(Mark buys a) Gibson Explorer reissue (for Uwe)

[Freuds_Cat]

That looks great but I hope the neck width is a bit narrower than the Epi was. That is the one thing I cant come to terms with.

[uwe]

Yeah, the Epi is a hunk, most Epis are in comparison to Gibson models. I don't mind wider necks playingwise, I just don't like their looks.

[dadagoboi]

That looks great but I hope the neck width is a bit narrower than the Epi was. That is the one thing I cant come to terms with.

According to Musician's Friend 1.695 inches at the nut, approximately 1 11/16".  That's wider than a Precision, (1.625, 1 5/8"), let  alone a TBird's 1.5 inches. 

[uwe]

Yes, Musician's Friend are very perceptive in that way. Look how they also spotted the well-hidden toggle switch   and clearly recognized how 20 frets can provide you with a high E.   Miracles of knowledge of these online sellers.   I'm sure the nut width was similarly resourceful researched.   It's not like they don't care about such things.  

Features
Body Type: Explorer
Body Wood: Mahogany
Scale Length: 34
Neck Joint: Set
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Neck Shape: Slim Taper
# frets: 20
Nut Width: 1.695"
Fretboard Radius: 12
Bridge: Fixed
Pickup Bridge: TB Plus Ceramic Humbucker
Pickup Neck: TB Plus Ceramic Humbucker
Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone
Tuners: Grover
Hardware color: Chrome
Pickup selector: 3-Way
Limited run
Case: Hardshell

[dadagoboi]

Think they measured the nut?  That's a very odd dimension.  If they did it might be correct.

I would think it is more likely information was imported directly from a supplied spec sheet, especially considering the obvious mistakes.

Have to confess I didn't check anything but the nut width spec.

[uwe]

It's Gibson's fault to supply bad information, but Musician's Friend's to publish it uncorrected.

[dadagoboi]

It's Gibson's fault to supply bad information, but Musician's Friend's to publish it uncorrected.

It's also possible MF hadn't even SEEN the actual bass when the page went up.

"we didn't know and it wasn't immediately apparent"

[Freuds_Cat]

my epi is 43.5mm @ the nut. We changed to metric when I was 8 years old and I decided against doing the whole fraction thing, just confusing really. At least you guys have met me halfway with your decimal inches. 

[uwe]

It's also possible MF hadn't even SEEN the actual bass when the page went up.

"we didn't know and it wasn't immediately apparent"

LOL - caught me!

[Denis]

Denis, sit down and stop disturbing class. We'll discuss this later. With your parents.

Too late, I've already been thrown out of class.

All kidding aside, I think that's a surprisingly good price for a new bass from Gibson. I hit that link expecting it to be $3500 or something.

[uwe]

There is a lot of wood to it and it's a limited run plus the outsize case must cost something too, but other than that it's a TBird minus the time- and materal-consuming neck thru construction. It's priced about right I think. By the ingredients only, it's neither lavish nor a lovelessly cobbled together piece of junk like the 80ies models were. It's a coherent re-release or in fact the first release of a worthy Explorer bass model by Gibson. It infuriates me how they missed the market when everybody and his brother - cue in Rick Savage of the Def Leps - wanted to play the Explorer shape in the early eighties. Had they produced something back then equivalent to the TBird 1987 release, history might have been different.

I wouldn't be surprised if Warwick's comparative success with the Stryker kick-started some action by Gibson here. It's a bit like Gibson building a bass with a Thumb-like look and Warwick not having an equivalent for it. Of course, that doesn't happen with a well-prepared, diligent Teutonic Kömpänie knowing its market. Mad German scientists, however, held the design plans the wrong way up and look what we are left with:





These Krauts, how they overengineer every- and anything ...

And now for something completely different: Did you know that, strictly as a bass player, I personally think that Adam Clayton ...

[Dave W]

The 1.695" dimension is standard on many USA Gibsons, for example the LP Standard and Studio and the SG Standard and Special.

That doesn't prove it's correct for this new bass, but at least it wouldn't be unusual.

[dadagoboi]

my epi is 43.5mm @ the nut. We changed to metric when I was 8 years old and I decided against doing the whole fraction thing, just confusing really. At least you guys have met me halfway with your decimal inches.  

That neck decimal was weird for me.  Makes a little more sense now that you explain it's a standard Gibson dimension, Dave.

[gearHed289]

I seem to remember the Gibson web site saying the T-Bird Studio 5 string had a nut width of 1.5''. 

[gearHed289]

BTW - anybody know exactly what they mean by "limited run"? 50? 100? However many they can sell?