reverb.com/item/27487872-video-1985-gibson-explorer-xpl-black-stop-bar-tailpiece-w-dirty-fingers-pickups?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly This guitar gave me some headaches while buying it - but it was worth fixing up! Enjoy
The first concert I ever saw live was Sammy Hagar back in the early 80's. It was the Standing Hampton tour. My best friends father worked for Sunshine Promotions and organized all the concerts in the area. He got us tickets. Back then it was general admission but with special passes we got let in early and ended up in the second row center stage. At that time, Sammy was playing his red Explorer almost exclusively. He also had a red Hamer or some other brand. But the whole show I was drawn to that guitar. It became my favorite and then Matthias Jabs solidified that shape in my head forever. His stripped Explorer was my all time fave. Still is.
That's actually a really nice looking guitar. The cutout on the bottom might be great for people like me that like to play Explorers in the classical position.
Hey! Long time follower, first time poster here :). You've been doing an amazing job documenting these lesser known, magnificent guitars. A few corrections and additions to what you've already said: -There are actually quite a few maple necked Explorers from that era. I believe the original '83-89 actually calls for a maple neck/alder body Explorer with an ebony neck or the classic mahogany/mahogany/rosewood combo. -Another notable exception to the rule above is the Explorer 425. Those came with a mahogany body AND a maple neck, along with an ebony fretboard. Just like this one. The HSS pickup configuration was actually more like two mini-P90s, each with half a Dirty Fingers pickup with two ceramic bars underneath. I believe they used the exact same coils for those. -Another not so notable exception is what I have. I got this 1985 Gibson Explorer in a very odd, mint green color. Everything seems like an ordinary Explorer from the era except for two things: One, it has a flat mount Kahler bridge instead of the usual type that rests on Tune-o-matic posts. Two, it also has the mahogany/maple/ebony wood combo. I've been able to track down a few other Explorers with the exact same bridge/wood combination and they all came out the Gibson factory within the same week! I did not see any other flat-Kahlered Explorer without that odd wood combination nor did I see anything with that combination outside that week or without that flat mount Kahler. I have no idea what went on back then but Gibson couldn't really answer. Oh, also they each had a very odd hardcase. -Got a pair of VERY microphonic Dirty Fingers pickups as well. You could literally speak into them and your voice will come out through the speakers. Tone is spot on Master of Puppets though. Wish they were actually usable. Would love to send you that mint green guitar for you to review but I live on the other side of the world and it'd be a pain to deal with all the shipping and customs. Keep on rocking! Love your videos.
It's funny you commented on who would like it. There wasn't very many of them and I was constantly being asked to sell it. It was my main axe too. My case was dark blue from Gibson. Some of these original cases if they're in good shape can get quite a bit of money. I would have been interested but it's been gone I assume for quite awhile. Great analysis!
I was there throughout the 80s. Gibson was following, not leading. I wouldn't buy a Gibson back then. I was buying Ibanez, Dean, and BC Rich. This video make sense so far. The ebony board is very attractive.
The guitar at 2:05 is my dad’s guitar and I’m searching for it. Do you by chance know what happened to it? I saw it on Reverb but the listing “ended” rather than sold. I emailed the shop that had it last and they only said it was too long ago to have it on record. (The white faded to yellow Flying V XPL with the wear between pickups).
Love it. There's a guy on the my lp forum that has an Aldo Nova, it'd be cool if you could document it. You set a standard for fair dealing in the guitar community and I salute you for it.
In the mid-80s a buddy let me use his Explorer for a while. I'm not a big Gibson fan, but that particular guitar remains the single best-playing guitar I've ever had in my hands.
I used to own a red one of these.....that I bought from Jeordie from Marilyn Manson. I bought it before anyone knew who MM was and later gave it back to Jeordie as a gift 10 years later
Around this time 1985ish I had a Gibson Victory guitar I would love to see a video on that. I was stupid enough to pawn mine for $100 back in 99 because I needed rent money.
