http://www.epiphone.com/News/Features/Features/2016/Limited-Edition-Korina-Instruments.aspx?utm_source=Epiphone+Newsletter&utm_campaign=4345ab6a7b-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_11_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d33e24a051-4345ab6a7b-58060781
Can't say I've ever been a fan of the Explorer bass, but the six string versions of the Explorer and the Flying V look nice. Epiphone seem to be more on the ball than Gibson...even the Joe Bonamassa Firebirds look decent. Is it too much to ask them to bring out a Les Paul Junior with a better shaped headstock.
I'm going to try one. I've really been impressed with Epiphone ever since I got my T-Bird Classic IV.
Looking good.
Seems like Epiphone is doing what Gibson should have been doing all along: Releasing vintage correct reissues.
At least for the six stringers.
(http://images.epiphone.com/News/Features/2016/korina-feature/N_110116F2.jpg)
from the photos it still looks like a Korina veneer
The bodies are solid not veneer. If the quality is anything like the Classic Pro I am definitely going to get one. I find the Explorer shape very comfortable.
Is this a long scale? I wonder if the pickups are as good as the marketing makes them out to be. They look too close to the bolt on bird pickups for comfort.
Quote from: 4stringer77 on November 03, 2016, 08:39:54 AM
Is this a long scale? I wonder if the pickups are as good as the marketing makes them out to be. They look too close to the bolt on bird pickups for comfort.
http://www.epiphone.com/Products/Bass/Ltd-Ed-Korina-Explorer-Bass.aspx
Long scale, and the name of the humbuckers is different from the bolt-on Bird and the Pro-IV.
I'm still casually searching for an Explorer bass that "fits" me. 2013 Gibson and the original Epi didn't work. If the necks on these are the same as the previous run, I'll pass. They look great, and the black pickguard was a good choice. Too bad they didn't just put TB+ pups on there.
If they're available around Income tax return time I'll probably get one, they look great!
The Explorer shape has been in my DNA for a long time, predates even Thunderbirds ;)
Price...?
GAK are quoting £469.00 with free shipping.
That is 526 Euros, or 584 US Dollars, pop pickers!
Until the advent of the most recent Gibson Ltd Edition Explorer a few years ago, even the old Epi Explorers were the best ones you could get, better than the initial 80ies Gibson Explorers which suffered for medium scale, poor pups and unremarkable woods. The only let-down of the old Epis were the pups, those could be replaced, the wood (underneath the veneer), while dent-prone, was light and responsive with a nice blur, the hardware looked cheesy, but did the job, the scale was finally right, if there ever was a bass that demands long scale then it's the Explorer (along with the T-Bird).
From the pics, this new generation Epi Exi is not all that different - bridge still looks cheesy, but will do the job -, pup-positioning the same, toggle and controls, scratch plate, high E and F, all check, I believe the "nose" of the headstock past the G tuner is a bit more extended than on the Epis of yore. The unveneered limba looks good and already sounded well on the short-lived Epi EB-3 Elite/Elitist a decade or so ago, no complaints there. The big question are the pups which to me look uncomfortably similar to the old ones, new name(-dropping) aside. But I'm prepared to give this a try; if need be I always have some tried and trusted TB Plus lying around!
That natural "korina" look is of course gorgeous, automatically puts me in Allen Collins mood/mode, 10 minute Free Bird solo mandatory!
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/d0/3e/9f/d03e9fdaf915bbc164f50ba364e7f117.jpg)
And to me and the way I play/stand, the Explorer shape is the most comfortable/ergonomic one imaginable.
Quote from: uwe on November 03, 2016, 05:32:24 PM
From the pics, this new generation Epi Exi is not all that different - bridge still looks cheesy, but will do the job -
It needs a gold three point!
You're the pegging and studs expert, I would not dare argue.
LOL for once I was hoping for a three point so I could put a Badbird II of it!
I had hoped for more from Gibson's effort, they managed to make the Explorer look pedestrian. A Natural gloss finished on that mahogany body would have been stunning, add chrome hardware and you have a instant classic. Instead they opted for a dull tobacoo burst and black hardware. :puke:
Agreed about the flat-boring brownburst but I really wish they would bring the gloss silverburst back. I kick myself for passing up on one years ago.
