the year of the explorer! Funnily enough i have only started my ggbo build today, and due to time constraints im not doing the explorer I had planned lol. But thanks for celebrating the year of the explorer, ill celebrate vicariously with you! lol
I think there was a scientific study done on single versus double pickups on tone in the 70’s. I can’t remember it fully but have the paper somewhere. From memory what was found was that if the string vibrates purely in the perpendicular direction to the pole of pickup there is no effect on tone as the magnetic field of the pickups is also acting in that direction. If for example the string amplitude is retarded by the magnetic field in the downward direction it must be boosted in the upward direction conserving the momentum. However, as we pluck strings in general in a direction more parallel to the magnetic field of the pole, the field of the second pickup does interfere with the strings vibration as it passes in and out of the field. In this case the second pickup tends to subdue higher harmonics, which is why in general single pickup guitars tend to sound more “full” tonally.
I never cared much for the Explorer - that is, until I played one! No, not that it sounded better or even had better action, but I caught a glimpse of myself playing through a mirror on the club's backwall. It was the 80s and I was instantly transformed into feeling like a shredder...unfortunately, my chops were NOT transformed. 😂
I love to watch the thought process. I have second guessed myself so many times, only to end up where I started! Can't wait for this build. You inspire me!
Great idea! Love the reduced dimensions and firebird middle, i like the visual dynamic raised sections add. I’d go 1 pickup, or HS. Im that rare breed that favours the neck, particularly in a 2 guitar situation as it adds contrast. I always think the explorer headstock looks like a wet sock , I think firebird would work in either orientation, plus you have the template :)
I’ve got you beat on being late to the party, I’m still working on my GGBO 2022 build! 😂 I love this idea, I think it’s going to be a great guitar! I think the Wenge will look better for the raised part. I don’t think an Explorer type guitar looks right without a neck pickup. But, since it’s tipping it’s hat to the Firebird, it could look really cool if you put in a mini- humbucker like a Firebird I.
If you want a super hot pickup, a Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker is hot. Almost 15k. I don't know much about the new ones, but the originals form the early 80's are awesome.
I thought I was behind! Lol. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with! I'm plugging away as fast as possible, but with being on the road a lot for work, and the oppressive heat we have had in Iowa, it's been kinda slow going.
I feel for you, I've just had a lot on over summer and that's put me a bit behind. I will get stuck into it now so hopefully it will be finished in time.
Fun ! I loved making an explorer, it was so comfortable to play and gives you a warm feeling inside when you play it! Real rock vibes, can’t explain it better than that. Going to enjoy this one!
Interesting build! I do like an explorer, but you are right they are huge, I have a momose one that is beautiful and massive! However surprisingly comfortable to play sat down. The Gibson late 70s iteration, I think its called an E2, is interesting, I think it has slightly contoured edges and walnut layers. Might be worth looking at for ideas on how you could use the Wenge.
Someone already proved that pickup magnets do not effect the vibrations of the strings unless they are very strong and practically touching the strings. Anyway, a guitar with only one pickup reduces tonal options by half, and probably has the same effect on the number of potential buyers. My most unusual builds are still collecting dust in my basement. Sometimes we are the only fan of our work. One lesson I finally learned was , build what guitar players want, not what I want.
As I say, I'd not seen any conclusive proof of the pickup theory. This guitar will not be for sale and I don't use bridge pickups very often so only one pickup won't be an issue. There are ways of making it more versitile and I might explore (see what I did there) some of them in this build...
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams Have a switching system that gets up to 8 variations of output from a single humbucker. I can e-mail it to you if you want to see it.
I think the Zabrano would look great, especially if you go with a slightly darker stain on the maple. I also like the idea of a single pickup on it. Would be killer if you used a floyd rose bridge.
This one should be fun ..!! Ibanez Destroyer perhaps.. single PUP with Floyd? but do you have time to complete it?.. time is ticking.. If you are doing neck through.. (which is my favorite guitar style for sustain and resonance).. I would make sure the center section shows through.. pun intended.. I would run the center section and leave it exposed much like the classic Matsumoku Japanese guitars of the 70's/80;s and highlight the wings mahogany with flame maple veneer.. and of course a translucent color.. wings as well.. LOVE seeing the back where the through maple runs the entire length.. those lines are cool and give the player something to look at in the back.. This one should be fun.. I pray for more hours in your day my friend
If someone had one of those Relish guitars with the pickups that just slot in the back they could do an experiment/demo to see if how different it sounds without the pull of the neck pickup. I think a through neck explorer will look fantastic.