I own a 1986 Explorer XPL I rescued from a pawn shop for $600, interesting is mine came stock with factory Gibson installed original Floyd rose tremolo, but with the Kahler locking nut and factory installed EMG 81/85 pickups
I had one that I regretted selling. Took a long time to find an other. Way smaller, lighter, but I had never received more compliments on a guitar in my life and I'm a collector. Not even a 71' Gold Top turns as many heads as my second one of these. At Gibson, they modified it to be a two octave neck to compete with I believe it was Kramer at the time. [those are what the stock knobs were on the black ones. I'm 55 now but I was 17 when I worked at the first Guitar Center east of the Mississippi in Chicago. The brand new one didn't come with a case but the used one that was modified at the plant thus increasing the rarity did] Lot's of cool stuff that even though I don't need a two octave neck, it's cool that it as done at the plant as a prototype.
And that guitar rocked! I had one and it was a real eye catcher at the time. I made a point not to play a "Super-Strat" back then. I was ripped by my sons for getting rid of that guitar. It took me forever to snag one that had been modified at Gibson. It had already been cut out for a double coil in the neck position but they filled it in, cut it out for an all black single coil that I didn't even see online. They made it a two octave neck on the second one. I drove two hours and 40 minutes one way with the backseat of my pick up filled with 6 guitars I would part with. That had a super fast neck and it was HOT!!!! I ended up trading a very nice Mexican strat and $300 bucks. It came with the original case. I worked at the first Guitar Center east of the Mississippi in Evergreen Park, Illinois which is just next to the southwest side of Chicago. That guitar got a record deal for me at the 1986 New Music Seminar in New York. I had the original stopbar but I found one that looked like Bat Signal from Stars Guitars. Never once used that cut out for my leg. Added two chrome knobs to it too and kept the stock controls. I loved that guitar. I wish I had the double coil in the neck position but it was effortless to play and I never had any buzz. I bought the first one within 10 minutes taking it out of the box! I played through a 1981 JCM 800 with an original Tube Screamer for a boost during solo's and Boss CE-2 Chorus on the neck pu and sometimes the bridge pu with it dialed down. I never used delay. I had that worked out with the sound guy who knew what i was going to do and what I needed. My "human midi" switcher. They clean up fantastic.
I almost bought the Flying V XPL you pictured. I’ve got a maroon one with a kahler already, but that aged and beat up white one with the tune-o-matic looked incredible! And it only went for like $900 or something like that.
"Extra Place for Leg " . Heard it called "the Clapton cut" . Story goes when Eric Clapton played a regular Explorer he complained the corner poking his leg was a nuisance . An idea was born : they cut it off.. Bought an XPL in 1992 , 30 years ago , still have it . White , no whammy bar , original to the last screw. I really love the pups , a warm creamy sound , not the aggressive highs modern pups tend to have .
i bought one used from a friend in 1988 for $300 cash. i was 14 yrs old. Mine was artic white with the stop bridge. My case was inside was soft purple fur and i feel like it fit tighter than the one in the video. I ended up selling it in the early 90's for $250 cash because i needed the money. I wish i still had that guitar and only recently found out what that guitar was because i was thinking about it lately. It very difficult to find pics and info on it.
MY SHIFT KEY ISN'T WORKING FYI. THOSE ARE THE CORRECT KNOBS FOR THE BLACK MODELS.....I'M SURE BECAUSE I NEVER HAD GOTTEN RID OF ANYTHING, BUT I HAD PUT CHROME KNOBS AS I SAID IN A PREVIOUS COMMENT. VERY LIMITED EDITIONS AS IN 1000 WERE MADE AND CONTROLLING THE FEEDBACK WITH A MARSHALL JCM 800 WITH A TUBE SCREAMER AS NEVER AN ISSUE. I HAD THAT AS A SLIGHT BOOST AND A CHORUS WHEN I WANTED TO CLEAN THINGS UP. WENT TO THE NECK PU, ROLLED THE VOLUME BACK WITH THE CHORUS AND STARTED A POWER BALLAD WITH THAT GUITAR. NICE PRESENTATION.
wow , that's a very nice looking axe. it defiantly looks like it was and still can be a solid gigging guitar. beautiful. if it could talk I wonder what tails it would tell.
