Explorer Traditional Pro

[kherman]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

I love my '07 Explorer Pro.


Very well built guitar.
Plays excellent.
It has the 496r/500t pickups. Which for me work just fine in this guitar.
But, I'm curious to hear the new Pros with the 57/BB combo.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

It's getting harder and harder for me to consider this guitar when I compare the price to a used Hamer, which is likely a better-built guitar that will retain it's value much better than these CNC wonders that are cranked out like hot cakes by the nowhere-near-as-skilled Nashville employees. Problem is, with the Hamer, it is a searching game. Gotta wait for a black one to turn up online, since it probably will not locally. Then I gotta deal with bidding, sleazy E-Bay sellers, Etc. Tough choice.

P.S. Is that a 1-piece body on your red one?

[kherman]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

The build quality on my '07 Pro is excellent.
No flaws.
Tried it at a local store and had to have it.
And I'm not normally a Gibby fan. More of a Carvin fan.
But, this one was just awesome.
And I have to admit I got it for a great price.
That's why it's a shame that the new Pro's are only offered through GC.
I always feel you get better deals through your local stores. Least here I do.

The body on mine is a 3 piece body.
But, it's matched very, very well.
I can't say enough good things about this guitar.
It's shown me that Gibson can still put out a great guitar.

As I said, my main guitars are my Carvins.
But, I like to use the Pro in the studio for doubling rhythm tracks.
That big slab of mahogany really adds some depth and girth to the mix.

Another thought for you if you're looking at Ebay.
Is keep an eye out for a '07 Pro. You may find a better deal that way.
You can always swap out pickups.

Also, if you like a more fancy look with ebony board, nice block inlays, flame maple tops.
look for a '03-'05 Explorer pro.
not mine.
But, the top one is an example of the '03-'05 Pro's.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

The build quality on my '07 Pro is excellent.
No flaws.
Tried it at a local store and had to have it.
And I'm not normally a Gibby fan. More of a Carvin fan.
But, this one was just awesome.
And I have to admit I got it for a great price.
That's why it's a shame that the new Pro's are only offered through GC.
I always feel you get better deals through your local stores. Least here I do.

The body on mine is a 3 piece body.
But, it's matched very, very well.
I can't say enough good things about this guitar.
It's shown me that Gibson can still put out a great guitar.

As I said, my main guitars are my Carvins.
But, I like to use the Pro in the studio for doubling rhythm tracks.
That big slab of mahogany really adds some depth and girth to the mix.

Another thought for you if you're looking at Ebay.
Is keep an eye out for a '07 Pro. You may find a better deal that way.
You can always swap out pickups.

Also, if you like a more fancy look with ebony board, nice block inlays, flame maple tops.
look for a '03-'05 Explorer pro.
not mine.
But, the top one is an example of the '03-'05 Pro's.

Nice, and thanks for the tips.

Were any of those years available in black?

[kherman]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

Nice, and thanks for the tips.

Were any of those years available in black?

The '07s were.



Really the only difference between the '07s and the new '11s are the pickups and push/pull knobs.

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

It's getting harder and harder for me to consider this guitar when I compare the price to a used Hamer, which is likely a better-built guitar that will retain it's value much better than these CNC wonders that are cranked out like hot cakes by the nowhere-near-as-skilled Nashville employees. Problem is, with the Hamer, it is a searching game. Gotta wait for a black one to turn up online, since it probably will not locally. Then I gotta deal with bidding, sleazy E-Bay sellers, Etc. Tough choice.

P.S. Is that a 1-piece body on your red one?

Honestly, I think the Gibson will hold its value better than the Hamer. Hamers can be found for dirt cheap nowadays - they're not doing too well on the used market. Whereas this GC-special run will probably hold value decently, mostly because it's a Gibson.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

The '07s were.



Really the only difference between the '07s and the new '11s are the pickups and push/pull knobs.

Both of which I like much better on the '11's. Damn! Pickups, maybe $130 for the Stag Mags I'd like to try out. Two push pull pots, maybe $15 to $20. Probably still worth it to find an '07 used. Though I found an '11 in stock at a local GC that is having a 10% off sale on all Gibsons this weekend. (Basically, that is the equivalent of not paying sales tax here in CA.)

[ItsaBass]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

Ugh. To make my decisions even harder, I found one of these in stock at a GC. I am talking to the guy on the phone, and at first he says, "I am holding the guitar in my hand. It is a floor model scratch and dent special for $650." I almost strapped on my rocket pack and blew over there, but I thought it had to be wrong, since, well, it was Guitar Center. And sure enough, he was talking about a regular Explorer. Same retail price as the Pro, $1,400.

So, add a $650 "scratch and dent" black standard Explorer to the mix. Supposedly it has buckle rash on the back. But should still come with the case and warranty. Cosmetically it is not my cup of tea, but at seems like almost too good of a deal to pass up.

[Hartfeltmusic2010]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

I love my '07 Explorer Pro.


Very well built guitar.
Plays excellent.
It has the 496r/500t pickups. Which for me work just fine in this guitar.
But, I'm curious to hear the new Pros with the 57/BB combo.

Looks familiar I love my explorer pro as well. I play everything from blues to thrash with ease on it and it sounds so good. Its my main axe and sounds better than my regular sized explorer . They both play great this one just has a certain mojo but otherwise theres not that much of a difference.

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

I still think they look like toys, or those girly guitars, like the vixen set or whatever they called them.

[BTMN]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

Hamer and Dean have made smaller sized Explorer shaped guitars too.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

BTMN, what do you think of that scratch-n-dent regular Explorer for $650? Gonna go see it tomorrow if it is still there. And they have the Trad. Pro in stock too, so I get to try both. I don't really want a standard black one, but I think that might be a relatively inexpensive way into a brand new instrument of decent quality. Kind of hard to pass up, actually, unless it is really badly gored up. Does the regular Explorer have the "big" body size, or all they all downsized nowadays?

[BTMN]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

Only you will know if it is worth that. Dont expect a HSC at that price but ask. ASK about the warranty and eyeball the neck real well too.

[ItsaBass]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

Definitely HSC and factory warranty, or forget it. It shipped with it, so it should go to the customer. Of course playing it is the only test that matters. Just curious what you thought of scratch and dents in general, and the price. Also curious about the body size. I haven't seen any newer Explorers since I started playing guitar again recently.

[BTMN]

Re: Explorer Traditional Pro

I could give you my 3000 mile away opinion all day but as you note it will be on you. I ok with scratch and dent as it will be anyway for the most part eventually. Kinda like used but not. I love the ergonomics of the explorer shape so the size is not a factor to me.