This looks like a great project! A buddy is just finishing his Explorer in my shop, yes it is huge. I love the mashup idea from the Firebird construction.
Interesting build, looking forward to it, I really dig the Firebird sound, wonder what a humbucker will do to it. Also the tune in the middle reminds me of James (the band)
Yep, needed to get it done. I had planned to have most of that build done when the series went live so I could be doing GGBO in the background, didn't quite work out!!
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams glad to hear that! I can't wait to see what you do with it. I'm really hopeful you can complete your ggbo build in time this year too!
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams Cost and all the added complexity of fitting a battery are definitely the downsides. The latter killed the idea in my case. So, for the shred guitar I went with the closest thing there is sound wise to an active pickup. A pair of alumitones. Humbucker neck and a deathbucker bridge. The magnets they use (a pair of ceramic strips) are also weaker than standard humbucker alnicos, keeping any interference to the minimum. Love the sound. So, can definitely recommend considering those if you are looking for some nice shred pickups. A single unit with a coil split can cut the price still leaving a lot of options. BTW some people love them clean. I personally find them way too sterile on clean.
Headstock: since it's a variation on an explorer, maybe the same banana/hockey stick shape, but reverse? Would "kind-of" recall a Jackson Warrior, but feel more classic Gibson.
I did explorer-themed neck throughs last year. Did I put the idea in your head? Mine never made it to the final due to time constraints. I found the biggest challenge was putting the right angle on the neck. I tried to do what was essentially a scarf joint by taking an angled piece of the body end of the neck blank at 3 degrees and then gluing it to the opposite side. Worked, but not very cleanly as the joint is easy to see on the back. Next time (which is literally this GGBO2023 entry) I used a thicker neck blank and then used is as a set through so I could build a normal body and simply route the channel in the body at the 3 degree angle. gluing wings on wasn't the funnest. You have to really think through your order of operations on a neck through.
I started with the explorer as it fitted the construction method I had in mind but that one wouldn't have been a neck through. As soon as I knew I wouldn't be able to use that construction the idea of the neck through came into play and then it evolved into the Firbird cross over. What I have in mind for this one means I don't need a neck angle and that should make things lot easier but you are right, you have to have your plan straight on a neck through :)
Floydrose, 24 fret, twin buckers, go to town lol. I really like the neck pickup myself, expecially with a coil split and a 2.2k resistor on the ground to help the volume of the split.
Это будет настоящий метал! Я думаю, что теория с влиянием река на каления струн надумана и не выдержит критики экспериментом. А вот с двумя звукоснимателями гитары будет выглядеть лаконично и закончено. Так же у гитары будет больший функционал и палитра звучания, стоит посмотреть видео с Zakk Wylde, где он в соло несколько раз переходит с река на бридж.
Я согласен с тем, что гитара более универсальна с двумя звукоснимателями, но я планирую некоторые дополнения к проводке, которые, надеюсь, компенсируют наличие только одного звукоснимателя.
Oh I really like the concept so dar! You could do some pretty cool thing wiring-wise, should you go for a single pickup. Something like a coil split, series parallel and in/out of phase, but all within one humbucker?
Oh yes! I was think what I might build at some point and decided an explorer might be fun. My thoughts on explorers are: they are a bit too big, why does any guitar need a neck pick up, through necks are just better. Can I have your templates when you are done!
Thanks, from my experience there isn't too much difference between rosewood and ebony tonally and they feel very similar, others might not agree. I want to try some richlite to see how that compares as well.
If you go for just one pickup that would be a “junior explorer” - you could call it Dora👍🎸😀
Love it :) I was thinking explorerbird but Dora might be better!
The guitar I made has a Fender Jazzmaster shape body, a Firebird headstock and a single P90 with wraparound bridge - I call it my JazzBird Jr 😂
This made me laugh. Great idea!
Brilliant! 😀
Brilliant :)
Hellll yeah a single pickup Explorer! This and the LP JR build, you’ve become my favorite channel on YT. This is gonna be great.
Cheers buddy, that's great to hear. I'm looking forward to progressing this one :)
Love the idea of a single Humbucker at the bridge...
Yeah, it seems to be a popular choice.
Big fan of the Firebird/Explorer idea! This should be a great mashup!
Cheers :)
very very very very very very very very very good
Cheers buddy :)
the year of the explorer! Funnily enough i have only started my ggbo build today, and due to time constraints im not doing the explorer I had planned lol. But thanks for celebrating the year of the explorer, ill celebrate vicariously with you! lol
Seems a few had planned to or are building explorers, I'm pretty sure they will all be very differnet though. That's the best thing about GGBO.
