Explorer shaped guitars

youngthrasher9

youngthrasher9

New member
A friend is checking out his options, and he wants a slightly sharper explorer shaped guitar, he would like it to have a floyd rose, but that might not be completely necessary. I showed him the different versions by jackson, agile, hamer, dean, gibson, and LTD. He likes the LTD FX-360 best shape wise, but it doesn't have a floyd, and he would prefer passive pickups. Any suggestions? He would probably like to stay in the $800 and below range. If it has good pickups he could probably be persuaded to spend more.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

Btw, he tried the dean zero, and it was WAY to big for him. Heck, it was to big for me. (I'm a pretty big guy.)
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

LTD Snakebite? I think it looks like crap but someone else may like it.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

If the Zero was too big, he needs to look into other body styles. Explorers are big guitars. I can speak from experience on that one, it's all I play. Again, if the Zero is too big, he will not like the FX-360, it's just as big, I have the 260, it's just an older model of the 360.
The smaller option is the Gibson Explorer Pro, not the traditional pro. It's a a bit smaller and lighter, " I have that one too", but it's a fixed bridge.
One more option is the Melody Maker Explorer, " have that one too," but again, it's a hardtail.

From what you describe, as Convoys said, the Kelly, might be right up his ally. It's a tad smaller, close to the right shape, and it has a Floyd. Seems like it would fit the bill.

If you need info on Hamer Explorers, I think it's BTMN, I think, that has a mad collection of those. He could give some great info on 'em.
 
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Re: Explorer shaped guitars

karpathion said:
If the Zero was too big, he needs to look into other body styles. Explorers are big guitars. I can speak from experience on that one, it's all I play. Again, if the Zero is too big, he will not like the FX-360, it's just as big, I have the 260, it's just an older model of the 360.
The smaller option is the Gibson Explorer Pro, not the traditional pro. It's a a bit smaller and lighter, " I have that one too", but it's a fixed bridge.
One more option is the Melody Maker Explorer, " have that one too," but again, it's a hardtail.

From what you describe, as Convoys said, the Kelly, might be right up his ally. It's a tad smaller, close to the right shape, and it has a Floyd. Seems like it would fit the bill.

If you need info on Hamer Explorers, I think it's BTMN, I think, that has a mad collection of those. He could give some great info on 'em.
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I tried a gibson explorer that day and it seemed way smaller. It might just have been me though.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

Used Aria Pro ZZ? I fixed one up for a friend, and while it is not the best made guitar in the world, it's not pure trash, it's cheap, it meets the specs, and it has a lot of potential with good mods.

I've seen them with two-post Strat-style vibratos, Floyds, and Kahlers (maybe not a stock Kahler, though). So make sure you examine which vibrato it has before buying one.

Oh yeah. They're also pretty small and light.

aria-pro2-zz-q.jpg
 
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Re: Explorer shaped guitars

Varg said:
Charvel Star... Or Jackson Kelly.
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I was just gonna say star until I scrolled down to your post, lol. Kelly too, but it's not that much smaller, he'd better try it first.

Maybe he'd be more down with a V?
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

If he doesn't like the Zero, the try the Epiphone Futura Prophecy FX. It doesn't have passive pickups (EMG 81 85), but it does have the Floyd and it's in your budget. That's something to look at. Other than that, I can't really think of anything. He could get a Jackson Kelly but for everything that he wants, you'd end up spending around $2000.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

King IzzO))) said:
I was just gonna say star until I scrolled down to your post, lol. Kelly too, but it's not that much smaller, he'd better try it first.

Maybe he'd be more down with a V?
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I'm almost positive that he would like the feel of a V better, but he is really picky and he likes the looks of an explorer better. I tried to convince him to go around and try a bunch of different superstrats and then decide what to do, but he was pretty insistent that he wanted an explorer shaped guitar. IMO, this decision is not very smart, because he plays lead almost all the time. He is excellent at playing solos. I just don't see an explorer being really comfortable for that.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

For what it's worth, the Explorer shape is the most comfortable body shape I've ever played. I like it slightly better than a Firebird. The only thing that would make it more ergonomic to my hands would be a 3+3 Futura/Dean style head. But that's only an issue when it comes to tuning, and I think the ergonomics will improve once I replace the stock mini Grovers with Kluson keystones.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

ItsaBass said:
For what it's worth, the Explorer shape is the most comfortable body shape I've ever played.
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This. Actually the XPL Explorer I had years ago was the most comfortable, but still, a standard Explorer is not far behind. I've read the Stars are even better, so that's my next project, I've never played one.

Don't let him buy something without trying a Star first.

There's also that Carvin V2 thing, like an upside down Warrior thing, those are well regarded players also. Never played one myself, but if you can find one.

BC Rich Stealth, Jackson Warriors and Kellystars maybe worth checking out too, if they're not too crazy looking. Stealth especially, seems like a tiny little guitar on me, might be perfect for a smaller dude, good luck finding a cheap one these days though.
 
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Re: Explorer shaped guitars

yeah, I was gonna say the epi prophesy.. I dont like the thinner waist on it, but if you need something smaller than an explorer. I kinda like the marcus henderson one...
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

King IzzO))) said:
There's also that Carvin V2 thing, like an upside down Warrior thing, those are well regarded players also. Never played one myself, but if you can find one.
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Do you mean the Carvin V220? I had one of those and I hated the thing passionately. Feel wise was fine nothing special but nothing negative to say but that was the brightest tinniest sounding guitar ive ever ran into. maybe it was the kahler trem but it didnt matter what pickups i put in it was thin. I'm sure not all of them were like this but the one I had sure was.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

Edgecrusher said:
Do you mean the Carvin V220? I had one of those and I hated the thing passionately. Feel wise was fine nothing special but nothing negative to say but that was the brightest tinniest sounding guitar ive ever ran into. maybe it was the kahler trem but it didnt matter what pickups i put in it was thin. I'm sure not all of them were like this but the one I had sure was.
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That's the one, like I said, I've never played one, but they have a lot of fans.
gear_carvin5.jpg

I think it's Ascension, he speaks highly of them. I dunno, maple neckthru with an ebony board makes a bright guitar, Carvin likes that combo, so maybe that's how yours was? I had the same problems with my neckthru Kamikaze, but I've played the bolt ons and they're almost nothing alike.
 
Re: Explorer shaped guitars

Yeah mine was all maple too. ive had other guitars that were all maple that werent that thin sounding I always chalked it up to the kahler
 
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