOS .33 tropical fish cap. HUGE difference. I never though I would like a set of Burstbuckers and I LOVE the look of the covers on this guitar. Last edited by The Archer; 11-15-2011 at 10:30 PM.

11-17-2011, 01:02 AM	#9 (permalink)
themisfit138 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: The AV Posts: 150 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem I like that guitar, I have an ESP that is close to that. What color it is? I can't really tell in the pictures. It is snow white or more of a cream?

11-17-2011, 05:15 AM	#10 (permalink)
The Archer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 22 Thanked 39 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem Classic white...so its more of a cream. The bridge burstbucker doesn't do it for me so I ordered up a Dimarzio 36th anniversary PAF...it has a little more output, fatter mids and a stronger low end. Last edited by The Archer; 11-17-2011 at 08:10 AM.

11-18-2011, 11:52 AM	#11 (permalink)
Tonelover Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 111 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem Dude, that hole in the cavity is ridiculous!

11-18-2011, 06:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
22Frets Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Arizona Posts: 198 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem Yeah, but look at the entirety. The hole in the cavity is adding something to the whole, the "mojo" of that instrument. Sloppy workmanship or not its working for you. The Archer likes this.

11-20-2011, 10:53 AM	#15 (permalink)
Kalamazuu Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 5,159 Thanks: 3 Thanked 11 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem That looks great with the covers on, let us know how that DiMarzio sounds!

11-24-2011, 09:14 PM	#16 (permalink)
The Archer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 22 Thanked 39 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem And here is the final product: Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF in the bridge and neck positions...AWESOME pickups. I also decided to kick up the vintage vibe by adding chrome top hat control knobs.

11-24-2011, 10:42 PM	#17 (permalink)
lpstudiored Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 680 Thanks: 30 Thanked 5 Times in 1 Post	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem where's the toggle switch tip? __________________ "It (Stairway to Heaven) just kept building, like an orgasm." -James Patrick Page

11-25-2011, 04:28 AM	#18 (permalink)
The Archer Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Earth Posts: 2,532 Thanks: 22 Thanked 39 Times in 22 Posts	Re: Gibson Explorer Trem On the toggle switch

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