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From Our Research Team:

Gibson's Guitar of the Month for June '08 is Here!

Limited to just 1,000 being built, the Shred-X Explorer is sure to be a huge hit with the heaviest of rockers! The Explorer is already famous among shredders for fast, furious riffing and face-melting chords, and the Shred-X takes the Explorer to new metal-tastic heights. The toggle switch has relocated to where it was on 1980s-era Explorers, and sporting a black chrome Kahler 2215K Tremolo, sleek ebony finish, and EMG 85 pickups, this beast is primed for metal mayhem! Pick up a Shred-X Explorer and start shredding!

Gibson Shred-X Explorer at a Glance:

• A classic reborn
  
• Neck
  
• Body
  
• Pickups
  
• Hardware

A classic reborn
The Shred-X Explorer - Gibson USA's Guitar of the Month for June 2008 - takes a classic and gives it a shot of adrenalin. The Gibson Explorer has long been a coveted workhorse guitar among the ranks of the hard rock and heavy metal players. Now, the new Shred-X Explorer takes it up a notch, with a one-piece mahogany body outfitted with black chrome hardware, and an Ebony finish. A pair of EMG 85 pickups deliver the output needed for hard rock and metal, and a Kahler 2215K tremolo system ensures there will be no intonation or tuning issues when dive bombing chords and notes. The toggle switch has been relocated to the position it occupies on the Explorers from the 1980s, allowing easier access for quick pickup selection.

Neck
The '50s rounded neck profile on the new Shred-X Explorer is the thicker, rounder profile, emulating the neck shapes found on the iconic 1958 and 1959 Les Paul Standards. The fret wire on the Gibson models is a combination nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver) specifically designed for long life and superior wear. The black dot inlays on the new Shred-X Explorer are a new inlay design from Gibson. They are a variation of Gibson's more traditional dot inlays, giving the Shred-X Explorer's fingerboard a sleeker look. The fingerboard is constructed from the highest grade ebony on the planet. The resilience of this dense and durable wood makes every fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite.

Body
The Shred-X Explorer's body is a solid piece of mahogany in the classic style of the 1976 Explorer, glossed in a smooth Ebony finish. The mahogany itself goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson's woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson's team of skilled wood experts.

Pickups
The EMG 85 is one of most popular active humbuckers in the world, and rightfully so. Equipped with a bar-shaped Alnico V magnet and coils with separate outputs, the EMG 85 yields a warmer and more natural tone, and delivers balanced and uniform string response. The wide aperture of the coils produces a beefier low end and fatter top end, with loads of output that doesn't get muddy. They can be used to play everything from classic rhythm and blues to heavy metal.

Hardware
For those wanting the ultimate in tremolo systems, look no further than the Kahler 2215K from Kahler USA. This black chrome stud-mount tremolo system features individual fine tuners, and a 360HH brass cam. It also has stainless steel saddles that can be adjusted six different ways: side to side for string spacing, front to back to intonation, and up and down to adjust action and match the radius of the fingerboard. The brass cam and stainless steel saddles also deliver enhanced sustain and harmonics and a warmer, rich tone. The Shred-X Explorer headstock comes with a set of locking Grover tuners, that helps keep it in tune when using the Kahler 2215K tremolo system.

Gibson Shred-X Explorer Features:

• Body Style: Explorer
  
• Top Species: Mahogany
  
• Fingerboard Species: Ebony
  
• Scale Length: 24-3/4
  
• Inlays: Black Dot
  
• Neck Pickup: EMG 85
  
• Bridge Pickup: EMG 85
  
• Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone, 3 Way Switch
  
• Neck Species: Mahogany
  
• Profile: 50s Rounded
  
• Nut Width: 1.695
  
• Neck Joint: 19
  
• Hardware Plating Finish: Black Chrome
  
• Tailpiece: Kahler Tremolo
  
• Knobs: Black Speed
  
• Tuners: Locking Grover

The Shred-X Explorer is Gibson's Guitar of the Month for June 2008!
See All the Gibson Guitars of the Month Here!

Specification Detail Manufacturer Part Number DSSXEBBK