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA/Explorer-Bass/Specs.aspx
The guitars look nice, and I also am impressed with the Joe Bonamosa Firebird I they are putting out. That's better than any reissue they've been doing for the past few. As for the bass I like that it's full scale but they did that before. I'd like one in 30", two point bridge, black plastic cover on a mud bucker, and Kluson banjo tuners. I might have make my own again.
Quote from: 66Atlas on November 04, 2016, 06:16:27 AM
Agreed about the flat-boring brownburst but I really wish they would bring the gloss silverburst back. I kick myself for passing up on one years ago.
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA/Explorer-Bass/Specs.aspx
I'm a sucker for that look - always reminds me of fog at night and I like that - , dug it so much that I bought the Ltd Ed Epi TBird with the same fin so the Gibson Explorer would have a companion! It impresses wimmin no end if you gig with two basses with different shapes, but color matched, they think you have an attention for detail then. :mrgreen: Sometimes, alas!, I waver in my faith of not collecting for fins ...
Silverburst along with Fender's Antigua are two of my least favorite finishes.
Quote from: godofthunder on November 03, 2016, 07:50:51 PM
I had hoped for more from Gibson's effort, they managed to make the Explorer look pedestrian. A Natural gloss finished on that mahogany body would have been stunning, add chrome hardware and you have a instant classic. Instead they opted for a dull tobacoo burst and black hardware. :puke:
And no pickguard. :-\ They actually do have chrome hardware. I sometimes wish I had given my former tobacco burst more of a chance. After years with my Les Paul and FenderBird, and a TB+ equipped Bach, I was surprised at the difference in tone with the Explorer. Those other 3 sound very similar, but the Exp was kind of dull for some reason.
Opps, my mistake I would have sworn that they had black hardware.
I like my korina moderne :mrgreen:
Unfortunately, seeing that '58 Explorer site that popped up recently got me into liking explorers more and more.
I always liked the shape, but prefer short scale.
Being short of projects, I got me this epi korina explorer and pulled the neck out. So next for this one is getting an epi EB0 neck.
The pickup cover is just for looks, I'm going black plastic like the original.
(http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/sjokoladen/P5160721_zpsuflznfng.jpg) (http://s977.photobucket.com/user/sjokoladen/media/P5160721_zpsuflznfng.jpg.html)
Quote from: amptech on November 05, 2016, 02:29:46 AM
Unfortunately, seeing that '58 Explorer site that popped up recently got me into liking explorers more and more.
I always liked the shape, but prefer short scale.
Being short of projects, I got me this epi korina explorer and pulled the neck out. So next for this one is getting an epi EB0 neck.
The pickup cover is just for looks, I'm going black plastic like the original.
(http://i977.photobucket.com/albums/ae259/sjokoladen/P5160721_zpsuflznfng.jpg) (http://s977.photobucket.com/user/sjokoladen/media/P5160721_zpsuflznfng.jpg.html)
:popcorn: :popcorn:!!
Hey, after all maybe I am not the only one that prefers the 2-on-a-side (or 3-on-a-side! ) classic Gibson headstock on Explorers! :D Cool project!
Quote from: amptech on November 05, 2016, 02:29:46 AM
Unfortunately, seeing that '58 Explorer site that popped up recently got me into liking explorers more and more.
I always liked the shape, but prefer short scale.
Being short of projects, I got me this epi korina explorer and pulled the neck out. So next for this one is getting an epi EB0 neck.
The pickup cover is just for looks, I'm going black plastic like the original.
Love it! Short scale will be cool. Looking forward to seeing the progress. 8)
The Epis seem to get that traditional explorer body shape right. Both of the Gibson basses just never looked quite right to me. The 80s ones have that exaggerated angle of the upper horn, and the lower bouts are a lot more angular on both the 80s and recent models. Cool in their own right I suppose, but the Tbird and that original explorer shape is (to me) timeless.
I found my little piece of explorer heaven in this bass (seen w/some pointy siblings)...
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/Dean/Dean-7sm.jpg)
Something's very wrong with the pickguard shape, cutaway side. Why did they have to mess with it?