The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Chris P. on August 06, 2008, 09:19:03 AM

Title: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 06, 2008, 09:19:03 AM: There's a quite new German bass magazine called Bass Professor. We had the april/may/june issue at the office and today I took it with me too see what our German competitors do:)

They have an ongoing subject called 'The story Of Gibson Basses.' This time Part 8, the eighties (that makes one wonder if they started in 1900... This time they have some short background information about the Flying V, Victory, Q80/90, IV, V and yes: the 20/20. It ends with a Zebrabird.

But it's the Explorer part that's interesting. They feature three basses. A cream one with two black humbuckers, a red Piezo-only one and an Explorer which they call early 60s and probably custom made.

It has a Korina body, kahogany neck, 3 + 1 banjo tuners, three controls (!), a bar bridge, an oversized pickguard and a chrome mudbucker at the neck. I think I've never seen that before. It looks like Uwe's, but I think Uwe's has T-bird pick ups?
And one mudbucker and three controls?
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Barklessdog on August 06, 2008, 09:40:21 AM: This one?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/59Explorerbass.jpg)

I remember Daniel found this recreation somewhere?

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/exp1.jpg)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 06, 2008, 10:59:41 AM: yep, it's a nice colour pic of the one above. The one below has a four in a row headstock and the three point bridge.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: lowend1 on August 06, 2008, 01:05:51 PM: Years ago - probably 1979-80 - that bass hung in the front window of one of the vintage shops on 48th St in NYC. It might have been Stuyvesant Music. It was the real tiny place a few doors west of Manny's. Every time we went in to look at stuff we couldn't afford, that bass was there. It was either not for sale or ridiculously priced for the time ($3k maybe?)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on August 07, 2008, 04:13:59 AM: I think I remember reading in Guitar player Magazine in the mid to late 70's that Rick Derringer owned it and gave it as a gift to Randy Jo Hobbs. Also that hiding under the end of the pick guard you can just see a stud insert for a guitar bridge. Supposed to be a killer sounding bass. I remember the qoute about it. "It ain't no dog legged BBQ stick it's a Hoss ! "
Title: The whole saga ...
Post by: uwe on August 07, 2008, 04:46:19 AM: Yes, the April 1984 issue of GP had an expansive history on this bass. I've got a copy of it. Someone back in Dudepit daze posted it, I don't remember who, but I printed it out at the time. Contents:

- Three of these basses exist, all stem from the fifties, all are korina guitar bodies (with routings partially filled), all have maho necks from fifties EB-2s with an Explorer headstock grafted on. Mudbucker with baritone switch, bar bridge. One was natural (and later refinned green and then metallic blue, but eventually stripped again), one was sunburst and the other one probably natural too. By the advent of the GP article, the fate of the latter two was already lost in the mists of time.

- Explorer bass no 1 was ordered by Roger "Jelly Roll" Troy (he later got the sunburst one though) in Kalamazoo in 1959, but he never picked it up so it fell eventually in the hands of Lonnie Mack's then bassist Wayne Bullock who played it on a couple of Mack's hits.

- In 1973, guitar historian Robb Lawrence bought the bass - by then metallic blue - from Bullock for a thousand bucks. It was worse for wear and Lawrence pretty much restored it to original state. He then let Chris Squire, JE, Jack Bruce and Larry Taylor (whoever that is!) play it and they were all enamoured by it, because it sounded well and was comfortable to play with the hand resting on the elongated back part of the body.

- Come 1974, Lawrence sells the bass to Rick Derringer's manager - this is where Scott's part of the story comes in. It ends up a present to the late Randy Jo Hobbs, then Johnny Winter's bass player.

- A few years later, Hobbs sells it to Steve Friedman of Stuyvesant Music on 48th Str NYC. It can be heard on Lou Reed's Street Hassle.

- Subsequently it is traded to "We Buy Guitars", also in NYC, and encased in glass there. This is where lowend1's part of the story comes in.

