The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: godofthunder on December 31, 2011, 10:18:55 AM
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Rarely do I ask others opinions, I know what I like and don't usually have trouble making a decision. With all the new models Gibson has come out with I just can't buy them all. I have the Cherry Tbird which I am very pleased with and I think I can swing one more bass so what should it be ? The Flying V or the Explorer? I have my Ibanez Destroyer and a Hammer Blitz so that sort of scratches the Explorer itch. I have never had a Flying V (mainly because a good one was never made). I am leaning toward the V but that Explorer looks like a beastly hunk of wood. Both good choices,. Ok guys what say you ?
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That Ibanez is the epitome of Explorers to me. It's not the 80's metal version but the classic looking 50's version, which I've always preferred. Your Blitz covers the 80's metal Explorer look, so if it were me I'd go for the V. The one concern is whether the short scale will be an issue for you. If not, I say get the V. I really like the look of these new ones because they capture the vibe of the 60's guitar and that's the one I like best of the Vs. Plus it sounds like Gibson have finally made a V bass that sounds good!
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Too lazy to look, what's the scale length on the new V?
It's really been a crazy year for Gibson and basses - dare I say it - too many choices!
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George your correct on all counts! I love the look of the '67 V, Cherry/chrome with a white guard looks killer. I can switch from long to short scale no problem. The V does sound good! I never played it with the band but on it's own it really is a good sounding bass, nothing like the 80's V with those wimpy Ripper pups. Ok George your swaying me.
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That Ibanez is the epitome of Explorers to me. It's not the 80's metal version but the classic looking 50's version, which I've always preferred. Your Blitz covers the 80's metal Explorer look, so if it were me I'd go for the V.
Exactly what I was thinking, you need the V, Dude.
T
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Mark its a short scale.
Too lazy to look, what's the scale length on the new V?
It's really been a crazy year for Gibson and basses - dare I say it - too many choices!
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I'm thinking the new V is is a winner. ;)
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I gotta have a long scale bass...........I'd get that V home and be selling it a week later.
So far my GAS takes me to the black Les Paul oversize......
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Without a doubt the V. Your Destroyer destroys the Explorer in looks dept. I would hold on to the V as well as I see these going way up in value if they stick to a limited run.
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It's really been a crazy year for Gibson and basses - dare I say it - too many choices!
With your choice of pickups, too! Oh wait... :P
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George said it all for me. I would go for the V as well. I love the look of it.
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I gotta have a long scale bass...........I'd get that V home and be selling it a week later.
So far my GAS takes me to the black Les Paul oversize......
+1. Those LP's in black are HOT!
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It would be the Explorer for me, but it's close. And of course I haven't even heard how the new one sounds. I find the Explorer shape more imposing than the Flying V.
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The scale length would be the deciding factor for me. I bought a Fireburst SG Bass (GOTM) based on looks alone and when it arrived - it was quite beautiful in person. Unfortunately the short scale and small body made it feel like a toy compared to my T-birds, and I knew I wouldn't be able to use it for gigging. Sounded great, and would look awesome hanging on a wall - but I needed somethign that could pay for itself. I've been contemplating the new Gibbies as well - and even though I like the look of the V, I think I would go with the Explorer or a Gold Top Les Paul.
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It would be the Explorer for me, but it's close. And of course I haven't even heard how the new one sounds. I find the Explorer shape more imposing than the Flying V.
Problem with explorers are they have the metal curse laid upon them, where V's reek of the cool factor
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Explorers and metal... I also think of The Edge and Entwistle.
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The scale length would be the deciding factor for me. I bought a Fireburst SG Bass (GOTM) based on looks alone and when it arrived - it was quite beautiful in person. Unfortunately the short scale and small body made it feel like a toy compared to my T-birds, and I knew I wouldn't be able to use it for gigging. Sounded great, and would look awesome hanging on a wall - but I needed somethign that could pay for itself. I've been contemplating the new Gibbies as well - and even though I like the look of the V, I think I would go with the Explorer or a Gold Top Les Paul.
I bought one of those too - the Fireburst SG Supreme I think it was called. Looked hot but I just couldn't get along with it.