Used to have a blk q1000 w abr, 1 pup, and 1 vol. Wish I still had it. Pls try and document a q series, only models I'm aware of w factory hum/p90 config option.
Managed to get hold of a 1985 XPL Custom 2 years ago. Had to waxpot the PU's, change the tuners (who were no longer the originals) and have it refretted (the frets were barely 0.3 mm high, making the lady nearly unplayable). Not a collector, but what a player! Oh by the way the serial number is 810655551 :-)
More recently a flame painted one with a Kahler was rocked by Mac in 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' in the episode where 'Dayman' first appears. However the salesman in the shop tells Mac that it has a "graphite reinforced, 35-inch scale neck." (There were some Vigier basses in the background so perhaps the actor ad libbed based on the info on the tags for these) Mac buys it because "looks like a weapon"
When I was in high school in the 1980s, there was one of these with a beautiful sunburst finish in a local music store...I loved it, but there was no way I could afford it. Wonder where it is now. Lol
I had one like this that I ordered from the custom shop w/ a Floyd. Back of the neck was left natural as well. Was stolen from my apartment in ‘92. Dealing with Gibson was a nightmare. Mis it tho... I still have the pickups!
Loved that guitar!!! Made the fatal mistake of selling that guitar that everyone wanted to buy off me. It's smaller and lighter with a super fast neck. I regretted selling it so much that it took me years to find another one. I drove 2 hours and 40 minutes one way when I found it online in black. I traded a Mexican 40th Anniversary Strat for it with the original case. When I got there, I didn't see that it was modded at Gibson. They had already painted it when they decided to do something really strange. They copied something Kramer was trying to do at the time, madee it a two-octave neck by filling in the original neck position for a. solid black single coil pickup which didn't show well on a computer screen. But it was definitely a two octave neck I still own. I put a hot-rail in the neck position but still have the original. You could rip on that guitar. but it chimed through a 1981 JCM 800 50 watt head that I only used a chorus and a tube screamer for some boost in my solos. I don't and didn't have on the original that squealing problem. When everyone was using a whammy, I tried to avoid it. When they backed off, i started to use them some more. I even managed to put a Kahler on a Dean ML! Try that sometime! the stud ends up in the electronics cavity. SS Priest from D'Moll's asked me to sell the ML later on which I was young and didn't know that was a 1979. Dean Zelinsky is a friend of the new frontman and 25 year friend, Erik Shelling, the new frontman of the Christian Metal band SACRED WARRIOR. My ML was verified as a 79'. I bought my first Explorer at the first GC east of the Mississippi in Chicago that I worked at and saw it come in and played it. As I was hanging it up, I took it down and no one ever got a crack at it. I was the owner!
I have one of these, but with an extra metallic little switch between the pickup switch and the jack input. It is a 2-way switch. When I turn on this switch, I noticed you can not use the tone + volume knobs anymore, the settings will become fixed. Does anyone have any idea what the exact name + function of this switch is?
I bought mine in ‘85 ($400 @ GC Hollywood, Ca) and still have it, it was white now it’s cream/yellow, it’s a metal monster..told the wife I will be buried with it, I love it... BTY, great call playing “Call of Ktulu” - Metallica
I bought mine in 1992 , in a regular music store in the city of Breda , the Netherlands . Paid 250 bucks for it , got a 25 % discount because the included case as advertised could not be found . It had been on display in their shop for years , guess they were glad to finally get rid of it . White , no whammy bar , original to the last screw and the old dirty fingers pups are my all time favourite .
Being a teen in the 80's and a total lover of rock n roll. The only thing pointy the 80's was about for most of us was part of the saying (Sex), Drugs, and Rock N Roll.
How's it going? I really like your channel and watched this video. I wanted to know if you were aware that they made this Explorer XPL also in green? If you like, I could send a picture or video of it if you wanted to see it. This guitar is in Mint, and I mean Mint condition. So, if you would like to see it, let me know. It has a standard tail piece as well. I hope to hear from you. Best, Dave
In 1986 I wanted this guitar in custom trim but dealer convices me it did not exist end up with a black beuity fretless wonder the one that got away love the pionted explorer s
Yeah , pointy guitars... in 1982 , I went to buy my first guitar and walked out with a sparkle red Ibanez Destroyer.. still have it too. Kinda feel goofy playing it now ...but I can’t sell it after 37 years!