- In late 1983, the bass is sold from NYC to Texan guitar collector Tony Dukes who actually plays it in shows with hs band "International Aces". Dukes gives the dog-legged BBQ stick/hoss quote in GP that Scott cites.

- We have 1984 now and the bass is in Texas. This is where things get murky:

Around that time, a replica of the above bass is ordered at the Gibson Custom shop from a Texas store. As I bought that bass later on, I have an email from early 2005 from Mr Al Helm who kindly sheds a little light on the replica's history. Apparently, one of the natural original korina explorer basses got into the hands of another Texan guitar collector (I can't say whether it was the one Tony Dukes had, the dates don't quite match up if Tony bought his bass from NYC only in late 1983, because the replica was apparently built earlier than that, otoh, Al Helm writes that the replica found its way into a rare guitars calendar by Tony Dukes so there might be a connection after all), a Cadillac dealer by the name of Byron D. Goad. Goad loved the looks of the bass, but not the sound, thought it too muddy. And too valuable to play probably. So he orders a replica from the custom shop with different (TBird Bicentennial as it turns out) pups and while we're at: Please make the neck korina too and not maho, thus further brightening up the sound (korina sounds brighter than maho, imagine maho with a touch of alder and you're there). This is what Al Helm who owned the shop that ordered the custom shop work writes:

"Uwe,

It appears that you have the Gibson bass line at least as represented as did Entwhistle...

I managed Sound Vibrations in Corpus Christi from 1980--1984. Byron D. Goad was, at that time, a Cadillac dealer in Victoria, a friend, and a collector of interesting pieces. At his request, I contacted the Gibson Custom Shop and began the process of ordering a Korina Explorer bass to be fitted with Thunderbird pickups. Byron had one of the very few original Korina Gibson basses at that time (I don't recall the serial number, though) and we photographed the instrument and specified the differences that Byron wished to achieve. His original Explorer bass had a mahogany neck and four in a row tuners on the ladyslipper headstock. Initially, the Custom Shop boys were not interested in duplicating the Explorer headstock; they didn't have the right templates; they could just use the Victory bass headstock design; yadda, yadda, yadda. They finally agreed to use the ladyslipper headstock if they could produce in the 3 + 1 configuration. It seemed to be a reasonable request; they cited headstock strength versus string pull as their major issue. I requested a banjo style tuner for the G string so the headstock wouldn't lose its fluidity.

The instrument arrived about a year after the initial contact with Gibson and the dealer cost at that time was about two thousand dollars. I think that we received it in 1983. If it wasn't '83, then it was '82. It did appear in a rare guitars calendar produced by Tony Dukes; I may still have my copy of the calendar-- I don't know; I will look for it, though...

Obviously, an alpha-numeric serial number on a Gibson is a rarity--I don't know of any other Gibson instrument with a similar number. I am sure that you can guess what BDG means. 001 is a combination of two things: the instrument was to be the first of many and the 00 prefix was cool...like James Bond.

Byron, his spouse, and the IRS got entirely sideways with one another. The event continued for years, costing Byron his marriage and his entire collection of instruments. Byron asked me to hold that instrument for him until the smoke cleared. A few years into the event, he asked me to return the bass so that he could sell it; it was his last piece. It is my belief that if you paid the advertised price for the bass, you acquired it for a bargain!

Sorry about the flinging of opinion regarding the Victory basses, Uwe. I thought that they were too heavy and demonstrated no great step forward in either tone or feel over a typical Precision bass of the period.

The Korina Explorer is art that can be played like a Ferrari Barchetta is art which can be driven. That Korina Explorer is truly a one of a kind piece.

