Gibson was never much about increasing body size for their basses:
EB-0/3 is SG size (until the seventies when they beefed the basses up).
Uwe
The 80's big hair bands ruined the Explorer.
At least Entwistle keeps it still cool with the Orange Exporter Bird & Alembic Spyder basses. The Edge took the guitar version back from the big haired metal bands as well.
And don't forget that Hamer and dean also offered Explorer shaped basses.
The most unusual of those was a custom fretless 8-string Hmaer as comissioned and used by Sting.
(http://www.planetmotorsports.com/hamerhist/artist_image/stingo.jpg)
I found plenty of live photos with him playing that one but so far haven't found any movies on youtube where he's indeed using it. only in the musicvideo of "De-doo-doo-doo, de-da-da-da"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKtSV45cVtQ
In a couple of days I'll have my '85 bolt-on Fernades Explorer. After reading this thread I can't wait to join the Explorer club:)
(The Bassist Formerly Known As Chris P.)
http://www.pwogs.com/msvg_workshop_skunk_Explorer.html
Years ago I played an EB-2D with the choke...I was blown away at how cool it sounded...for a short scale bass...