The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: gearHed289 on June 21, 2014, 10:25:36 AM

Title: Explorer Shadow
Post by: gearHed289 on June 21, 2014, 10:25:36 AM
This just went unsold on eBay and has been re-listed. Seems like a really good price, though the finish is questionable. I was tempted to grab it myself, but I'd end up routing it for T-Bird pups.  8)

http://m.ebay.com/itm/191221974698?nav=SEARCH

There's an Alpine white Epi that I have my eye on...
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Highlander on June 21, 2014, 04:24:41 PM
Go with the Epi, Tom... check out Uwe for the confirmation on that... he felt that the Epi had the superior quality on the sound front, by a long stroke... considered the Gibson variant to be very poor, although, iirc, he quite liked the sound of the Shadow, in it's own right, but compared to the Epi...

Chime in please, Uwe, if your about, or I'll dig and find his comments for you, Tom...
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Highlander on June 21, 2014, 04:29:33 PM
I think I've just seen the (white) one you mean... pause and be ready with the sniper tools...

You have your orders...
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: godofthunder on June 22, 2014, 07:51:05 AM
 I'd go with the Epi it's full scale and a much better build. Aside from that the Explorer shadow is a pretty rare bird I don't know that I'd go hacking one up. If you want a Explorer  shaped bass I'd consider a Hamer Blitz. I paid 400 bucks for mine in great shape with ohsc. Probably the best Explorer deal out there.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: chromium on June 22, 2014, 12:52:04 PM
That white Epi looks sweet!  Grab it and slap some Tbird pickups in that thing  8)

I'd have to agree on the Blitz, though...  Awesome bass, great neck (at least the one I played), a sound I like, and you can't beat the price/quality proposition.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: dadagoboi on June 23, 2014, 05:32:27 AM
I have an Ebony one I'll sell pretty cheap, it's also korina.  I bought it for research for my ExplorerBird project and it hasn't seen much action since.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: gearHed289 on June 23, 2014, 09:47:31 AM
Quote from: godofthunder on June 22, 2014, 07:51:05 AM
I'd go with the Epi it's full scale and a much better build. Aside from that the Explorer shadow is a pretty rare bird I don't know that I'd go hacking one up. If you want a Explorer  shaped bass I'd consider a Hamer Blitz. I paid 400 bucks for mine in great shape with ohsc. Probably the best Explorer deal out there.

Yeah, I'm not serious about hacking up the Gibson. Should be left as is and will hopefully be appreciated by someone eventually.

I'd consider a Hamer, but I'm not crazy about the P/J setup. I played one not too long ago, and I liked the neck. Hard to find a cheap one though.

I'll have a pointy bass that I like eventually! I'm REALLY wanting an Alembic Exploiter.

Carlo, thanks, but black is out. Gotta be natural or Alpine white.  ;D
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: chromium on June 23, 2014, 10:55:15 AM
Quote from: gearHed289 on June 23, 2014, 09:47:31 AM
I'd consider a Hamer, but I'm not crazy about the P/J setup.

Actually, that and the rolled edges are the main reason I don't have a Blitz.  I reserve the right to be picky at this age  ;D

If a Standard were to ever fall into my lap, however...

I'm still kicking myself for not buying one of the newer ones off MF about 2 years ago...  They were blowing them out at around 2.2K at the end there.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/hamer-custom-shop-standard-flametop-bass
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: dadagoboi on June 23, 2014, 11:07:08 AM
Quote from: gearHed289 on June 23, 2014, 09:47:31 AM
Carlo, thanks, but black is out. Gotta be natural or Alpine white.  ;D
that's what I figured!
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Nocturnal on June 23, 2014, 06:19:53 PM
Quote from: gearHed289 on June 23, 2014, 09:47:31 AM
I'd consider a Hamer, but I'm not crazy about the P/J setup. I played one not too long ago, and I liked the neck. Hard to find a cheap one though.

I picked up a Hamer Blitz a few months back. I really like playing it, P/J's and all  :mrgreen: It's a great player and sounds fantastic.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: dadagoboi on June 23, 2014, 07:54:24 PM
I just looked at my Ebay saved searches and saw Baz was selling a trashed Arlington Heights  Blitz.  It's heading to the Swamp.  Should be a good project.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Nocturnal on June 23, 2014, 09:28:02 PM
If anyone can salvage it, that would be you Carlo!
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: dadagoboi on June 24, 2014, 04:28:57 AM
Quote from: Nokturnal on June 23, 2014, 09:28:02 PM
If anyone can salvage it, that would be you Carlo!

Thanks, Andy.  I was going to do Denis' NR which has similar damage but had second thoughts because I didn't want to take the chance of screwing up a vintage bass.  The Blitz isn't so valuable.  If I can get the holes to disappear completely with no ghost lines I'll feel more confident to work on an original NR.

On its way from Baz:
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Hamer%20Blitz/_57_zps163f873f.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/Hamer%20Blitz/_57_zps163f873f.jpg.html)

What I have in mind:
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Hamer%20Blitz/hamer_859_case_zps9628b27f.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/Hamer%20Blitz/hamer_859_case_zps9628b27f.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Bionic-Joe on June 24, 2014, 08:45:53 AM
I believe that color MAY be  Pearl white.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: dadagoboi on June 24, 2014, 09:00:52 AM
Quote from: Baz Cooper on June 24, 2014, 08:45:53 AM
I believe that color MAY be  Pearl white.