Sincerely,

Al Helm"

- And this, liebe Kinder, is where the story stops. A very evil man in Germany now has that bass chained to the wall. No idea where the three originals went and are currently.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/12-1.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/IMG_5058.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/DCP_0921.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/gibsonbass.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/gibsonbass1.jpg)

Uwe
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: lowend1 on August 07, 2008, 05:34:02 AM: Uwe, you are a wealth of information, as always. Great story - That Rick Derringer is always in the middle of things - he used to own one of the very early Explorers geetars with the "split V" headstock as well.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on August 07, 2008, 05:38:36 AM: Thanks for the complete story Uwe ! What a find one of the original would be ! Hmmmmmmmmmmm a repro could be a fun build.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Barklessdog on August 07, 2008, 05:41:34 AM: Gratuitous Explorer Cheesecake photo #3

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/orangebass2.jpg)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on August 07, 2008, 05:44:53 AM: Dimension wise my Ibanez Destroyer is real close. Note the Gibson mudbucker and Bart tbird pup. I'm thinking of going back to a white guard. (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/100_1720.jpg)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 07, 2008, 05:45:13 AM: Cool story!

But what about the three controls on a one pick up bass? My Ricky 3001 (which i don't have anymore) had it. Volume and two tone?
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on August 07, 2008, 06:16:23 AM: In its earliest original state that bass had a baritone button according to Guitar Player with the choke underneath the bridge in true EB-2 style. Could be that that was changed to a push pull knob later on. It was fiddled around with quite a bit while Lonnie Mack's bass player played it, inter alia he had it refinned twice (green and blue). In the early sixties, an Explorer bass was nothing but an off-the-wall shape failed model, like all Ted McCarthy "Modernistic Guitars" initially. I guess Hendrix resurrected the Flying V, but who made the Explorer shape fashionable again? Lynyrd Skynyrd? I can't remember anyone popular playing it much earlier than them.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 07, 2008, 07:45:27 AM: Let's not forget Dave Davies of The Kinks with a V.
Title: Violent Ray ...
Post by: uwe on August 07, 2008, 07:49:31 AM: Yeah, but then his brother always broke it in their frequent punch-ups!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 07, 2008, 08:00:37 AM: Yeah, in that way Oasis is nothing new....
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on August 07, 2008, 10:11:37 AM: I guess Entwistle brought the shape back to life for bassists, then the metal scene hijacked it.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on August 07, 2008, 10:14:11 AM: I saw The Edgar Winter Group in '73 and Derringer had a custom Explorer shaped guitar with Dimarzio pups, binding and a figured top. I also remember reading about them in Guitar player about the same time.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: exiledarchangel on August 07, 2008, 12:02:20 PM: The dimensions of the body of explorer basses is the same like the guitard version?
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on August 07, 2008, 01:48:54 PM: More or less. Gibson was never much about increasing body size for their basses: Flying V is guitar size, EB 2 is ES size, EB-0/3 is SG size (until the seventies when they beefed the basses up), Les Paul is Les Paul guitar size etc. Maybe the Rippers were larger than the similar guitars I forgot the name of. And likewise the Victory basses than the Victory guitars. (They must have been at least lighter, we know all guitarists are sissies!) And I'm not sure whether a Firebird is the same size as a TBird body? Probably. They didn't fiddle about with their classic shapes.

Uwe
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Barklessdog on August 07, 2008, 01:51:46 PM: Quote
Gibson was never much about increasing body size for their basses:

Except once a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=1017.0
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Blazer on August 07, 2008, 07:58:10 PM: 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
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 08, 2008, 12:33:13 AM: Quote from: uwe on August 07, 2008, 01:48:54 PM
EB-0/3 is SG size (until the seventies when they beefed the basses up).

Uwe

I never understood that. My '76 EB3 is exactly the same size as the SG RI and EB), only it has a bigger headstock, and of course the unbevelled edges. Was there a philosophy about that? More mud? ;)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on August 08, 2008, 05:58:37 AM: Stability. They made them thicker than the sixties models.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Barklessdog on August 08, 2008, 06:12:26 AM: 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.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: lowend1 on August 08, 2008, 08:30:52 AM: Quote from: Barklessdog on August 08, 2008, 06:12:26 AM
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.

