Gibson Explorer best years

[Hydra19]

I have an itch for an explorer type guitar and gibsons are most common so can anyone explain the explorer hierarchy?

- 1976 is the year they first reissued them so I know those ones are sought after
- Then even though Gibson went through some tougher times, the 1984 Explorer is sought after because it's the same model as Hetfield's alder explorer used on albums.
- The early 90's Gibsons were said to have better QC

Which other ones are good years? I'm quite drawn to the 1984 Explorer, but couple online are not in the best shape with lots of checking and paint chipping on the body. How different are they in tone to the ones with Mahogany bodies? Does it even matter with EMG's? How much would an 84' usually go for? I've seen them as high as £3000 and some are cheaper. There is a great green burst one on FB, but the owner is unsure whether to sell it and wants more than £1400

Thank you for any advice, I've never played an explorer but thinking I will love it, so I realise I do not need to spend a lot of money to get a good explorer so I'm just looking at options. I do like Metallica but what is drawing me more is that the Explorer can sound heavier and thicker than a Les Paul, and I've been really enjoying playing those (along with an SG)

 

[KS 5150]

I have a 2009 Explorer that is a desert island guitar...it's that good. The only best year I would imagine would be 1958.

 

[lpfan1980]

1958 is the year when they started-people were not crazy for them so Gibson only made a few.They go for a pretty penny now.

 

[afjungemann]

I don't really think there are "good years" or "bad years" for explorers. They are slab body guitars. The differences you should look for are specs that you care about. Neck size would be a big one.

EMGs will pretty much remove any other variances too.

 

[efstop]

I have a 2018. I specifically wanted that one because they have Burstbuckers instead of 490-498-500 etc. The 2019 and 2020 issues also have BBs. I'm happy enough with mine that I don't wish I had a reissue or an original.

A new Explorer is 1500 quid, so an '18 or 19 would be cheaper if there are any around, and they're a terrific guitar.

 

[nitrodave08]

My first true Gibson was an Explorer in 83ish(no pickguard). It was basically a Matthias version without the black stripes

it had a fatter neck on it than the '76 reissue (black w/white pickguard) that I bought in 2006ish, I NEVER should have sold it. It had the 490/500 PUs.


Now seeing that the new ones are BBs, If I were to do it again, these would be the ones I'd get.

 

[The_Nuge]

Hi!
Aren't the 84 models alder and not mahogany?
I'll check in my book tonight though!

Mine is a 58 split-headstock Korina replica btw.

 

[grumphh_the_banned_one]

Reality is (as usual) that all the talk of "good years" and "bad years" is internet regurgitation of dumb myth

Any guitar from any year has the chance of being good, bad or average - with by far most examples being average.

Just get one that has the particular specs you like in a guitar - because the year doesn't matter at all - except as an indicator of which specs you can expect on your guitar.

 

[wmachine]

I went for the more unusual, but it is a killer. A '79 E2 with the amazing maple and walnut pancake body and neck. Similar to the plywood Firebird necks. Mine is m/w/m/w/m with some very unusual finish and components

 

[Hydra19]

Yeah, there are too many different stories about good years.
What I'd like is a one piece body and neck, thick neck and nitro finish, the rest doesn't matter too much. So which years had the biggest necks and one piece?

 

[grumphh_the_banned_one]

So which years had the biggest necks and one piece?

I believe that one of the Henry J Era marketing shticks was that all the necks on regular models were "one-piece mahogany", just as in the old days... So if you get a regular Explorer made after, say 1990, you should be getting a one piece neck...

I have owned a '96 and currently have an '09 - and all i can tell you about those is that the '09 has a slightly bigger feeling neck than the '96 had.

Personally i don't give a crap about neck sizes, except for disliking extremes at either end of the spectrum. The rest i'll play
I remember the '96 neck as being rather unremarkable and average sized - where the '09 is sort of biggish feeling; but it isn't really fat to the extreme, i.e. no baseball bat, it's just a good feeling solid handful.

 

[questionman]

I just picked up a 2002, it has the thinnest neck of any Gibson/LP type guitar I have. 59RI being the fattest and 82 LP Standard the thinnest, which I always thought was a pretty thin neck due to it being shaved down years ago. Then the explorer came along and is pretty thin, shallow on the back of the neck but rounded enough it’s comfortable

 

[Deftone]

my 1st Gibson was a white '84 Explorer, yes alder, no pickguard. IMHO it sounded like shit.

My 2nd Gibby was a black '76 re-issue and it kicked ass! I think it was a 90's....

I'd stay away from the Alder ones, but that's my opinion.

 

[Hydra19]

I will probably put EMG's in it, so it might not matter what kind of wood, how many pieces, etc. I just prefer bigger necks these days. So it looks like my criteria will be cheapest price, or if it already has EMG's installed. I'm checking with Tokai and other japanese brands to see if there is much difference between them and the Gibsons (never owned one). as they're both available for similar prices

 

[scott 351 wins]

I have owned 2 Explorers a 86 and a 92. Both good guitars. They did not have big baseball bat necks, more like a medium neck. If you want a big neck the 75-76 models are the ones your wanting.

 

[BSeneca]

I have a 2018. I specifically wanted that one because they have Burstbuckers instead of 490-498-500 etc. The 2019 and 2020 issues also have BBs. I'm happy enough with mine that I don't wish I had a reissue or an original.

A new Explorer is 1500 quid, so an '18 or 19 would be cheaper if there are any around, and they're a terrific guitar.

I just literally got a 2020 last week for $1495. Don’t know that compares to quids but it’s a fantastic guitar and I agree no reissue needed

 

[zdoggie]

the explorer is my go to guitar I have 3 pauls tha I likebut my fav is a korina sn 8 -6324 i believe Idont much about it gibson cant even date it because of lousy record KEEPING I think the exp is probably the most compfortable guitar I
own , Ialso bought a 76 ri mahagony that was some what molested but played fine I also have an epi korina what a sorry
excuse for akorina exp I really wish gibson would tell their stock holders if they have any,to go back to quality and price themselves back into the market . zdog

 

[metalmike222]

I have an 04 Explorer that I got from a pawn shop for about $600 10 or 12 years ago. Absolutely awesome guitar.

 

[mr. moon]

* I had a '00 Gothic explorer that I didn't care for much, other than the looks. The sound was kind of muffled and thin sounding
* I had a 20XX explorer traditional pro that had the smaller body size that I didn't care for.
* I have a 2009 x-plorer that is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played
* I have a 1986 explorer that also is a great sounding guitar, once I removed the gibson flier kahler and installed a kehler fixed bridge. Also had to replace the original dirty fingers bridge pickup, as it sounded like #ss.

So, I think it is true that there are good and bad guitars in every production year, but 2009 did seem like a good number of great sounding guitars. I do like the "narrower" body of the x-plorers over the larger size of the original '58 specs. (not smaller overall body size, but narrower and pointier shape).

 

[voices]

1982-1983 Korina. But good luck finding one for sale and if you do, prepare to empty your wallet.