Hard to tell from that Ed Roman low res pic. The description says off white/cream
http://www.edroman.com/detail_sheets/hamer_bass_d859.html
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Bionic-Joe on June 24, 2014, 11:46:51 AM
Now that I think about it... I have seen some White Hamers....Man... My memory is scattered.... I do remember playing Jon Brandt's cream white Cruise bass....
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: uwe on June 25, 2014, 08:16:16 AM
Quote from: gearHed289 on June 21, 2014, 10:25:36 AM
This just went unsold on eBay and has been re-listed. Seems like a really good price, though the finish is questionable. I was tempted to grab it myself, but I'd end up routing it for T-Bird pups.  8)

http://m.ebay.com/itm/191221974698?nav=SEARCH

There's an Alpine white Epi that I have my eye on...

The ranking of Gibson related Explorers is as follows (best to worst):

1. Gibson modern day long scale "reissue" ,
2. Epi regular long scale model,
3. 80ies Shadow Explorer,
4. 80ies regular Grabber pups Explorer.

The jump from 4 to 3 is quite considerable - in my ears the Shadow sounds a lot more assertive, livelier and with a voice of its own than the regular model. Fears of it sounding clinical or tinny are unfounded, the piezo works well with the maho body and the sound is actually warm and blurry.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: gearHed289 on June 25, 2014, 09:01:26 AM
Just got outbid on whitey, and I don't think I'm going to go any higher...

I have a feeling I'd like the pickup positioning on the Epi a lot more than I did on the Gibson. Very Ric-ish.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: gearHed289 on June 25, 2014, 11:32:53 AM
I'm starting to smell a shill bidder. r***i starting driving things up at $200. Zero feedback, and 100% of bids are to this seller. Too bad, it's such a pretty bass, but I'm not playing that game...
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Highlander on June 25, 2014, 04:36:52 PM
Last second sniping is more fun, as a fresh bidder...
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: Pilgrim on June 25, 2014, 05:15:38 PM
Quote from: Highlander on June 25, 2014, 04:36:52 PM
Last second sniping is more fun, as a fresh bidder...

Ain't no auction until the last minute.  My bids go in with 20 seconds left in the countdown.  Any bid I make before that is just a lowball placeholder to make an item easy to find.  All that bidding before the last minute does is run up the price when someone makes 30 bids, a buck higher each time, until they outbid you.  With 20 seconds left, I get one shot at it and they get one shot at it.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: dadagoboi on June 26, 2014, 01:53:46 AM
Quote from: Highlander on June 25, 2014, 04:36:52 PM
Last second sniping is more fun, as a fresh bidder...
Quote from: Pilgrim on June 25, 2014, 05:15:38 PM
Ain't no auction until the last minute.

Ain't no auction until the last second. I've used EZsniper for almost 10 years.  1% premium ( 25 cents minimum, $10 maximum) is well worth it.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: gearHed289 on June 26, 2014, 09:00:20 AM
I usually wait till the last seconds too, but this ended during my work day, and there's always a very good chance I'll get sidetracked or be busy with something, so I had to get a bid in.

I won my 4003S/8 by placing a bid of $2500 a few hours before it ended, because I was going to be at a gig. I got home to find out I won at $2250.  :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: slinkp on June 26, 2014, 09:27:26 AM
Quote from: uwe on June 25, 2014, 08:16:16 AM
The ranking of Gibson related Explorers is as follows (best to worst):

1. Gibson modern day long scale "reissue" ,
2. Epi regular long scale model,
3. 80ies Shadow Explorer,
4. 80ies regular Grabber pups Explorer.

What about this one?  :mrgreen:
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=1010.0
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: uwe on June 26, 2014, 10:51:47 AM
It's a one-off, doesn't count! And I can't really take a small scale Explorer serious - it's a fine short scale bass in its own right, but that is it. I'd put it before the Shadow but behind the Epi. An Explorer - like a T-Bird - needs to be long scale. Visually and acoustically. Size matters.
Title: Re: Explorer Shadow
Post by: chromium on June 27, 2014, 05:35:36 PM
Quote from: dadagoboi on June 26, 2014, 01:53:46 AM
Ain't no auction until the last second. I've used EZsniper for almost 10 years.  1% premium ( 25 cents minimum, $10 maximum) is well worth it.

Yeah that's the way to do it.

I've won a lot with auctionstealer.com.  It's all web based, free for a 10-20 second snipe, and something like $2 for a 3 second snipe.  I hardly ever pay the fee unless its for something really special.  Highest proxy bid wins in the end anyway, and so even the quickest snipe isn't a guarantee.


Quote from: gearHed289 on June 26, 2014, 09:00:20 AM
I won my 4003S/8 by placing a bid of $2500 a few hours before it ended, because I was going to be at a gig. I got home to find out I won at $2250.  :mrgreen:

That's always a great feeling!  8)