Actually, the Gibson version was not so popular with the hair metal bands, due to the lack of a Floyd Rose and wacky paint schemes (although Gibson did do some like that). The shape was copied by all the poser guitar manufacturers and produced ad nauseam.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: eb2 on August 08, 2008, 09:43:49 AM: I made one out of an 80s Korina reissue and a wrecked 58 EB2, that I think I sent a pic to Uwe when I scanned that GP article. The truth is the Explorer body - in addition to being wacky wild for all them hair and smiley metal bands - is really about the best balanced body design ever. In the 50s version the combo of balance and comfort mixed with the original single coil mudbucker, Limba/Korina wood, old hard mahogany neck and cool banjo pegs ala Sting Ray makes for the ultimate 50s Gibson bass in both looks, playability, tone, lack of dead spots and vibe. Even the old stud tunelessomatic bridge is wonderful on it. I would guess with original Explorers pulling in a quarter of a million dollars in Sotheby's auctions, one of the originals would fetch maybe even $4,000 now!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on August 08, 2008, 12:17:52 PM: How could I have forgotten you, Jim? Mea culpa and thanks again.

I checked your old email to me, you announced to send me a pic of your old Exi, but ... how shall I put this ... errrm, then didn't! But I got this:

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/ebexplorer.jpg)

And anybody wishing to sell one of those original three Explorer basses for 4.000 bucks, please call me. I'll even pay you that amount in Euros!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: eb2 on August 08, 2008, 02:23:28 PM: Well, in the same period - on some long-forgotten version of the Dudepit - I ended up putting a pic up of the one I made. I thought I sent it to you. Lord knows if I have it on the the machine here, probably along with Ry Cooder's EB6 somewhere. More later on that. I am juggling too much as always - working on finishing up my EB3 project and working over an old Dual 1219 turntable. Too many loves. The EB3 is a funny story. Better told when finished.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: exiledarchangel on August 08, 2008, 04:29:45 PM: Quote from: Blazer on August 07, 2008, 07:58:10 PM
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

For some reason (snow & explorer shape maybe), that video reminded me of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kd5XGpHRFXI
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 09, 2008, 03:14:38 AM: And don't you guys love the Warwick Stryker? Especially the newer versions with Buzzard headstocks?
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on August 25, 2008, 02:53:41 AM: Oliver B was kind enough to send me a pic of the fifties explorer - he had a contact in the nineties with the Texan Cadillac dealer mentioned in the above posts. Although a blurry affair, it shows how closely the replica tried to emulate it.

Uwe

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/photo.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/gibsonbass.jpg)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 25, 2008, 05:33:56 AM: Cool! Nice to see both in one mail!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: senmen on August 25, 2008, 12:14:45 PM: Dear All,

at first let me introduce myself:
I am that Oliver Uwe talked about before and we got in contact through his Explorer bass.
I had provided him with the pic of the 58 Explorer bass and below find many more.
My main hobby is running a WHO tribute band here in Germany with name WHO ARE YOU
(www.whoareyouband.de)
In the 90ies I was on deep research on Gibson Modernistic guitars and basses as I had planned to write a
book on them.
Back then I also stumbled into the then owner of the original 58 Explorer bass, Mr.Byron Goad, who provided me with the pics below.
The picture mentioned before by someone published in the german Bass Professor magazine was courtesy of me, but they had used it without asking me. Anyway.
I remember also having had that sheet from that 90ies calendar with one page showing the 58 Explorer bass aside the one that is now owned by Uwe. Unfortunately, I don´t have this anymore.
I don´t know if the original Explorer is still in the posession of Mr.Goad; I tried to call him but the number is not working anymore.
Below you can also see pics of the bass hanging in the windows at Stuyvesant Music NYK, as someone told about before.
Well I would like to know where this bass is today.....

Many greetings
Oliver
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp1.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp2.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp3.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp4.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp5.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp6.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp7.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp8.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp9.jpg)
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/exp10.jpg)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Dave W on August 25, 2008, 01:18:15 PM: Hi Oliver, welcome aboard. Please check your My Messages folder.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on August 25, 2008, 01:29:33 PM: Welcome, Who-tribute guys are always more than welcome! And thanks very much for the storu and the great pics!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: senmen on August 25, 2008, 01:31:21 PM: Dave,
plse check your PM.