I think there was a scientific study done on single versus double pickups on tone in the 70’s. I can’t remember it fully but have the paper somewhere. From memory what was found was that if the string vibrates purely in the perpendicular direction to the pole of pickup there is no effect on tone as the magnetic field of the pickups is also acting in that direction. If for example the string amplitude is retarded by the magnetic field in the downward direction it must be boosted in the upward direction conserving the momentum. However, as we pluck strings in general in a direction more parallel to the magnetic field of the pole, the field of the second pickup does interfere with the strings vibration as it passes in and out of the field. In this case the second pickup tends to subdue higher harmonics, which is why in general single pickup guitars tend to sound more “full” tonally.
Interesting and in line with what I have heard in the past, I'll see if I can find that paper.
Gonna be a cool one. Love the mahogany against maple and wenge.
Cheers, I'm hoping it looks as good in reality as it does in my head :)
A great new project patrick. I once saw a firebird construction guitar in the shape of a Les Paul. I thought I'd give it a go one day.
I think I've seen that build or one like it, was good.
I never cared much for the Explorer - that is, until I played one! No, not that it sounded better or even had better action, but I caught a glimpse of myself playing through a mirror on the club's backwall. It was the 80s and I was instantly transformed into feeling like a shredder...unfortunately, my chops were NOT transformed. 😂
Those mirrors get you every time don't they :) They are a bit of a statement though, it gives you something to live up to though!!
Looks like a great plan, can't wit to see the neck come together 😊
Me too, I can't wait to get into it.
I love to watch the thought process. I have second guessed myself so many times, only to end up where I started! Can't wait for this build. You inspire me!
Cheers, I jusy hope my thoughts work out :)
Great Start - No Pressure => No Rush => This will be a GREAT build. Going to be a lot of fun to watch. as always
Cheers, there is time pressure but that won't mean cut corners :)
I would put 2 pickups with push pull pots taking it in and out of phase. Looking forward to the build
Great idea! Love the reduced dimensions and firebird middle, i like the visual dynamic raised sections add. I’d go 1 pickup, or HS. Im that rare breed that favours the neck, particularly in a 2 guitar situation as it adds contrast. I always think the explorer headstock looks like a wet sock , I think firebird would work in either orientation, plus you have the template :)
Cheers buddy, can't do an explorer headstock now, never going to get past the wet sock thing and I do have a template ;)
I’ve got you beat on being late to the party, I’m still working on my GGBO 2022 build! 😂
I love this idea, I think it’s going to be a great guitar!
I think the Wenge will look better for the raised part.
I don’t think an Explorer type guitar looks right without a neck pickup. But, since it’s tipping it’s hat to the Firebird, it could look really cool if you put in a mini- humbucker like a Firebird I.
Wow, and I thought I was late with GGBO22 lol!! I'm pretty sure it's going to be wenge.
All in on a single pickup explorer, that’s would be really cool and unique! For the headstock, a non-reverse Firebird headstock would be nice
Cheers, and I already have the template!
If you want a super hot pickup, a Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker is hot. Almost 15k. I don't know much about the new ones, but the originals form the early 80's are awesome.
Ooh, I'll have a look at that, cheers.
I'd definitely say just the one pickup - if for no other reason that Dora is too good a name to pass up
Couldn't agree more :)
I thought I was behind! Lol. Looking forward to seeing what you end up with! I'm plugging away as fast as possible, but with being on the road a lot for work, and the oppressive heat we have had in Iowa, it's been kinda slow going.
I feel for you, I've just had a lot on over summer and that's put me a bit behind. I will get stuck into it now so hopefully it will be finished in time.
Fun ! I loved making an explorer, it was so comfortable to play and gives you a warm feeling inside when you play it! Real rock vibes, can’t explain it better than that. Going to enjoy this one!
I'm looking forward to this one, should be a lot of fun and something very different for me.
O-yeah! Bridge pickup only and eventually a wraparound bridge...
Cheers, I think this one needs a bit more than a wraparound ;)
It could be a 1970's Badass Wraparound@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams
Off to a good start!
Cheers :)
Interesting build! I do like an explorer, but you are right they are huge, I have a momose one that is beautiful and massive! However surprisingly comfortable to play sat down. The Gibson late 70s iteration, I think its called an E2, is interesting, I think it has slightly contoured edges and walnut layers. Might be worth looking at for ideas on how you could use the Wenge.
Ooh, cheers for that I'll check it out. They are huge but taking that little bit off the edge has made a difference.
This sounds real interesting Pat!