@@Kylora2112 The original Kelly with the spider cuts was made in very late 82 (less than 20 were made), but the Kelly that everyone is familiar with debuted in 83 (the first year Charvel started using Jackson headstock). Best Regards.
Either way, the Kelly predates this. And Jackson was still predominately a custom shop at that time, so low production numbers don't really mean that much.
IMHO Explorers and Firebirds are better with reverse headstocks - reference the finger trapeze tailpiece on nice archtops. Not just an aesthetic, but functional.
not trying would've been not putting up any images at all - this is call running low on time haha. This was originally Thursdays episode that I just decided to hold back to finish
reverb.com/item/27487872-video-1985-gibson-explorer-xpl-black-stop-bar-tailpiece-w-dirty-fingers-pickups?_aid=growsumo&gs_partner=Trogly
This guitar gave me some headaches while buying it - but it was worth fixing up! Enjoy
does your buddy ever change his cloths LOL
Looks like a mix betwen an ESP LTD EX 50 and an Jackson Kelly, An Jackson KEXLLTD 50, if you will
and a bc rich iron bird
@@carpal08 bc rich jackron bird kexlltd 50
The first concert I ever saw live was Sammy Hagar back in the early 80's. It was the Standing Hampton tour. My best friends father worked for Sunshine Promotions and organized all the concerts in the area. He got us tickets. Back then it was general admission but with special passes we got let in early and ended up in the second row center stage. At that time, Sammy was playing his red Explorer almost exclusively. He also had a red Hamer or some other brand. But the whole show I was drawn to that guitar. It became my favorite and then Matthias Jabs solidified that shape in my head forever. His stripped Explorer was my all time fave. Still is.
That's actually a really nice looking guitar. The cutout on the bottom might be great for people like me that like to play Explorers in the classical position.
I want to buy an explorer shaped guitar. Are they comfortable in classical position?
In my opinion, yes. Better than any round body guitar. But don't take my word for it. Go to a guitar store and try it yourself.
@@RichieRichOverdrive Unfortunately music stores in my city don't let you try the instrument due to limited stock.
Mac from it’s always sunny in Philadelphia played one in an episode it was a flame finish and a khaler
Yup - th-cam.com/video/E_NiQnH93yc/w-d-xo.html
If master of puppets was a guitar this would be it
how dare you disrespect a 84 explorer that way.
@@nickstalker3254 That woud be ride the lightning since its from 84 as the explorer
@@fransredoja7138 he played the same guitar from 84 to nearly 88
It would be a fake version of this
Hey! Long time follower, first time poster here :). You've been doing an amazing job documenting these lesser known, magnificent guitars.
A few corrections and additions to what you've already said:
-There are actually quite a few maple necked Explorers from that era. I believe the original '83-89 actually calls for a maple neck/alder body Explorer with an ebony neck or the classic mahogany/mahogany/rosewood combo.
-Another notable exception to the rule above is the Explorer 425. Those came with a mahogany body AND a maple neck, along with an ebony fretboard. Just like this one. The HSS pickup configuration was actually more like two mini-P90s, each with half a Dirty Fingers pickup with two ceramic bars underneath. I believe they used the exact same coils for those.
-Another not so notable exception is what I have. I got this 1985 Gibson Explorer in a very odd, mint green color. Everything seems like an ordinary Explorer from the era except for two things: One, it has a flat mount Kahler bridge instead of the usual type that rests on Tune-o-matic posts. Two, it also has the mahogany/maple/ebony wood combo. I've been able to track down a few other Explorers with the exact same bridge/wood combination and they all came out the Gibson factory within the same week! I did not see any other flat-Kahlered Explorer without that odd wood combination nor did I see anything with that combination outside that week or without that flat mount Kahler. I have no idea what went on back then but Gibson couldn't really answer. Oh, also they each had a very odd hardcase.
-Got a pair of VERY microphonic Dirty Fingers pickups as well. You could literally speak into them and your voice will come out through the speakers. Tone is spot on Master of Puppets though. Wish they were actually usable.