Chris,
many thanks mate!!!!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: sniper on August 25, 2008, 02:32:35 PM: IF THIS IS TO POLITICAL PLEASE ERASE!!!

As we gather for this convention in these stressed political times it is important to know us Gibbyites are made of the mettle of solid playing unity among EBO-ites, Thunderbird-ites, Hollowbody-ites, Explorer-ites and even Fenderbird and Epi-ites, and other independents (even some of the low life Fender, Warwick, Dark Star and other players are ok) to bring together unity under a free and wholesome bass flag as godfather Ent-Cassidy Jamerson would have wanted.

Welcome Oliver and thanks for reminding us of our common history and please let us unite under our chosen Uwe, Dave and Mark the Am-BASS-adoress ticket.

Let us be proud but humble in knowing we are right in presenting good rock and roll, jazz, country and all denominations of music to the world as we understand it should be played.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

Thanks for the nice pics of a piece of history.

the ever cynical but always trying to be humorous Twain of bassdom......old pup
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: hieronymous on August 25, 2008, 02:46:08 PM: Hi Oliver! I enjoy your posts at the Alembic Club - thanks for sharing your Gibson experiences here!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: rockinrayduke on August 25, 2008, 07:34:03 PM: God, I forgot all about Sound Vibrations in Corpus till now. it was always a regular stop for us traveling musicians back in the 70's touring Texas. Hadn't heard Tony Dukes mentioned in a while either. Small world isn't it?

Tony was always known for his eclectic collection........
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on August 26, 2008, 04:39:42 AM: Willkommen! I was just about to invite you to come here. Also thanks for putting up these great pics (and saving me the work to do it). This Explorer saga is coming along nicely.

Uwe
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Freuds_Cat on August 28, 2008, 01:36:48 PM: Thanks for the pics and info Oliver. As a recent owner of an Explorer albeit an Epi I am finding all of this info fascinating. I would say welcome too, but you have obviously known these gentle-fella's a lot longer than me. :)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: senmen on November 24, 2008, 12:06:59 PM: Hey Guys,
sorry, been a real while since I was last in here.
Well, to be honest, I was on the hunt for the original Explorer bass and what shall I say:
I LOCATED IT !!!
I am currently in speech with the current owner, not Byron Goad anymore.
The bass is again restored, means has now the original bakelite pickup installed.
When I get the OK of the owner I will do some articles on this in the german Bass Quarterly and possibly in the Vintage Guitar Magazine.
And, I also found two ol pics of the bass played in the Lonnie Mack Band:
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c267/senmen/1510316129_l.jpg)
When you look closely you can see that the there are only two pots and the third one is the baritone switch.....

More to come.....
Oliver
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Stjofön Big on November 24, 2008, 02:05:56 PM: The Lonnie Mack photo: What a nice bunch of solid senders!
Question: Who designed the Explorer? Did Dietrich come in that eary? Such a rockin and a-rollin design! Beautttifull!!!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Freuds_Cat on November 24, 2008, 03:05:39 PM: What an awesome photo, any idea what year that was taken? :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: senmen on November 24, 2008, 03:11:03 PM: Think end 50ies to beginning 60ies....
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Dave W on November 24, 2008, 06:37:59 PM: Nice detective work, Oliver. :toast:

I agree with you about the time of the photo. That's the way Lonnie looked at the time "Memphis" became a hit in '63, but he had a band before that.

Keep us posted.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on November 24, 2008, 08:53:08 PM: Oliver welcome aboard ! I have always been fasinated by this bass ! Years ago I read that Rick Derringer had owned it and had given it to Randy Jo Hobbs. The words describing it were as I remember " it ain't no dog legged BBQ stick it's a HOSS !" My Ibanez Destroyer circa 1976 clearly shows some influence. (http://<a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/?action-view&current=100_1720.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/100_1720.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on November 25, 2008, 04:51:25 AM: The saga unravels ...