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Problem with explorers are they have the metal curse laid upon them, where V's reek of the cool factor
My feelings too. OTOH the short scale of the V would be a negative for me.
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I'd throw this thought in your direction...
You presently have Explorer style instruments so that's a proven in your life but how often do you gig with shorties...?
V's are without-a-doubt the greatest instrument in the world for the flashier (read poseur) player, but I so link you with NR's...
Go for what you think you would use the most... either that or hold fire for something special... ;)
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I also think of The Edge
Not helping the cause. Might need a pair of "Sexy Boots" for the Explorer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab8n1U-FlCY
I guess the other fact is you know neither is going to be your "go to bass", so what will fit with your use will be better. The shortscale is a big consideration though.
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It's funny that the Explorer has the heavy metal tag, while the Flying V has not (as much). Perhaps because there were more players of the Flying V in the late fifties, even bluesmen played them, and sixties (Hendrix) than there were Explorer players though they both appeared at the same time in the late fifties. But I cannot remember a pic of someone playing an Explorer shape guitar or bass that is older than the mid-seventies, though I'm sure there must be.
In contrast, the Flying V was omnipresent from a certain point in time onwards with hard and heavy rock bands: Scorpions, UFO, Judas Priest. But someone more in the songwriter vein like Tom Petty could still play it too (it's after all a rhythm gitar that never ever gets in the way). Or Andy Powell with Wishbone Ash.
Speaking of which: I first took note of the Explorer shape when Martin Turner began playing his Hamer Explorer with Wishbone Ash in the mid-seventies.
(http://www.drjazz.ch/album/bilder/Wishbone_MartinTurner0020.jpg)
Now Wishbone Ash were hardly a heavy rock or metal band, but, let's put it this way, they found grace with most hard rock fans because of the dominance of their twin lead guitar work which so many harder playing bands copied, you could look mean and still play sweet thirds. I might also have seen one with Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd who played it a lot just like Rick Medlocke does with Lynyrd Skynyrd today.
But the Explorer really only became prevalent in the eighties when heavy metal/hard rock hit another one of its commercial peaks. Matthias Jabs of the Scorpions played one often, Rick Savage of the Def Leps and ex-SAHB Chris Glen with MSG did so in the bass department. That said, there were a lot more TBird basses to be seen with hard rock bands at any given time than there were ever Explorer basses, certainly in part because hardly anybody produced Explorer basses as a long-lasting series model, Gibson, who invented the shape, only did so for two or three years in the mid eighties and not again until today.
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I like the looks of both and would agree with the "metal" image too. I'd love a V but the short scale thing kills it for me - My '80 medium scale Explorer didn't even last on my roster very long, the new is a very respectable bass and so for the sake of Scott's question I say get the Explorer.
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It's funny that the Explorer has the heavy metal tag, while the Flying V has not (as much).
That's why the RD appeals to me so much, looks like a melted Explorer. The rd softened the hard & pointy image of the explorer.
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It's funny that the Explorer has the heavy metal tag, while the Flying V has not (as much). Perhaps because there were more players of the Flying V in the late fifties, even bluesmen played them, and sixties (Hendrix) than there were Explorer players though they both appeared at the same time in the late fifties. But I cannot remember a pic of someone playing an Explorer shape guitar or bass that is older than the mid-seventies, though I'm sure there must be.
Did anyone actually play Vs in the 50s? I thought most of them sat unsold in stores. First time I ever saw one was when I bought Lonnie Mack's The Wham Of That Memphis Man in 1963 and then saw more pics of him with it. Even then I thought it was some custom order. Never saw one in person for years.
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Maybe not in the fifties, but I guess Dave Davies was one of the first? This pic is from a site all about V's.
(http://www.flying-v.ch/players/daviesd/kinks136.jpg)
I love the way he put his right arm between the V to play it. So wrong, but in a sixties kinda way so cool:)
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It's funny that the Explorer has the heavy metal tag, while the Flying V has not (as much). Perhaps because there were more players of the Flying V in the late fifties, even bluesmen played them, and sixties (Hendrix) than there were Explorer players though they both appeared at the same time in the late fifties. But I cannot remember a pic of someone playing an Explorer shape guitar or bass that is older than the mid-seventies, though I'm sure there must be.
