My local GC just got another Faded Explorer in, so thought I would take some pics and try it out. At $899, this is a great bass. The tone is thick, and the body is surprisingly light and balances very well. Even though it has a 1.5" nut, it is a thicker neck than a T-bird. The flat black finish on the sides, back, and neck remind me of the Nikki Sixx Blackbird, and the pickups are equally hot. QC was very good except for the neck pickup screw which seemed to "wobble"a bit. Not sure if it was stripped or just needed tightening. Of course the bass needed to be set up (it is at GC after all), but I almost walked out with it. Much of what Mark said about the Silverburst version holds true on this one as well - and compared to the Explorers from the 80's - Gibson got this one right.
Sorry for the crappy cell phone pics...
(http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=284464&d=1345325862)
(http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=284465&d=1345325892)
my local GC had one, too! looks good with the burst finish.
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/rsteiner/explorer.jpg)
Would look great with chrome pickup covers! ;D
Great....just great! I was GAS free up until I saw this. I think I may need one, maybe for Christmas 8)
T
I like it! Well... maybe... once...
Great, just great. As I wrote, it really takes it out of the heavy metal image realm.
Those beasts have maple necks macking them in essence Fenderbirds.
All that chrome hardware though! I'm sure happy that at least the new Non-Rev will escape that sorry fate.
They... are... KILLING me!!! $899... I don't need an Explorer. It won't do anything my Les Paul doesn't. I don't need an Explorer. It won't do anything my Les Paul doesn't. I don't need an Explorer. It won't do anything my Les Paul doesn't. I don't need an Explorer. It won't do anything my Les Paul doesn't.......................
It's beyond me why there's a chrome bridge on the burst explorer instead of a black one....
Quote from: Blackbird on August 20, 2012, 10:31:59 AM
It's beyond me why there's a chrome bridge on the burst explorer instead of a black one....
True, but it'd be an easy switch. I think I even have a spare black bridge lying around here somewhere...
Quote from: uwe on August 20, 2012, 05:01:13 AM
Those beasts have maple necks macking them in essence Fenderbirds.
Tipping the hat to JAE and PC...? ;)
The original Explorers had maple necks too. Might be for stability reasons, the Explorer headstock might give issues with a short fibre wood like maho on a long scale with all that pull. It certainly makes for a punchier sound on these.
Quote from: HERBIE on August 20, 2012, 12:51:17 PM
Tipping the hat to JAE and PC...? ;)
One would like to think but I doubt Gibson is that astute.
Hope money comes in once... would love to have one!! Especially for that price...
OK, I can't figure out who PC is... Pete Comita? :P
Quote from: gearHed289 on August 23, 2012, 08:40:20 AM
OK, I can't figure out who PC is... Pete Comita? :P
He's talking about the Peter Cook-built explorer-birds.
Thanks Dave!
Speaking of... I ran across this yesterday. I haven't seen this kind of burst before on an Explorerbird. It also appears to have an XLR jack, and a toggle switch on the lower horn. I've seen the orange one, a green burst, it looks like he's holding a black one in the photo next to this bass, and he spoke of giving a white one to Pete in his book.
(http://alembic.com/club/messages/393/35558.jpg)
Quote from: gearHed289 on August 23, 2012, 09:31:18 AM
Thanks Dave!
Speaking of... I ran across this yesterday. I haven't seen this kind of burst before on an Explorerbird. It also appears to have an XLR jack, and a toggle switch on the lower horn. I've seen the orange one, a green burst, it looks like he's holding a black one in the photo next to this bass, and he spoke of giving a white one to Pete in his book.
That one (with Fender bridge) and the Greenburst are in Hard Rock hands.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Destroyer/P1010811.jpg)
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Destroyer/P1010810.jpg)
I'm starting builds on 2 of these in a few months including gold plating:
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Destroyer/P1040944.jpg)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's cool Carlo!
Whoa! Thanks for posting! That green one... drool...
Quote from: TBird1958 on August 23, 2012, 09:46:29 AM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's cool Carlo!
Quote from: gearHed289 on August 23, 2012, 09:51:27 AM
Whoa! Thanks for posting! That green one... drool...
Thanks, I've been doing some research. Note the 3 different details where the cutaway hits the neck.
That's why I picked up the gold Lollar to fit into my PC T'Bird, Tom - getting her back to as original as I can, excluding the MudBucker, which I still have to get plated... ;)