Explorer Pro Review

Gibson USA's new X-plorer Pro updates one of Gibson's all-time classic electric solidbodies with a slightly smaller body and fancier appointments. The X-plorer Pro's body size makes for a comfortable, well-balanced fit with the player. Its body and neck binding, figured maple top and pearl block inlays give it an elegance unprecedented in the Explorer's 44-year-history.

Features:	9
Sound:	10
Action:	9
Reliability:	10
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	8.7
Reviewer rating:	9.6
Users rating:	7.8
Votes:	131

Reviewed by: unregistered, on november 09, 2012

Features: I'm not too sure about the guitars features, except the pickups are Gibson ceramics, very hot, the neck pickup is perfect for clean, it's a solid body, mahogany, with a flamed top, Tune-O-Matic bridge, and a rosewood fingerboard. It looks awesome. // 9

Sound: I play lots of styles, classic rock, metal, shred, blues, and southern rock like Lynyrd Skynyrd. It suits everything perfectly. I play it through a Marshall MG100DFX. The neck pickup gets a real good blues/southern rock sound on clean, and on slight distortion, gets a great soft rock sound. The bridge pickup is great for everything, and sounds good wether your playing Van Halen, Pantera, Led Zeppelin or Allman Bros. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: The action was low, but not so low it was bad. The pickups were great, no flaws at all, just the strings needed changing badly. // 10

Reliability & Durability: It's very strong, I play live with it, the finish is staying put perfectly, all of it will last, I would definitly use it without backup, but I take my Ibanez RG350DX with me, for the floyd rose, but other wise I would rely fully on this guitar. // 10

Impression: I've been playing 10 years, and I have owned a Gibson Les Paul Classic, an Ibanez RG350DX, a Paul Reed Smith Santana SE, and an Epiphone SG. if it were stolen, I'd have a breakdown and after I sold everything I own (which isn't much), I'd buy a new one for sure. The only bad thing about the guitar, is the fact it set me back a few thousand dollars, but it was all worth it, I'd rather have this over my old LP, or my PRS. It's awesome, buy it! // 10

overall: 9.4

Reviewed by: Explorerpro, on november 09, 2012

Price paid: € 1300

Purchased from: Bjoernholt Musik

Features: It was made in January 2007 in Nashville Tennessee. It has 22 Rosewood Jumbo Frets with Dot inlays. The body is mahogany and so is the neck. Mine has a flamed top. Of course it has an Explorer body style but it is 10% smaller. Tune-O-Matic bridge. You also get a 3-way toggle, 1 tone and 2 volume. It has 2 Humbuckers. Bridge: Gibson 500T Neck: Gibson 496R. It comes with Standard Grover tuners. I bought it with a Gibson Case, a Konig & Meyer "Memphis 10" and a set of Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys. // 9

Sound: This guitar suit's everything! I play mostly Hard Rock and Metal. I use a Peavey Bandit 112 and a Roland Cube 60. It is a little noisy But not that much. It has a very full sound with the right strings. Again it can make any sound you want it to. It is also very good for tapping. Pinch Harmonics is as easy as pie in this guitar. // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was well set up besides the strings. The action was a little to high though. The pickup adjustment was perfect. It had a little dent on the headstock though. It has a AA Flame Maple top. I also forgot to mention that it also has Antique top binding. // 8

Reliability & Durability: I would play Live without a backup. This guitar will not break. It needs strap locks though. It feels like the finish will last forever. The strap buttons are very small. I am going to replace them with Dunlop Dual Design Strap loks. I am already replacing the the top hat knobs with speed knobs but that is just a matter of taste. // 10

Impression: This is a perfect match for any style of music. It plays Hard Rock and Metal especially well though. I have been playing for 4 months and I also own an Epiphone G-400 Worn Brown. If this got stolen I would completely break down as I own the only one in Denmark and I had to Drive 3 hours to get to it. If I could buy another one I would. I love the shape! But I hate the Dot inlays. I wish it had Block inlays. I chose it because I was looking for something different and It was perfect! I wish it had another tone knob though. // 10

Comments

[dimebag7]

looks beautiful, with some emgs that thing would smoke.

[miguelito2729]

you're damn right! it would definitely smoke!
2nd yes!

[slash_015]

kewl but i don't like the colour

[slash_015]

i have forget to write 3rd

[Cheesepuff]

3rd, I thought they had mahogany necks, guess I was wrong.

[Cheesepuff]

oops 5th...

[ibanez916]

that color is beautiful, i think u would destroy the gibson name if u made it a different color

[A7X_hyperfan]

I love explorers, i want one sooooo bad! This one looks really good.

[irockaflyingV]

That is a good looking guitar

[schecter006]

That colour sucks!

[jamesbanks]

im gettin an explorer.....wooooo go me,i rule,its ma birthday,...oh and it looks gd too

[jamesbanks]

[Tias]

Looks nice, only, can't afford it

[Linchpin]

How Much Is It?