I can't think of any pics of Explorer players older than the seventies either.
From the early eighties until now James Hetfield has had a huge influence on the popularity of both the Explorer and the Flying V with the Heavy Metal kids.
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My Buddy Jon told me. that Martin Turner sold that Hamer Standard bass because the truss rod went bad for $10,000 to some collector guy in Europe!!!!!! I Love those early Hamer Standard basses!!!!
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Yes, Turner's Hamer was unplayable due to a frozen truss rod, but I heard it went to a rock museum in England.
Albert King played a right-handed and right-strung FLying V from 1959 onwards (you can tell that it is an original model in the pics below via the string-thru-body bridge which fell away with the late 60ies versions). Being lefthanded, he probably liked the symetry of the guitar and in 1959 a Flying V didn't look any weirder upside down than right side up! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
(http://www.flying-v.ch/players/kinga/albkingv.jpg)
(http://www.colossusofclout.com/joshs_blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AlbertKing.jpg)
He stuck with the shape for his career until his death 1992. His signature song "I love Lucy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGj-Ap-UYW0
is not about a woman, but his Flying V! For convenience, and much like men who remarry often, he called all his Flying Vs "Lucy". 8) Interestingly, he eventually had a lefthanded Flying V with a Les Paul headstock (and a maple top) for some time too,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4rfw1hNkc4&feature=related
but you still see him much later on with regular headstock righthand-models again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7tvCB3JYts&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNsLyQGSqIg&feature=related
Eventually, the poor man even had a lefthand model - strung righty of course!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtZwdHajGhE&feature=related
But if the Flying V was a rare sight, then the Explorer/Futura/Moderne (sometimes, even Gibson referred to Explorers as "Modernes" thought that name was initially intended for the third modernistic guitar that never really got built in series - discuss! :mrgreen: ) was impossibly rare. From 1958 to the early sixties about a 120 Flying Vs were built by Gibson and the model was reintroduced (now in maho rather than korina) as early as 1967. The Explorer otoh was only built from 1958-59 in the first run, less than 30 (20 more like) crept out and its reintroduction came as late as 1976 (which must have been when Gary Rossington got his with Lynyrd Skynyrd). So it is small wonder none of us have seen fifties or sixties pics of the Explorer.
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Yes, Turner's Hamer was unplayable due to a frozen truss rod, but I heard it went to a rock museum in England.
Albert King played a right-handed and right-strung FLying V from 1959 onwards (you can tell that it is an original model in the pics below via the string-thru-body bridge which fell away with the late 60ies versions). Being lefthanded, he probably liked the symetry of the guitar and in 1959 a Flying V didn't look any weirder upside down than right side up! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
(http://www.flying-v.ch/players/kinga/albkingv.jpg)
(http://www.colossusofclout.com/joshs_blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/AlbertKing.jpg)
He stuck with the shape for his career until his death 1992. His signature song "I love Lucy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGj-Ap-UYW0
is not about a woman, but his Flying V! For convenience, and much like men who remarry often, he called all his Flying Vs "Lucy". 8) Interestingly, he eventually had a lefthanded Flying V with a Les Paul headstock (and a maple top) for some time too,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4rfw1hNkc4&feature=related
but you still see him much later on with regular headstock righthand-models again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7tvCB3JYts&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNsLyQGSqIg&feature=related
Eventually, the poor man even had a lefthand model - strung righty of course!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtZwdHajGhE&feature=related
But if the Flying V was a rare sight, then the Explorer/Futura/Moderne (sometimes, even Gibson referred to Explorers as "Modernes" thought that name was initially intended for the third modernistic guitar that never really got built in series - discuss! :mrgreen: ) was impossibly rare. From 1958 to the early sixties about a 120 Flying Vs were built by Gibson and the model was reintroduced (now in maho rather than korina) as early as 1967. The Explorer otoh was only built from 1958-59 in the first run, less than 30 (20 more like) crept out and its reintroduction came as late as 1976 (which must have been when Gary Rossington got his with Lynyrd Skynyrd). So it is small wonder none of us have seen fifties or sixties pics of the Explorer.