Cheers buddy :)
Neck-though Explorer sounds like a dream guitar!
I'd love it to have 2 pickups tho.. but whatever you decide is fine
That's the first vote for two pickups, I have plans for the wiring though...
Someone already proved that pickup magnets do not effect the vibrations of the strings unless they are very strong and practically touching the strings. Anyway, a guitar with only one pickup reduces tonal options by half, and probably has the same effect on the number of potential buyers. My most unusual builds are still collecting dust in my basement. Sometimes we are the only fan of our work. One lesson I finally learned was , build what guitar players want, not what I want.
As I say, I'd not seen any conclusive proof of the pickup theory. This guitar will not be for sale and I don't use bridge pickups very often so only one pickup won't be an issue. There are ways of making it more versitile and I might explore (see what I did there) some of them in this build...
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams Have a switching system that gets up to 8 variations of output from a single humbucker. I can e-mail it to you if you want to see it.
Bridge only would be a cool build. Especially if you have really nice neck woods
My only worry is that it might look a bit unbalanced with only one pickup but I'm hopefull it will be ok.
I think the Zabrano would look great, especially if you go with a slightly darker stain on the maple. I also like the idea of a single pickup on it. Would be killer if you used a floyd rose bridge.
The single pickup seem popular as does the floyd rose and this is meant to be a shreader after all...
This one should be fun ..!! Ibanez Destroyer perhaps.. single PUP with Floyd? but do you have time to complete it?.. time is ticking.. If you are doing neck through.. (which is my favorite guitar style for sustain and resonance).. I would make sure the center section shows through.. pun intended.. I would run the center section and leave it exposed much like the classic Matsumoku Japanese guitars of the 70's/80;s and highlight the wings mahogany with flame maple veneer.. and of course a translucent color.. wings as well.. LOVE seeing the back where the through maple runs the entire length.. those lines are cool and give the player something to look at in the back.. This one should be fun.. I pray for more hours in your day my friend
Cheers, I am late but I think it should get done, I just need to get my finger out. Single pup with a floyd would be great...
wenge/maple yes...zebrano/maple no. reduced size explorer yes. now that that's settled lol, time to press on mate!
Thanks for clearing that up buddy :)
If someone had one of those Relish guitars with the pickups that just slot in the back they could do an experiment/demo to see if how different it sounds without the pull of the neck pickup. I think a through neck explorer will look fantastic.
Cheers Chris. That would make an interesting experiment.
This looks like a great project! A buddy is just finishing his Explorer in my shop, yes it is huge. I love the mashup idea from the Firebird construction.
Cheers, I spent ages measuring pickup routes etc. on the plan thinking I'd printed it at the wrong size. Couldn't believe how big it was!
Volverine is in the place! Good vibes for your GGBO! Even if I really don’t like this shape for a guitar, I know I’ll enjoy watching you build it 😉
Thanks, I'll try to make it nice for you :)
Interesting build, looking forward to it, I really dig the Firebird sound, wonder what a humbucker will do to it.
Also the tune in the middle reminds me of James (the band)
I think it's going to be more Explorer than firebird but I have a few plans for the wiring that might give it a bit more flexibility.
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams We shall hear, once it's built, will be watching the progress! All the best to you!
Ahhh, this is why you were rushing the DC Junior!
Good luck!
Yep, needed to get it done. I had planned to have most of that build done when the series went live so I could be doing GGBO in the background, didn't quite work out!!
Glad to see you getting started here! Wish we could have seen your all out build but hopefully we will see something like it soon enough.
I still intend to build one, just don't have the time for it on this build.
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams glad to hear that! I can't wait to see what you do with it. I'm really hopeful you can complete your ggbo build in time this year too!
If the goal is to cut magnetic field on demand, you can use active pickups. Will also go with a shred guitar pretty nicely.
I did look at that but the cost was a bit of an issue, other than that it is something I'm interested in.
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams Cost and all the added complexity of fitting a battery are definitely the downsides. The latter killed the idea in my case.
So, for the shred guitar I went with the closest thing there is sound wise to an active pickup. A pair of alumitones. Humbucker neck and a deathbucker bridge. The magnets they use (a pair of ceramic strips) are also weaker than standard humbucker alnicos, keeping any interference to the minimum.
Love the sound. So, can definitely recommend considering those if you are looking for some nice shred pickups. A single unit with a coil split can cut the price still leaving a lot of options. BTW some people love them clean. I personally find them way too sterile on clean.
Oh man….another great journey ahead. I vote maple + wendge (?)
Cheers, that's my choice.