Would love to send you that mint green guitar for you to review but I live on the other side of the world and it'd be a pain to deal with all the shipping and customs.
Keep on rocking! Love your videos.
Now that's a Gibson I would own.
It's funny you commented on who would like it. There wasn't very many of them and I was constantly being asked to sell it. It was my main axe too. My case was dark blue from Gibson. Some of these original cases if they're in good shape can get quite a bit of money. I would have been interested but it's been gone I assume for quite awhile. Great analysis!
I have a 1985 Matthias Jabs Signature Explorer.
It’s a rear loaded like James Hetfield’s.
It has a factory installed Kahler.
I was there throughout the 80s. Gibson was following, not leading. I wouldn't buy a Gibson back then. I was buying Ibanez, Dean, and BC Rich. This video make sense so far. The ebony board is very attractive.
Looks like a Snakebyte with the curve
The guitar at 2:05 is my dad’s guitar and I’m searching for it. Do you by chance know what happened to it? I saw it on Reverb but the listing “ended” rather than sold. I emailed the shop that had it last and they only said it was too long ago to have it on record.
(The white faded to yellow Flying V XPL with the wear between pickups).
Love it. There's a guy on the my lp forum that has an Aldo Nova, it'd be cool if you could document it. You set a standard for fair dealing in the guitar community and I salute you for it.
Looks absolutely gorgeous
In the mid-80s a buddy let me use his Explorer for a while. I'm not a big Gibson fan, but that particular guitar remains the single best-playing guitar I've ever had in my hands.
I used to own a red one of these.....that I bought from Jeordie from Marilyn Manson. I bought it before anyone knew who MM was and later gave it back to Jeordie as a gift 10 years later
Wow
Around this time 1985ish I had a Gibson Victory guitar I would love to see a video on that. I was stupid enough to pawn mine for $100 back in 99 because I needed rent money.
I own a 1986 Explorer XPL I rescued from a pawn shop for $600, interesting is mine came stock with factory Gibson installed original Floyd rose tremolo, but with the Kahler locking nut and factory installed EMG 81/85 pickups
A buddy of mine had one of these guitars, he found in a pawn shop for 500, and it was sea foam green / zest soap color ! Played great sounds awesome
Aside from 70"s SGs this is my fav time period for Gibson. That thing is so sexy, if only I had the $$$. Hope it ends up in a proper home.
I had one that I regretted selling. Took a long time to find an other. Way smaller, lighter, but I had never received more compliments on a guitar in my life and I'm a collector. Not even a 71' Gold Top turns as many heads as my second one of these. At Gibson, they modified it to be a two octave neck to compete with I believe it was Kramer at the time. [those are what the stock knobs were on the black ones. I'm 55 now but I was 17 when I worked at the first Guitar Center east of the Mississippi in Chicago. The brand new one didn't come with a case but the used one that was modified at the plant thus increasing the rarity did]
Lot's of cool stuff that even though I don't need a two octave neck, it's cool that it as done at the plant as a prototype.
And that guitar rocked! I had one and it was a real eye catcher at the time. I made a point not to play a "Super-Strat" back then. I was ripped by my sons for getting rid of that guitar. It took me forever to snag one that had been modified at Gibson. It had already been cut out for a double coil in the neck position but they filled it in, cut it out for an all black single coil that I didn't even see online. They made it a two octave neck on the second one. I drove two hours and 40 minutes one way with the backseat of my pick up filled with 6 guitars I would part with. That had a super fast neck and it was HOT!!!! I ended up trading a very nice Mexican strat and $300 bucks. It came with the original case. I worked at the first Guitar Center east of the Mississippi in Evergreen Park, Illinois which is just next to the southwest side of Chicago. That guitar got a record deal for me at the 1986 New Music Seminar in New York. I had the original stopbar but I found one that looked like Bat Signal from Stars Guitars. Never once used that cut out for my leg. Added two chrome knobs to it too and kept the stock controls. I loved that guitar. I wish I had the double coil in the neck position but it was effortless to play and I never had any buzz. I bought the first one within 10 minutes taking it out of the box! I played through a 1981 JCM 800 with an original Tube Screamer for a boost during solo's and Boss CE-2 Chorus on the neck pu and sometimes the bridge pu with it dialed down. I never used delay. I had that worked out with the sound guy who knew what i was going to do and what I needed. My "human midi" switcher. They clean up fantastic.
