1 of 1 Explorer

[ICTGoober]

If you are familiar with harp guitars or any instrument with extra strings that are NOT fretted - you are allowed to change the tuning of the strings to fit the song. Many actual harps have levers installed which will sharpen or flatten a string for just such an occasion.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

If you are familiar with harp guitars or any instrument with extra strings that are NOT fretted - you are allowed to change the tuning of the strings to fit the song. Many actual harps have levers installed which will sharpen or flatten a string for just such an occasion.

Doesn't sound like harps chugg, tho?

 

[Mincer]

Seriously, Dave - I thought you were smarter than that.
Or maybe you need new glasses.

Or there needs to be better pictures. As a harp guitar, this is still a terrible design. That pickup isn't picking up resonant bass notes, but plinky crap you are going to have to try to stop feeding back when you do your Scorpions tribute.

 

[Chistopher]

I'm assuming the knob that looks different is likely a blend knob for the firebird pickup, so feedback wouldn't be an issue

 

[beaubrummels]

I don't believe that's a Gibson. Notice they never show the headstock.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

I've never seen anything before that made me not absolutely love an explorer...... Now I have

 

[Seashore]

Portsmouth NH. I'm tempted to kick the tires but I doubt I could do it with a straight face at that price. Maybe I can just take it as inspiration and try doing something like this to a project guitar.

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[ICTGoober]

I don't believe that's a Gibson. Notice they never show the headstock.

If I remember correctly, it was featured on the Trogly's Guitar Show, and Gibson was selling it as a Gibson.

 

[LesStrat]

That’s…odd.

 

[JOLLY]

I wouldn't even know what to do with that.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Interesting, first time I've seen this kind of thing on a Gibson. I have seen some Jazzmaster guys put a pu between the bridge and tailpiece, to amplify all those sympathetic noises thanks to the increased string length there.

 

[Chistopher]

I have seen some Jazzmaster guys put a pu between the bridge and tailpiece, to amplify all those sympathetic noises thanks to the increased string length there.

I hate that noise. Unplugged it sounds like one of the trash digital reverbs of the 90s, I couldn't imagine what it sounds like through a pickup.

Longer strings that can be tuned? *Might sound good if used sparingly.

 

[GuitarDoc]

The pickup behind the bridge is for that feed back that is so desirable and that everybody loves.
As for staying in tune...a very real problem. You have two sets of strings pulling in opposite directions on the same bridge! You tighten the short strings and it makes you longer (normal) strings go sharp.
I've seen some pretty bad designs in guitars over my lifetime, but most of them have been bad esthetic problems. This one is the worst design (functionally) that I have EVER seen. It's no wonder that it's a one-of-a-kind.

 

[GuitarStv]

The pickup behind the bridge is for that feed back that is so desirable and that everybody loves.
As for staying in tune...a very real problem. You have two sets of strings pulling in opposite directions on the same bridge! You tighten the short strings and it makes you longer (normal) strings go sharp.
I've seen some pretty bad designs in guitars over my lifetime, but most of them have been bad esthetic problems. This one is the worst design (functionally) that I have EVER seen. It's no wonder that it's a one-of-a-kind.

You're right. I think for the design to work it would need a locking bridge.

 

[Chistopher]

The pickup behind the bridge is for that feed back that is so desirable and that everybody loves.
As for staying in tune...a very real problem. You have two sets of strings pulling in opposite directions on the same bridge! You tighten the short strings and it makes you longer (normal) strings go sharp.
I've seen some pretty bad designs in guitars over my lifetime, but most of them have been bad esthetic problems. This one is the worst design (functionally) that I have EVER seen. It's no wonder that it's a one-of-a-kind.

I don't think that will be much of an issue at all, at that short a length they probably don't have enough tension on them to really pull the bridge back from the studs. Especially if you consider that because of the top wrap, a decent amount of the energy pulling the bridge is actually pulling it up, causing it to want to rotate, creating more friction between the bridge and post.

I don't think this idea was first tried on the finished guitar and then they hoped the concept was sound. If I was a custom shop designer and someone asked for this, I would first test it out on a B-stock or something.

 

[Seashore]

The harp strings aren't pulling on the bridge directly, they're just coming off the tailpiece. Keep that cranked down and I don't think you'd have a problem.

 

[Chistopher]

Ah, I assumed they meant the stop bar. Yeah, it's not a rocking bridge so it will be fine. The other pictures show that a little bit better

 

[Chistopher]

Come to look a little longer, the dot fret markers aren't really it