The Most Aggressive Iteration of Gibson’s Explorer
Ready to rock straight out of 1984, the Gibson ’80s Explorer is a stunningly accurate tribute to the decade when the rest of the world finally caught up to the instrument’s retro-futuristic edge. From the pickguard-less mahogany body to the binding-free neck, the Gibson ’80s Explorer is all aggression and attitude — qualities mirrored by this guitar’s dual high-output uncovered ’80s Tribute Humbuckers, providing you with a fatter, more powerful tone than any vintage-style PAF. Next, the neck’s fast-playing Gibson Slim Taper mahogany neck is topped with a sleek 12-inch radius rosewood fingerboard and medium jumbo frets for effortless playability in any application. You also get a rock-solid hardware configuration of a classic Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge/stoptail and Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners for incredible sustain and the utmost reliability. Celebrate the era where the Explorer truly made its mark with the Gibson ’80s Explorer!
A neck built for speed
This guitar’s aerodynamic edges aren’t the only speed-inclined spec on this guitar — the Gibson ’80s Explorer’s rosewood-topped-mahogany neck is carved into a Gibson Slim Taper profile for a lightning-fast feel. The fingerboard’s bend-friendly 12-inch radius and medium jumbo frets are equally accommodating to any guitarist with a penchant for fretboard finesse, and it’s all finished off with period-correct Grover Mini Rotomatic Tuners. Sweetwater guitarists find it’s a fitting foundation for guitarists who lean toward the heavier side of the musical spectrum. Still, there is enough comfort and versatility to please guitarists of all stripes and backgrounds.
Full, fat ’80s Tribute humbucker pickups
The Gibson ’80s Explorer comes equipped with a pair of searing ’80s Tribute humbuckers custom-voiced to capture the screaming leads and hard-hitting metal riffage of this guitar’s titular era. These humbuckers are ideal for players who find a PAF-style ’bucker just a tad too tame. And while ’80s Tribute Humbuckers are certainly a must-have choice for any fan of old-school metal and hard rock, they’re by no means a 1-trick pony. Turn off the distortion for a moment, and you’ll be rewarded with lush, airy cleans, just waiting to be doused in proper ’80s-accurate chorus. Finally, the electronics are wired up to true vintage specs with period-correct Orange Drop capacitors.
Two decades ahead of its time
It’s hard to imagine now, but the two heaviest-looking guitars in Gibson’s arsenal — the Explorer and the Flying V — were introduced in the late ’50s. Unfortunately, the designs were a little too successful at capturing the intended look of the future, and both the V and the Explorer saw limited success for a time. Gibson’s ’80s Explorer and ’80s Flying V instruments celebrate the era when the world finally caught up to Gibson’s aggressive 6-string creations, when both the Flying V and Explorer shapes would be cemented as the style for heavy metal and hard rock guitarists ever after. Both guitars heavily reflect the specs of a 1984-era Gibson, sporting black-on-black finishes, pickguard-less bodies, binding-less necks, and uncovered pickups for a no-nonsense attitude.
Gibson ’80s Explorer Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:
- Heavily based on how Gibson would have shipped an Explorer back in 1984
- No-nonsense aesthetic, including a pickguard-less body, uncovered pickups, binding-free neck, and moody black-on-black aesthetic
- Lightweight mahogany body for enhanced tonal warmth and richness
- Mahogany neck carved into a lightning-fast Gibson Slim Taper profile
- Rosewood fingerboard in a 12-inch radius with medium jumbo frets provides slick playability and buzz-free bends up and down the ’board
- High-octane Gibson ’80s Tribute humbuckers produce a raw, ripping tone that’s fatter and more powerful than a low-output vintage-style humbucker
- Premium wiring, including Orange Drop capacitors
- Exceptionally reliable Nashville Tune-o-matic stoptail bridge and Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners
- Gloss nitrocellulose finish allows your guitar to age and wear in over time