I managed to get hold of one 1985 XPL and to be honest (after a refret ) it sounds great!!!
I almost bought the Flying V XPL you pictured. I’ve got a maroon one with a kahler already, but that aged and beat up white one with the tune-o-matic looked incredible! And it only went for like $900 or something like that.
Finally an xpl!! I'd love to see some of the others in the series on the show
I like the new RB style demos, more, more,
he brings a nice modern mojo,
I own one of these, 85 XLP white with a Kayler. I bought it 20 years ago at a pawn shop for $600. 🤘😎🎸
The V XPL is basically a Jackson King V but Gibson, right down to who designed the headstock.
A u t h e n t i c intensifies
"Extra Place for Leg " . Heard it called "the Clapton cut" . Story goes when Eric Clapton played a regular Explorer he complained the corner poking his leg was a nuisance . An idea was born : they cut it off..
Bought an XPL in 1992 , 30 years ago , still have it . White , no whammy bar , original to the last screw.
I really love the pups , a warm creamy sound , not the aggressive highs modern pups tend to have .
My dear friend, the late Steve Carr, built Ace Frehley's mini Explorer. Similar shape. He also built mini 335's that Gibson picked up on. Miss him.
i bought one used from a friend in 1988 for $300 cash. i was 14 yrs old. Mine was artic white with the stop bridge. My case was inside was soft purple fur and i feel like it fit tighter than the one in the video. I ended up selling it in the early 90's for $250 cash because i needed the money. I wish i still had that guitar and only recently found out what that guitar was because i was thinking about it lately. It very difficult to find pics and info on it.
MY SHIFT KEY ISN'T WORKING FYI. THOSE ARE THE CORRECT KNOBS FOR THE BLACK MODELS.....I'M SURE BECAUSE I NEVER HAD GOTTEN RID OF ANYTHING, BUT I HAD PUT CHROME KNOBS AS I SAID IN A PREVIOUS COMMENT. VERY LIMITED EDITIONS AS IN 1000 WERE MADE AND CONTROLLING THE FEEDBACK WITH A MARSHALL JCM 800 WITH A TUBE SCREAMER AS NEVER AN ISSUE. I HAD THAT AS A SLIGHT BOOST AND A CHORUS WHEN I WANTED TO CLEAN THINGS UP. WENT TO THE NECK PU, ROLLED THE VOLUME BACK WITH THE CHORUS AND STARTED A POWER BALLAD WITH THAT GUITAR.
NICE PRESENTATION.
I’m taking a guess that an Aerosmith logo sticker caused that stain inside the case.
wow , that's a very nice looking axe. it defiantly looks like it was and still can be a solid gigging guitar. beautiful. if it could talk I wonder what tails it would tell.
0:47 what model ibanez is that?
Wish they made one of these with a layered binding that would been the final sales point for me..if there is one with binding I will deff buy it
Used to have a blk q1000 w abr, 1 pup, and 1 vol. Wish I still had it. Pls try and document a q series, only models I'm aware of w factory hum/p90 config option.
Managed to get hold of a 1985 XPL Custom 2 years ago. Had to waxpot the PU's, change the tuners (who were no longer the originals) and have it refretted (the frets were barely 0.3 mm high, making the lady nearly unplayable). Not a collector, but what a player! Oh by the way the serial number is 810655551 :-)
More recently a flame painted one with a Kahler was rocked by Mac in 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' in the episode where 'Dayman' first appears. However the salesman in the shop tells Mac that it has a "graphite reinforced, 35-inch scale neck." (There were some Vigier basses in the background so perhaps the actor ad libbed based on the info on the tags for these)
Mac buys it because "looks like a weapon"
When I was in high school in the 1980s, there was one of these with a beautiful sunburst finish in a local music store...I loved it, but there was no way I could afford it. Wonder where it is now. Lol
I had one like this that I ordered from the custom shop w/ a Floyd. Back of the neck was left natural as well. Was stolen from my apartment in ‘92. Dealing with Gibson was a nightmare. Mis it tho...