I would know a nice home for that bass ...
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: senmen on November 25, 2008, 05:19:54 AM: Uwe,
well I will go searching for the other two now.
Also I do have a nice home for lonely basses.
Keep you informed guys.
Oliver
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on November 25, 2008, 08:00:20 AM: But it would need the company of its next of kin!!!

All those Alembics would surely make it feel very self-conscious ...
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on March 21, 2009, 10:15:49 AM: 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.)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: TBird1958 on March 21, 2009, 10:29:46 AM: ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Are we in the process of an new alter-ego........ ;)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Highlander on March 21, 2009, 05:45:13 PM: Uwe and Oliver...

Viel Glück mit der Jagd...!

Okay, so I have stated my case re "Doug "Piranha" Fyghter's (please don't nuke Luton; I know it's not the prettiest place in the UK , but...) imminent enhancement to his collection but seeing that beauty on Uwe's wall does turn my head, in a distinctly envious fashion...

Skynyrd...? Allen Collins used his Explorer for the UK '77 tour and Knebworth... I vaguely remember seeing Def Leppard supporting Sammy Hagar in '78 (ish) with an Explorer bass... certainly remember Neil Young with one in '82, but by then they were springing up all over the place...

(The bassist formely known as Ken S)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: hieronymous on March 21, 2009, 09:54:32 PM: Quote from: Doug Fyghter on March 21, 2009, 10:15:49 AM
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.)

Unfortunately, I sold my Exploiter so I am no longer a member of the club, but I'm glad I was able to participate in the genesis of Doug Fyghter! 8)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Chris P. on March 22, 2009, 03:06:09 AM: Hieronymous: We've still got the cat thing.

@ Ken: Doug 'Piranha' Fyghter? Great! You may call me The Piranha if you want. I'm pisces...
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Highlander on March 22, 2009, 04:20:21 PM: What's that coming over the hill...?

Is it a (Thunder) Bird...?
Is it a Plane...?
No it's Spiny Norman...!

Doug "The Piranha" Fyghter it is... ;D

Multiple personalities...?
Any guesses for mine...? if you follow such things that question should be a breeze...

Er Uwe, re-read this post... bon chance (I know it's not the correct language, just "CODE"...) :sad:
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Bionic-Joe on November 29, 2011, 03:32:11 PM: Funny...I can't say at this time...not yet at least...But Today I just spoke to the current owner of the 59 Explorer Bass..... VERY NICE GUY!!!! And no...It's NOT Tom Petersson or anyone famous.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on November 29, 2011, 03:39:18 PM: Tom does have one though. I wasn't sure if it was a reproduction or the real deal, I did play it :)
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Bionic-Joe on November 29, 2011, 03:53:36 PM: That was custom built by Main Street Guitars.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on November 30, 2011, 07:25:14 AM: Thanks Baz! It looked way to clean to be original.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Bionic-Joe on November 30, 2011, 07:49:59 AM: http://www.pwogs.com/msvg_workshop_skunk_Explorer.html
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Barklessdog on November 30, 2011, 09:31:49 AM: Quote from: Baz Cooper on November 30, 2011, 07:49:59 AM
http://www.pwogs.com/msvg_workshop_skunk_Explorer.html

Really cool story & great pictures.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Bionic-Joe on November 30, 2011, 07:07:15 PM: Yeah...I was talking to the owner of the real one today...Man...he's taking his time verifying and studying and documenting it's History....WOW!! And He told me that It sounds Like a Thunderbird...not what you would expect.......
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: EvilLordJuju on December 07, 2011, 03:08:55 PM: Anyone know who this is. It seems to be the same room (same amps) as the guitar player article, so perhaps the then owner Tony Dukes? Any ideas? These photos were being sold in a used bookstore in Boston.

(http://www.flyguitars.com/graphics/explorer_1.jpg)

(http://www.flyguitars.com/graphics/explorer_2.jpg)

That plant needs a drink... and maybe some daylight.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: clankenstein on December 07, 2011, 03:13:30 PM: this may have been asked earlier,but why are there 3 controls?
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: godofthunder on December 07, 2011, 03:27:23 PM: They used guitar bodies the middle control is a dummy.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on December 08, 2011, 03:02:38 AM: LOL - typically practically-minded Gibson!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on December 08, 2011, 07:53:34 AM: He told me that It sounds Like a Thunderbird...not what you would expect.......