[cleadus_134]

That looks really good. But Im not a fan of the colour. I'd prefer either Black or white.

[cool#9]

I don't like those bodies. . . but it does look pretty hot.

[enjoi91]

where can you get one of those beauties

[AznInvazn666]

I've always hated the wood colour/look. I like plain colours, exept the Wine Red SG.

[595Metallica595]

beautifull guitar, i really want an explorer

[ZoxRoxMySox]

o baby that guitar is sexy!!!

[Farewellmyhell]

thats a sweet guitar. not my dream explorer though. i want one with a flat black pickgaurd and a blood red body with EMG 81/85s. sweet. one day... one day...

[Ibzman]

hmmm i think in see thru black the guitar is better, too bad those have been discontinued for those who didnt know, but anyway if I had a gibson id buy a custom Les Paul, dont know what finish but sanded neck of course

[ArcherTheVMan]

this is good, but i prefer the original explorer the body is bigger like this one should be; because they made the body smaller on this one i find it looks out of proportion.

[gauthier]

I can't stand the body shape, I am a fan of the Gibson J200

[colelamb_611]

ive never been a fan of gibson

[g-unitie]

i would basicly marry this guitar if i could afford it

[g-unitie]

[g-unitie]

jk

[Bloody Mary]

Yea I like the bigger body better.
I wish they put the pickup selector back with the tone and volume knobs though, like the older explorers.

[beefyboy232]

i think its au'sum. i would steal one, not buy cause i dont have anything near enough cash for that.

[595Metallica595]

this or the ibanez JS1000 (joe satriani model) will be my next guitar

[frett_ledgend]

go the explorer bro and if u like metallica that much u should (james hetfield) and the only thing i dont like bout this is the colour

[toxicity33]

the bastards at gibson discontinued the explorer pro. So im pissed.

[Rockwillnevrdie]

Someone sh*t on the coats!

[1SinN6]

its the little brother of the big mighty mans explorer..

[Cliff_lives]

this guitar is so sweeeeet! i do like the bigger body model and the colors not my fav....i think the inlays arent to cool either put dots or trapizoids the rectangles make it look cheap like an epiphone or something thats just my opinion, anyways great guitar to bad its so expensive!!!!

[C&C Magik]

Rockwillnevrdie wrote:

Someone sh*t on the coats!

Lol... ok calm down Dane Cook

[bitter.sweet]

I think this is a sweet guitar. But I've heard it's really irritating to play while sitting down. I don't really like the color either. And I very much agree that the bigger body was better. Still, this is what it is, take it or leave ot

[bitter.sweet]

*take it or leave it

[nickdavis]

/fkinglovethisguitar

[Findingemo1993]

id take it if it w as cheap, but its not and its ugly as crap but everyone has an opinion

[LazyLatinoRocke]

i hope they will have some left so i can buy one when i get a job next summer

[HELLSHREDD]

I agree , the explorer with emgs does kik arse , i just picked up the explorer goth II with emgs & all i can say is YES , 2 thumbs up..... The natural finish looks wicked in person & anyone who disses the looks is whacked , lol, One more point worth mentioning , if anyone tells you an explorer is hard 2 play sitting down , ask them if they have ever really played 1 , cuz they are perfect to play sitting.

[Rattlehead1994]

Dude, I'm gonna save money to get this beauty!

Ps.: 4 those who don't like the colour(including me), you can also get it in black

[HELLSHREDD]

They also discontinued the goth explorer as well, but iam pleased to say that i picked up 1 of 400 made with EMG pick-ups made in late 2006 & that axe sounds like Hellfire....;p

toxicity33 wrote:

the bastards at gibson discontinued the explorer pro. So im pissed.

[r3conmarine90]

i saw one of these at a upper class pawn shop near my house. It was the transblack quilted top one. It had Gibson '57 pickups in it so you can tell someone put some love in that guitar. I practically shot a load down my leg when I saw/played it. i'm getting a job and putting a down payment on it ASAP.

[the_addict]

I want one soooo bad!

[big-boy-mike]

i have an epiphone one, its really good. i cant imagine how good that would be

[spyguy34]

48th yes just the number i wanted lol great guitar havent played one in a while but sound great through a marshall half

[rinestone]

Completely sick guitar and for those of you complaining it does come in black

[warrenguitar]

What a shweet guitar! Nice to hear it comes in black. I love the Explorer shape.

[big-boy-mike]

A7X_hyperfan wrote:

I love explorers, i want one sooooo bad! This one looks really good.

i have an epiphone explorer, it rocks!

[slayaplaya]

didn't they only make 400 of these?

[Explorerpro]

slayaplaya wrote:

didn't they only make 400 of these?

Yes. And I have the only one in Denmark!

[livewire76]

gauthier wrote:

I can't stand the body shape, I am a fan of the Gibson J200

Wow, that's a surprise! Nay! Hardly a shock to hear you don't like the explorer shape when you like big-body accoustics!