Explorer humbucker swap

[Morty1889]

Hello all!

So I’ve recently got a Gibson Explorer “B2”. Great looking and playing axe. It came stock with the dirty fingers set. They are very fun to play, but maybe a tad too hot for me. The guitar on its on is kind of dark sounding. Anyway, I play mostly AC/DC style rock, some
Blues, and classic metal. Not really one for downtuned chugging. I’ve got a set of pearly gates that I haven’t used yet, what are your thoughts on the pearly set going into an explorer? Thanks!

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Welcome to the forum!

Yes, Pearly Gates are a perfect place to start.

 

[BlueSnMettle]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Being that the B2 has a mahogany body and neck, I
believe the PGs would be an excellent match for the
style of music you play. They should brighten up your
darker sounding axe. Oh, and welcome to the forum.
Let us know what you decide on and the results.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

WLH set.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Pearly Gates/ Custom set! You get vintage sounds & EQ but with a lot of kick in there.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Try the pearly gates since you have them.

The PG neck should be great (speaking from experience of having it in a mahogany guitar). It's a very versatile pickup for all kinds of rock. Classic sounding, but not too woolly like A2 neck pickups can be.

I haven't tried the PG bridge but I'd guess it might be lacking depending on what classic metal means to you. If you mean more Black Sabbath than Metallica, you'll be fine with the right amp, otherwise go for a Custom in the bridge.

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[Morty1889]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Thanks for all of the replies! I’m going to install them over the weekend. 70’s Sabbath is probably as “heavy” as I need, tone wise. I’m a huge Angus/Billy Gibbons fan, so I think they might work out really well.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

the pg bridge does angus and billy very very well

 

[blueman335]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

PGN's are on the warm side, too warm for my tastes. In your dark sounding Explorer, they may or may not have enough treble for you.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Dual '59's.

 

[beaubrummels]

Explorer humbucker swap

PGs will be fine.

Alternates will depend an what specifically you want to change from there (tone or output wise), but my experience with the following in mahogany Gibson’s is all good for what you are playing:

PG set
Whole Lotta Humbucker set
Pearly Gates bridge, Jazz neck
59/Custom bridge, Seth neck
Custom bridge, Jazz neck
Custom Custom bridge, A2P neck
Jazz set
A2P set
59 bridge, Pearly Gates neck
Distortion bridge, 496R neck

 

[Morty1889]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Bringing this back from the dead. So after some time, I pulled the PGb out and tried a SH5 and SH6 with the PGn. The PGb actually seemed a little bland to me, but the neck is butter. I went with the distortion. Great tone and upper mid crunch that this explorer was lacking. A little higher output than I was looking for, but it works like a champ in this guitar. Went with nickel covers to break up the all black everything on this guitar. I dig it.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

How's the middle position sound?

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[Morty1889]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

How's the middle position sound?

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Pretty good actually. Almost a tad single coil “ish”, just a little more meat there.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Pretty good actually. Almost a tad single coil “ish”, just a little more meat there.

I'll bet that it would respond well to volume pot differences. Not changing the pots, to be clear, but taking advantage of the dual volume controls for the pickups.

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[Mincer]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

I am happy you have a combination that works. What a cool guitar.

 

[ToneFiddler]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

...It came stock with the dirty fingers set. They are very fun to play, but maybe a tad too hot for me. ...

well i think the SH-6 fits a black Explorer. aggressive heavy Sound. that's what you would expect from the looks of that guitar.
but you turned on your're original objectives 180°. The distortion might be even hotter and doesn't sound anything like angus/billy
that can happen with the whole swapping. So you really kept an open mind

 

[Morty1889]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Yeah, I was surprised I liked the distortion so much. The SH5 is awesome, but emphasized the bass and lower mids a little too much with guitar, as it has plenty of that in its own. I don’t play through a high gain amp (mini JCM800), so the distortion gives it a nice push at the front. Also impressed that the SH6 responds well to volume roll off to dial it back a bit. Right settings on the amp it can get in the ballpark of just about any kind of rock n roll/metal. Much prefer it to the dirty fingers.

 

[RevDoom73]

Re: Explorer humbucker swap

Man I love the choice of the nickel covers, it really makes that guitar look awesome. I'm an Explorer fan so I could sit and admire that guitar all day long, haha. Choosing the Distortion to go into a JCM800 was a good choice too!