1981 E2 Explorer

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Hey guys I have a 1981 Gibson E2 Explorer (Ebony board, gold hardware, sunburst finish, binding, Seymour Duncan pickups) at my work. I know it's a limited run of Explorers from the 80's. What can you guys tell me about it? It looks like it has fine adjustment tuners on the tune o matic bridge what's with that?
It plays really well, sounds great (but it's heavy as ****) I'm thinking of getting for myself. Any major stuff to look out for on this guitar? I hear they're not very popular.

[ledlover01]

There nice but not on the lap, most of them are light but that one might be a nicer one, some i heard can be crap but maybe you like it go for it if you do man sorry im not a expert on these guitars

[HARDWEAR]

I didn't know they had a sunburst...cool. A friend of mine had the matching V2 with the heart shaped pickups. I think he paid like 1400 dollars for it new back in 80/81. It was a fine looking guitar IMO. I would think they are somewhat collectable since there aren't many around.
The fine tuners are on the Tailpiece. That's a Gibson T-6 tail piece. It was stock on the guitar and it originally had dirty fingers pups in it I think.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by HARDWEAR

I didn't know they had a sunburst...cool. A friend of mine had the matching V2 with the heart shaped pickups. I think he paid like 1400 dollars for it new back in 80/81. It was a fine looking guitar IMO. I would think they are somewhat collectable since there aren't many around.
The fine tuners are on the Tailpiece. That's a Gibson T-6 tail piece. It was stock on the guitar and it originally had dirty fingers pups in it I think.

Thanks for the info! I knew that it had dirty fingers originally; that was the hot pickup back then. So that's what the tail piece is. Cool. I can get into it for less than $1300 so I might pull the trigger.


Hopefully no one will snag it before I can drag the sucker into the back.

[cudamax2343]

I Want This one I just found for 1299.99 in Cherry Sunburst all original

[lineboss58]

Yes i have one the same year but it has the stock dirtyfingers black bobbin pickups, i love it and yes its fitted with a TP6 finetuner tail piece. It weighs a ton but i just use a big strap, cherry burst with a curly maple top i love it to bits.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by cudamax2343

I Want This one I just found for 1299.99 in Cherry Sunburst all original

Which GC is that at?

[cudamax2343]

I Forgot. I really cant aford it now anyways. If you Want just go to gc/used

and put in Explorer. It is Real Sweet and I'll Tell-ya This Those old 80's

Dirtyfingers Sound Real Sweet and the Highs are not Brittle at all.

The Reissue/New DIRTYFINGERS SUCK COMPARED TO THE OLD ONES

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by cudamax2343

I Forgot. I really cant aford it now anyways. If you Want just go to gc/used

and put in Explorer. It is Real Sweet and I'll Tell-ya This Those old 80's

Dirtyfingers Sound Real Sweet and the Highs are not Brittle at all.

The Reissue/New DIRTYFINGERS SUCK COMPARED TO THE OLD ONES

Yeah, they were series VII dirty fingers that went into that guitar, I heard on another forum. Definitely different from the modern DF pickups I've heard in person.

The one at my store has a JB and Duncan Distortion set which I may just replace with a set of PRS Pickups. :O

[cudamax2343]

I got an old 80's explorer with them and they are Pretty damn good

on the Alder body of the Explorer.

Don't Know what they Sound like in the E2.

I think those are a combo of Mahogany/Walnut and Maple.

So they Sound Sound Different in the E2.

I got more photos of the one for sale at GC

Its Nice and Pretty Clean

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Here's the one at work:

[cudamax2343]

Who and Why Took out the Original pickups. I Called on that the first day it came in and I Was sent photos of it. It had the original pickups in it.

I saved the photos. What is someone Allowed to take shit off of Stuff

whenever they want over-there.

Its not Worth the 1300.00 now with the original pickups Gone.

That Sucks. I was still trying to get up the cash for that.

I'm pissed the pickups were Swapped-out.

[boycey]

That is a very cool looking Explorer Kaz, I'd be putting down a retaining deposit if I was you, before someone snaps it up. Great looking guitar.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by cudamax2343

Who and Why Took out the Original pickups. I Called on that the first day it came in and I Was sent photos of it. It had the original pickups in it.

I saved the photos. What is someone Allowed to take shit off of Stuff

whenever they want over-there.

Its not Worth the 1300.00 now with the original pickups Gone.

That Sucks. I was still trying to get up the cash for that.

I'm pissed the pickups were Swapped-out.

I'm pretty sure you were looking at a different one in a different store. That particular E2 came in with aftermarket pickups.

[Tuxedo Kaz]

Originally Posted by boycey

That is a very cool looking Explorer Kaz, I'd be putting down a retaining deposit if I was you, before someone snaps it up. Great looking guitar.

We're actually not allowed to, haha! Recent internal policy change us prevent employees from doing layaways on used gear. It makes me very sad, lol.