Epi Exployer issue

W

WhoFan

Tommyologist
i love Exployers but have not bought a real Gibson one yet... i've been window shoping and the standard ones are great... can't decide if i want a Black one or a White one... (i still can't figure out why Gibson thinks an Exployer with a Kahler trem is worth almost double what you sometimes can find a Standard Exployer on sale for!!!!)

anyways to cure my Exployer fix for a short time i brought home a broken headstock Epi a few years back to fix and save... the store sold it to me for about the same value as the parts on the guitar are worth.. tuners, bridge, PU's... that sort of thing.... I repaired it... it is not that bad of a guitar in some ways for a cheapie and an abused Cheapie at that.....

the issue is no matter what i do the Low E String seems a little mutted.... no matter what note/fret i play if it's on the Low E string it has slightly less volume and fullness then the other 5 strings... and this happens un-plugged acousticly too... The bridge appears fine and in working order... it can't be the nut as it is not only open stringed notes it's fretted notes too...

anyone experience this before...
 
Last edited:
Re: Epi Exployer issue

I've dealt with similar situations where the problem was everything from a bad nut slot, bad string, bridge and saddle issues, and even ONE loose fret that caused problems access the entire fret board.
 
Re: Epi Exployer issue

It's "Explorer", Lou.
33018758.jpg
 
Re: Epi Exployer issue

To be honest even the gibson explorers I have tried in GC stores disappointed me. I have tried the tribal explorer and a white standard last weekend and I must say Paint job around the fingerboards are amazingly bad. They tried to paint the sides but it leaked towards behind the neck. I didn't know they did such bad paint jobs on their USA models. SO if you were to order one make sure paint job isn't screwed. Or you can take a look at this.

As far as for the epi you have i would say, nut, fretwork, bridge or the string.

AS you have said if it is nut, it would affect the tone on fretted notes.
If it is a fret, once you fret higher than the problematic one it should sound fine, unless there is another one along the line
You said bridge saddle it fine so I will skip this one.
Only other component lying on these 3 parts is the string. Maybe something is wrong with it. Did you try replacing?
 
Last edited:
Re: Epi Exployer issue

cakire82 said:
To be honest even the gibson explorers I have tried in GC stores disappointed me. I have tried the tribal explorer and a white standard last weekend and I must say Paint job around the fingerboards are amazingly bad. They tried to paint the sides but it leaked towards behind the neck. I didn't know they did such bad paint jobs on their USA models. SO if you were to order one make sure paint job isn't screwed. Or you can take a look at this.

As far as for the epi you have i would say, nut, fretwork, bridge or the string.

AS you have said if it is nut, it would affect the tone on fretted notes.
If it is a fret, once you fret higher than the problematic one it should sound fine, unless there is another one along the line
You said bridge saddle it fine so I will skip this one.
Only other component lying on these 3 parts is the string. Maybe something is wrong with it. Did you try replacing?
Click to expand...

ya i've changed the strings a few times.... part of me is wondering if there is some freaky issue with the wood not liking the E String... but until then i'll keep looking for the issue... it's still a fun guitar... i just gave it a 1 hour jam fest....
 
Re: Epi Exployer issue

WhoFan said:
the issue is no matter what i do the Low E String seems a little mutted.... no matter what note/fret i play if it's on the Low E string it has slightly less volume and fullness then the other 5 strings... and this happens un-plugged acousticly too... The bridge appears fine and in working order... it can't be the nut as it is not only open stringed notes it's fretted notes too...

anyone experience this before...
Click to expand...

What's the break-over angle between the TOM and the stop bar?

If the stop bar is very low, the string could be pressed against the back side of the TOM and you'll lose some resonance. Try raising the stop bar just enough so that none of the strings are touching the back side of the TOM.

If that doesn't work, try raising or lowering the bass side of the pick up.

Hope that helps...
 
Re: Epi Exployer issue

cakire82 said:
To be honest even the gibson explorers I have tried in GC stores disappointed me. I have tried the tribal explorer and a white standard last weekend and I must say Paint job around the fingerboards are amazingly bad. They tried to paint the sides but it leaked towards behind the neck. I didn't know they did such bad paint jobs on their USA models. SO if you were to order one make sure paint job isn't screwed. Or you can take a look at this.

As far as for the epi you have i would say, nut, fretwork, bridge or the string.

AS you have said if it is nut, it would affect the tone on fretted notes.
If it is a fret, once you fret higher than the problematic one it should sound fine, unless there is another one along the line
You said bridge saddle it fine so I will skip this one.
Only other component lying on these 3 parts is the string. Maybe something is wrong with it. Did you try replacing?
Click to expand...

Yeah!
 
Re: Epi Exployer issue

in the next few days i'll experiment a little... i have to change the strings again anyways, and i'll double check the string break angle at the bridge... i have changed strings before and it has done the same thing..... if i remember right... the thing has sat in the closet for a while...
 
Re: Epi Exployer issue

I love explorers too! I have a 2002 gibby and it is great! But, if you look at the fretboard, it isnt real even. And I notice this quite a bit on them and yeah, Ive considered becoming an explorer guy and getting another, but find alot of imperfections on the newer ones.. Sad...
 
Re: Epi Exployer issue

ya i've seen a lot of Gibsons in the Studio and Faded SG's and various cheaper models with funny finnish work... i'm sure the Explorers are no different
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top