With a mudbucker near the neck and short scale? No way. Unless his reference is to those very early 63/64 TB IIs which did sound a little muddy. At least mine does. Certainly not your classical TBird sound.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Bionic-Joe on December 08, 2011, 08:39:59 AM: Well....He said it isn't muddy like those pickups usually are. It has a nice almost trebly tone. I'm just relaying what he said, tough guy!!! Heh! Heh! Heh!! Hey Uwe, is yours a short scale?
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on December 08, 2011, 10:34:00 AM: Yes, unfortunately! Nothing wrong with a shortie, but an Explorer cries for a long scale IMHO. Of course, when those first Explorers were made, there were no Gibson long scales so it wasn't an option. And by the time the TBird came out, the whole modernistic line had already flopped commercially and been deleted though I have read that Ray Dietrich's TBird design was based on the Explorer which he liked best from all the (failed) modernistic guitar shapes Ted McCarty showed him when he asked Ray to come up with something new. Looking at an Explorer and a TBird and thinking of how some people even mistake the two that might be true.

My short scale Explorer actually sounds a liitle TBirdish, but then it has Bicentennial TBird pups in similar positions as a TB so what do you expect other!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: senmen on December 21, 2011, 01:55:58 PM: Guys,
I need to step in again....
Well as for the controls of the original Explorer bass I don't think that the middle pot was a dummy because I have seen old photos of Wayne Bullock with that bass and those show clearly that the last pot position is without any knob and could possibly also be an input jack....

Oliver
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: sniper on December 21, 2011, 03:05:13 PM: Baby, on your way up front please bring one of those cheap Chinese copies of the early Explorer basses up front will you please? Those things are selling like hotcakes.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: patman on December 22, 2011, 07:45:40 AM: Goes to show you can learn something new everyday...I always associated Wayne Bullock with Hammond organ in Lonnie's band...I never even knew he played bass...I just looked up the credits on Wikipedia...

I even had an original copy of "The Wham of that Memphis Man"...haven't seen it in years, I'm sure its long gone.
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Bionic-Joe on September 29, 2015, 11:57:09 AM: I think that one of those knobs is the baritone switch...or maybe a knob???? I'm going to build one. I'm beyond obsessed now...I'm on a mission... i'm going to make it like the original with an EBO pickup and a choke/baritone push pull switch. Bidding on a mahogany EB-2 neck and I plan on building a Korina explorer Body...banjo tuners...the works...
Years ago I played an EB-2D with the choke...I was blown away at how cool it sounded...for a short scale bass...
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on September 29, 2015, 12:53:42 PM: A thread from the crypt - now resurrected!!! :mrgreen:
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Highlander on September 29, 2015, 02:27:25 PM: www.youtube.com/watch?v=grbSQ6O6kbs
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: Bionic-Joe on September 29, 2015, 02:32:56 PM: Explorer's are ALWAYS worth resurrecting!!!!
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: uwe on September 29, 2015, 03:01:11 PM: (http://www.jomelloeventplanning.com/1e83dff58ae3crypt_keeper.gif)

"And yet I have been asked to lend a cursed
hand to this unholiest of experiments ..."
Title: Re: Early Explorer
Post by: chromium on September 29, 2015, 08:01:52 PM: Quote from: Baz Cooper on September 29, 2015, 11:57:09 AM
Years ago I played an EB-2D with the choke...I was blown away at how cool it sounded...for a short scale bass...

I modded my EB-2D with a pickup switch from a 3-pickup Les Paul in place of the baritone. Middle position takes the filter circuit out completely (stock, there was always filtering at play in both settings). That thing sounds great wide open.

Look forward to a thread about the build... there are not enough good/interesting explorer basses out there, that's for sure.