All those pictures & clips cement why I favor the V over the Explorer. It can be Cool & Classy.They all look good playing one
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But John, it's always the same guy, Albert King!!! Not all black men look that much alike. :mrgreen: (Fot the avoidance of doubt: This is satire, having lived in Africa I know how vastly different they all look.)
Explorers can be very cool and very classy too:
(http://www.ladiesofrock.com/Lzzy_Hale_Halestorm_Picture_15.jpg)
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I used to be a sweet thing too :-\
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/Oldies007-1.jpg)
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Aw Mark...That's a creepy pic.
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But it does look cool........
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It's the only shot I have of me and that bass, I didn't love it tho I kinda wish I'd kept it - that specific variation? perhaps it was modded? Seems rare, you could use the micro switch to use either or both of the pups coils. Anybody know more.
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You fool!!!! :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o That must have been indeed rare, I've never seen, only heard of single pup Explorers. It was a pro-to-type!!!!! Now go back to your room and spank yourself until I tell you to stop.
That blouse and your mini skirt are the only redeeming factors in this unfortunate incident!!! 8)
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:-[
It was even before I joined the Dudepit........I was young, dumb and full of ..............
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Tantamount to losing this, no less!
(http://www.v-like-vintage.net/uploads/images/Cropped700/00142494.jpg)
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Phew .......Just trains! Thought you were gonna say my viginity.
I sold it locally, I'll keep an eye out.
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I thought statute of limitation already applies to any virginity loss of yours!
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I thought statute of limitation already applies to any virginity loss of yours!
On a daily basis ;)
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Now Wishbone Ash were hardly a heavy rock or metal band, but, let's put it this way, they found grace with most hard rock fans because of the dominance of their twin lead guitar work which so many harder playing bands copied, you could look mean and still play sweet thirds. I might also have seen one with Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd who played it a lot just like Rick Medlocke does with Lynyrd Skynyrd today.
Uwe, I think it was Allen Collins who played the Explorer most in Skynyrd. Rossington seemed to stick with SGs and maybe Les Pauls in the old days. There are some great clips on YouTube of Collins with his Explorer. Here's one of my favs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY63KTMrkTM
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:-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[ :-[
Duh, I mistook Rossington with Collins thinking he was the guy who tragically died of wheelchair-induced pneumonia in 1990. But it's Rossington who is still in the band.
Must I commit ritual suicide now or later? I tend to throw the three LS guitarists from their heyday
- Rossington
(http://webspace.webring.com/people/fs/skynyrd_73/garyplaying.jpg),
- Collins
(http://webspace.webring.com/people/fs/skynyrd_73/allen17.jpg)
- and Gaines
(http://s11.allstarpics.net/images/orig/n/3/n3renvzp9my43nem.jpg)
together, especially Rossington and Collins because Gaines was the "different looking guy". But of course, Collins has the longer face and it should have struck me that Rossington today (who I believed to be Collins) is still the Les Paul man he was back then and is never seen with a Firebird or Explorer which Collins played so often. :-[ :-[ :-[
This is the iconic LS/Collins performance that sticks in my mind - that 1976 Knebworth gig when they conquered Europe like no Southern Rock Band before or after.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKZfRAuY-M4
Is it very adolescent to enjoy three lead guitarists going widdly-widdly for 10 minutes over the same chord changes?!!! :mrgreen: Still encapsulates what I like about Southern Rock - it's so mindlessly joyous - though preferring the Allmans is of course more muso-cool.
PS: Some really early and old footage here, is that Ed King with the sideburns and the black Strat? :o Quite a different guitar style to the other two.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ9-ze0l5wo&feature=related
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Your post needs more pics and videos to prove your point, as we all know.
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Who were you again? Yet another Lynyrd Skynyrd guitarist? :-* :-* :-*
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Scott just quitely walked away from this about a year ago.....
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Just work a P-47 into the thread, he'll be back!
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Denis spotted it...
... as late as 1976 (which must have been when Gary Rossington Allen Collins got his with Lynyrd Skynyrd)
... and yep, Uwe, that was Ed King in that video - had a lot to do with their early sound - flat-picking style of playing I think they call it... weird people with too many strings...