Maybe an Esquire-ish tone circuit with a switch that introduces different levels of capacitance? (But don’t mistake me for an expert. 😊)
- Paul
That could be an option, I was thinking of coil tap, maybe even a built in boost?
Headstock: since it's a variation on an explorer, maybe the same banana/hockey stick shape, but reverse? Would "kind-of" recall a Jackson Warrior, but feel more classic Gibson.
In addition, would continue the Firebird/Explorer theme.
That is an option although someone just said the explorer headstock looks like a wet sock and I'm struggling to get past it :)
Not zebrano would be my first thought, for guitars made with this resemble 70s kitchen worktops. Go with the wenge
I agree, I think the contrast between the wenge and maple will look much better.
I did explorer-themed neck throughs last year. Did I put the idea in your head? Mine never made it to the final due to time constraints. I found the biggest challenge was putting the right angle on the neck. I tried to do what was essentially a scarf joint by taking an angled piece of the body end of the neck blank at 3 degrees and then gluing it to the opposite side. Worked, but not very cleanly as the joint is easy to see on the back. Next time (which is literally this GGBO2023 entry) I used a thicker neck blank and then used is as a set through so I could build a normal body and simply route the channel in the body at the 3 degree angle. gluing wings on wasn't the funnest. You have to really think through your order of operations on a neck through.
I started with the explorer as it fitted the construction method I had in mind but that one wouldn't have been a neck through. As soon as I knew I wouldn't be able to use that construction the idea of the neck through came into play and then it evolved into the Firbird cross over. What I have in mind for this one means I don't need a neck angle and that should make things lot easier but you are right, you have to have your plan straight on a neck through :)
Actually, I'd make it about 1/3 size, like the reverse of Bucketheads axe. Big plus is less materials.
I feel at 1/3 size it would still look big :)
Floydrose, 24 fret, twin buckers, go to town lol. I really like the neck pickup myself, expecially with a coil split and a 2.2k resistor on the ground to help the volume of the split.
Pretty much what I have in mind, it's a personal thing but I almost never use neck pickups. We'll see...
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams I like the fuller sound you get using drive soloing or playing chords clean. It's nice to have options
Это будет настоящий метал! Я думаю, что теория с влиянием река на каления струн надумана и не выдержит критики экспериментом. А вот с двумя звукоснимателями гитары будет выглядеть лаконично и закончено. Так же у гитары будет больший функционал и палитра звучания, стоит посмотреть видео с Zakk Wylde, где он в соло несколько раз переходит с река на бридж.
Я согласен с тем, что гитара более универсальна с двумя звукоснимателями, но я планирую некоторые дополнения к проводке, которые, надеюсь, компенсируют наличие только одного звукоснимателя.
Oh I really like the concept so dar! You could do some pretty cool thing wiring-wise, should you go for a single pickup. Something like a coil split, series parallel and in/out of phase, but all within one humbucker?
Indeed, the single pickup option seems popular.
Oh yes! I was think what I might build at some point and decided an explorer might be fun. My thoughts on explorers are: they are a bit too big, why does any guitar need a neck pick up, through necks are just better. Can I have your templates when you are done!
Agree on all of those points and yes but there won't be many :)
Deal!
Sounds like an Explorer/ Firebird hybrid.
Pretty much with a bit of 80's hair metal thrown in!
I think for the headstock, you could go 80s, with the XPL "blocky" headstock. Great build!
I wasn't aware of that model, it does look better than the normal headstock to me.
You could always use the V headstock to add to the Mash Up, not the Zebrano though, too distracting.
Yep, I agree about the Zebrano now I've had time to think about it.
👍
Cheers
Can't wait for the next episode.
Do you have any finish/color in mind for the guitar body?
I'm not sure yet, it will probably need someting on the maple sections of the body but I'll wait to see how it looks first.
Mate my GGBO for the scratch hasnt even started haha
Good to hear I'm not alone!
This will be great Pat! Is it too late to reverse it? Think about it.
Cheers Dane, reverse what, body or headstock?
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams body 😀
Hope you win!!
btw, an off question. Since you've used Ebony before, what other wood has the closest resemblance to Ebony?
Thanks, from my experience there isn't too much difference between rosewood and ebony tonally and they feel very similar, others might not agree. I want to try some richlite to see how that compares as well.
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams I'd love to get your opinion on richlite
Off topic … did you finish the Firechick?
No, not yet, I keep trying to get back to it but have just been too busy. It will return.
Is it going to have a Vibrola ?
Sort of...
@@Adventuresfromtheshedofdreams Or that Duesenberg one ?