I still have the pickups!
What song is he playing at 15:35? I know it's a Megadeth song but can't work out which one.
Close, Metallica but I believe Dave Mustaine wrote it..
“Call of Ktulu”...
I prefer the non trem models too. I always liked how the kahler looks over the floyd. It even sounds 80's!!! lol
Playing part of the call of Cthulhu on that guitar was a great choice
Lucas Fowler of the "Fine Tuning" channel's Dad has one of the LP's with an Explorer headstock
The guitarist in the Des Moines IA band Traffic Death plays one of these
Loved that guitar!!! Made the fatal mistake of selling that guitar that everyone wanted to buy off me. It's smaller and lighter with a super fast neck. I regretted selling it so much that it took me years to find another one. I drove 2 hours and 40 minutes one way when I found it online in black. I traded a Mexican 40th Anniversary Strat for it with the original case. When I got there, I didn't see that it was modded at Gibson. They had already painted it when they decided to do something really strange. They copied something Kramer was trying to do at the time, madee it a two-octave neck by filling in the original neck position for a. solid black single coil pickup which didn't show well on a computer screen. But it was definitely a two octave neck I still own. I put a hot-rail in the neck position but still have the original. You could rip on that guitar. but it chimed through a 1981 JCM 800 50 watt head that I only used a chorus and a tube screamer for some boost in my solos.
I don't and didn't have on the original that squealing problem. When everyone was using a whammy, I tried to avoid it. When they backed off, i started to use them some more.
I even managed to put a Kahler on a Dean ML! Try that sometime! the stud ends up in the electronics cavity. SS Priest from D'Moll's asked me to sell the ML later on which I was young and didn't know that was a 1979. Dean Zelinsky is a friend of the new frontman and 25 year friend, Erik Shelling, the new frontman of the Christian Metal band SACRED WARRIOR. My ML was verified as a 79'. I bought my first Explorer at the first GC east of the Mississippi in Chicago that I worked at and saw it come in and played it. As I was hanging it up, I took it down and no one ever got a crack at it. I was the owner!
Sounds good. Just a little scratchy on high gain
I have one of these, but with an extra metallic little switch between the pickup switch and the jack input. It is a 2-way switch. When I turn on this switch, I noticed you can not use the tone + volume knobs anymore, the settings will become fixed. Does anyone have any idea what the exact name + function of this switch is?
probably a "blower switch" it bypasses the controls and routes the signal straight to the output jack
Oh crazy I just stumbled upon one of these the other day! So cool!
got the 810655551. Great sounding axe!
Thanks for playing some Megadeth Austin! Is Robert going to be in every video from now on? I hope so.
I saw a red one at Rich's Pawn Shop in Dayton, Ohio a few years ago.
Also, a ‘flipped’ body on the ‘Birds and Explorers are kinder to upper fret exploration.
The sunburst one also looks like my 1983 Ibanez Destroyer
You should review the Gibson Blueshawk and Nighthawk models.
Looks like something James Hetfield took really much inspiration from when he created his signature ESP LTD Snakebyte.
My main guitar is one of those Hetfieldy Explorers. It rules.
You HAVE to review the ESP MX-220-250 explorers.
11:00, Why is the Stop Bar on the posts backwards?
Hahaha,I dont know
@@guitarocd9984 Old Trick for what?
@@guitarocd9984 OK, I see now.
I wouldn't know about this "secret" trick as I don't even know the secret hand-shake yet!
@@guitarocd9984 LOL
I really like that guitar honestly
I bought mine in ‘85 ($400 @ GC Hollywood, Ca) and still have it, it was white now it’s cream/yellow, it’s a metal monster..told the wife I will be buried with it, I love it...
BTY, great call playing “Call of Ktulu” - Metallica
I bought mine in 1992 , in a regular music store in the city of Breda , the Netherlands . Paid 250 bucks for it , got a 25 % discount because the included case as advertised could not be found . It had been on display in their shop for years , guess they were glad to finally get rid of it .