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Did someone say P-47?
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Just work a P-47 into the thread, he'll be back!
;)
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Ah Kenny is the voice of reason amongst us! While both basses are cool they ain't Thunderbirds which are what I PLAY. I think I'll wait till something special comes along (like a Thunderbird). If I were to buy one the V does win out for me.
I'd throw this thought in your direction...
You presently have Explorer style instruments so that's a proven in your life but how often do you gig with shorties...?
V's are without-a-doubt the greatest instrument in the world for the flashier (read poseur) player, but I so link you with NR's...
Go for what you think you would use the most... either that or hold fire for something special... ;)
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Da nada, Bro... ;)
I'm just glad no one asked me to identify a P47 from a lineup... :o
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That's easy Kenny, it's the one three times bigger than a Spitfire. ;)
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How about an L-19???? or a J-3?????
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Da nada, Bro... ;)
I'm just glad no one asked me to identify a P47 from a lineup... :o
They look like Hellcats ;)
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LMAO I forgot about that little indiscretion!
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With the exception of the Mustang and the Lightning, all American fighters tended to look like Rippers/Grabbers/G-3s, courtesy of Pratt & Whitney's behemoth aircooled engines!
And Ken, you are forgiven, roughly seventy years after the first appearance of these aircraft! You were only a child back then. Luftwaffe pilots had a hard time telling the P-40 and the Hurricane apart in the day, and at least in the Razorback version a TBolt ain't too far from a Hellcat especially given their similar (out)size.
(http://webspace.webring.com/people/iu/um_6683/hellcat.jpg)
(http://ww2total.com/WW2/Weapons/War-Planes/Fighter-Planes/US/P47/images-P47-razorback/P47-Thunderbolt-02-px800.jpg)
And Allied pilots believed to detect the Me BF 109 everywherere, Japanese or Italian insignia nonwithstanding, but the other two are in fact a Kawasaki Tony and a Macchi Veltro:
(http://weltkrieg2.de/Waffen/Kampfflugzeuge/Jagdflugzeuge/deutsche/Messerschmitt-Bf-109/images-Me109-G/Bf109G14-JG3-px800.jpg)
(http://surbrook.devermore.net/adaptationsvehicles/militaryair/wwii/japan/kawasaki_ki-61_tony.jpg)
(http://weltkrieg2.de/Waffen/Kampfflugzeuge/Jagdflugzeuge/italienische/Macchi-Veltro/images/MC205-03-px800.jpg)
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Hey all:
New Here....
Since you have the Cherry T Bird, as do I....Why not try the explorer...I just got one and it is full scale vs. short scale for the V.
However, I do have an SG short Scale and love it, however, only with flats vs. the round wounds that came on it. You may find the same thing with the short scale V?
The explorer has a great sound and a very cool look, but it IS a big hunk of wood.. I'm hoping they remain "rare".
So.............If you can find one, go with the explorer. The good news is that if you want a V, they are readily available.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7024/6643597927_deeb7bda04_b.jpg)
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Welcome to where Gibson bass is spoken Jeff!
I think the upshot of the thread is that Gibson could do a long scale V, yeah, it would neck dive - I'd buy one!
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Thanks Mark...
And you were right...Gibson has definitely "upped" their game in QC.
Other than a "freshly painted" pungent smell, the bass is Very Nice.
And I here you, a long scale V would be nice....Neck Dive, it's the nature of the beast...Oh, well :mrgreen:
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Ahhh....The smell of a new Gibson bass, the RD was very sweet ( someone here said "smells like truffels") the Explorer a little less so. I Love it ;D
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A double assault from Mark and Uwe... :o ;D
LMAO I forgot about that little indiscretion!
Come on, now we know the Lady has a memory par excellence - I'll never live that one down... ;D
I think I'll stick to flying-boats... ;)
Mind you, I have (sort of) been invited to join the RAF as part of my research project; pip-pip, old chap...
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All in jest Kenny! ;)
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Ma'am, always taken as such... ;D
You always have to be able to give as good as you get in all things... ;)