Rough Explorer Bass

[stiles72]

Spied this on the bay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/GIBSON-EXPLORER-BASS-GUITAR-25-YEAR-OLD-RARE-INSTRUMENT-/260590793432?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item3cac6bf2d8

I had a red one a long time ago but I sold it, and looking back I kick myself for letting it go considering I only paid $200 for it.  Does anyone know what the scale length on this would be? I've read that they were 32", but I honestly don't remember mine feeling like it was less than 34". Could have just been the body that made it feel huge. I was playing Ibanez Soundgears back then so even a P-bass felt big!

[Highlander]

That needs a lot of T.L.C.

[Denis]

It's "potentially priceless"!

[Chris P.]

Great project bass!

[eb2]

Agreed - great project.  I would take the opportunity to veneer a new top on and put proper pickups - or just one honking mudbucker - and a good bridge on it.

[godofthunder]

Not worth it just buy a Epi.

[doombass]

Great project indeed. However I think that the opening price is set at a maximum what it would be worth for me considering it needs all parts including the frets.

[Basvarken]

too expensive already

[stiles72]

It's "potentially priceless"!

I laughed when I read that too!

[uwe]

The best "Gibson" Explorer bass that went into series is still the Epi one - buy one of those and pimp it.

The Gibson model is 32" (Epi: 34") and is overall a lame affair. It does nothing that even a Q-80 wouldn't do better and it is certainly no match for a Thunderbird, Ripper, Victory, LP Bass or mubucking EB. If you absolutely feel you must have a Gibson model wait for one of the shadow piezo models to come round which sound more assertive and - miraculously so - organic than a magnetic pup one.

I love the Explorer shape, but Gibson wasted it on this series.

Uwe

[godofthunder]

Agreed Gibson did waste it on these ! I have always been happy with this bass.............................in one form or another.

[TBird1958]

"according to Gibson parts are available"

I Lol'd


You'd really have to enjoy the art of turd polishing........
And dammit, I'd like to have an Explorer 

[uwe]

Available parts - an outright lie. The Grabber pups - out of production since the early eighties, the Schaller wedge bridge - out of production since the mid eighties (though they crop up on ebay as they graced the Victories and Q 80ies too). The huge tuners - out of production since the late eighties. If you asked Gibson today what hardware was on those basses and which pups, they wouldn't even know. The original Grabber pups could be replaced by - way better sounding - TB Plus chromies though.

But an Epi Exi thuswise equipped would yield better results due to the more resonant wood and long scale structure.

[Dave W]

Another abuse of the word RARE.

[Bionic-Joe]

I thought about buying it and putting T bird pickups and a T Bird tune-o-matic bridge in it.