White , no whammy bar , original to the last screw and the old dirty fingers pups are my all time favourite .
The sharp ends on these guitars, especially from BC Rich, are uncomfortable because they poke when using them on seated position.
Being a teen in the 80's and a total lover of rock n roll. The only thing pointy the 80's was about for most of us was part of the saying (Sex), Drugs, and Rock N Roll.
How's it going? I really like your channel and watched this video. I wanted to know if you were aware that they made this Explorer XPL also in green? If you like, I could send a picture or video of it if you wanted to see it. This guitar is in Mint, and I mean Mint condition. So, if you would like to see it, let me know. It has a standard tail piece as well. I hope to hear from you. Best, Dave
I love the sound of that guitar but I grew up in the 60`s and 70`s and early 80`s .
What song is he playing at 16:08?
Hmmm....I can't quite spit it out,lol! I know it though, sounds SOOOO familiar
Kickstart my heart
Hey Trog A Gibson Challenger les paul would also be cool to find, i had one and have a pic
I like it! Always been an Explorer fan!
I kinda think this cutaway lowkey influenced the ESP Snakebyte.
Same as the flying v xpl influenced the vulture i would say
I have a guitar very similar to this but can’t figure out what it is!
Strandbergs have a bigger bottom right cut for your leg so I think Xtra Place for Leg is accurate.
You have to do one of the Les Paul DC someday!!!
Does it affect the value of a guitar if the original pickups have at one time been replaced, and then put back in with a professional soldering job?
Yes, almost everything detracts from a guitar's value. Including merely leaving a store with it and nothing else.
Have you ever considered doing a review on a rare epiphone strat ?
In 1986 I wanted this guitar in custom trim but dealer convices me it did not exist end up with a black beuity fretless wonder the one that got away love the pionted explorer s
How do I get a rare guitar to you for review and general clean up?
I have an early 80's Guild X79
Go to his website. There is an option for review.
Νίκος Στρίμπας
What is his web site name?
@@mr.keebler7927 troglysguitarshow.com/shop/
The Ronald MacDonald (chemical toilet) signature model!
Yeah , pointy guitars... in 1982 , I went to buy my first guitar and walked out with a sparkle red Ibanez Destroyer..
still have it too. Kinda feel goofy playing it now ...but I can’t sell it after 37 years!
Song at 15:58?
Metallica “Call of Ktulu” from Ride the Lighting...
You should review the Ed O’brian sig strat from fender
Call of Ktulu🤘
yes yes yes I love this shape
Reminds a bit Jackson Kelly somehow. Which came first?
The Kelly was first released in 1982.
@@Kylora2112 The original Kelly with the spider cuts was made in very late 82 (less than 20 were made), but the Kelly that everyone is familiar with debuted in 83 (the first year Charvel started using Jackson headstock). Best Regards.
Either way, the Kelly predates this. And Jackson was still predominately a custom shop at that time, so low production numbers don't really mean that much.
Such a great design!
A barebones rocker. I have a 2016 explorer that’s very similar. Sweet
I think charvek was involved at some point with Gibson after jackson
sick
Yeah..I have never wanted one per say,but I'd rock it that's for sure!🤘😎🤘
Just goes to show how much influence Jackson and Charvel had on guitar manufacturers in the 80's.
Even Gibson wasn't immune.
Mary Ford rolled over when Gibson released this beast
That guitar just oozes 1980s Metallica.......love it.
It sounds great... Looks like it has seen some lovin... I dig it!
IMHO Explorers and Firebirds are better with reverse headstocks - reference the finger trapeze tailpiece on nice archtops. Not just an aesthetic, but functional.
Woo Robert Baker cameo!
Ñisssssssssce 🎸
Love the explorers!
I want one just for the hochey stick! :)
Please make a Review of the best epiphone guitar better than a Gibson.
Epiphone Annihilation V
Only a vintage Epi (those made before '69) could compete against a Gibson.
I own 1 of these and it is my goto.
3:05 it's like he didn't even try
not trying would've been not putting up any images at all - this is call running low on time haha. This was originally Thursdays episode that I just decided to hold back to finish
Ah yes I understand. Still not how I would have done it but given the circumstances I get it