Explorers vs. Soloists on the used market right now

Inflames626

New member
Hi all,
So it seems Explorer shapes from nearly every manufacturer are expensive right now. Maybe $1200 for a Schecter E1 for example.

Meanwhile, Soloists seem to be well equipped for under $1000 or even $800.

Any speculation as to what has made Explorers so valuable lately?

I was kind of hoping we could stick with the Klon obsession--the Bitcoin of the guitar gear industry--so my precious Explorers--especially Floyded 25.5" ones--could stay cheap.
 
Dunno, but I've always liked Soloists. They tend to be lighter and have more variation on frets/pickup combos/etc.
 
On the used market? Quick reverb search shows plenty of Explorer types from Schecter, Epiphone, Dean, and some other brands, low end around $400, several more between $600-1000.
 
Seashore , are they Floyded? Schecters tend to be cheaper used. Meanwhile their E and Apocalypse lines seem really expensive, probably because they sometimes contain Sustainiacs.

There don't seem to be many of those used (yet).

The Jackson Phil Demmel Floyded version is the only one that seems reasonably priced right now, IMO.

The reason why I emphasize Soloists being cheaper is they are neck thru whereas most of Explorers are going to be bolts or set necks.
 
Seashore , are they Floyded? Schecters tend to be cheaper used. Meanwhile their E and Apocalypse lines seem really expensive, probably because they sometimes contain Sustainiacs.

There don't seem to be many of those used (yet).

The Jackson Phil Demmel Floyded version is the only one that seems reasonably priced right now, IMO.

The reason why I emphasize Soloists being cheaper is they are neck thru whereas most of Explorers are going to be bolts or set necks.

Hm. I wasn't looking for Floyds. That bumps up the Schecters. I see one under a thousand bucks. There are a handful of Dean Zs with Floyds floating around for less.
 
If you are looking for used Shecter explorer shape with a Floyd.

1) Its a niche thing, I imagine that is one of their less common models.
2) Add a Floyd onto it, that makes it even more niche.
3) They haven't been available all that long, so there aren't going to be many on the used market.

This is the one I would get, but the headstock is not great

https://www.sweetwater.com/c590--So...Kz1VT9h2S8rzhnlsHOYaAo1PEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
It's not really Schecter as much as it's really only they, Jackson, And Dean who make Floyded Explorers.

I don't really need the Sustainiac as I already have a Jackson Dinky DK2S with one (in single coil).

I already have 7 or 8 Jackson Kellys.

I just prefer Explorers to Strats or LPs.

I feel there just isn't a lot offered in terms of features right now. Most of the designs are boring.

Year after year, same Strats and LPs being cranked out.

Nothing cool like this:

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Or this:

s-l1600.jpg


Or this:

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Or this:

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I've got a Warrior, or a cheap one. The Xiphoses are nice, especially the 27 fret ones, but the reverse headstock and direct mounted pickups make me say no.

Almost have to call Warmoth at this point. It used to be cheaper to order parts and build your own but now it costs the same just to request a pointy body shape.

High inflation. No one wants to take risks on body shapes they think won't sell.
 
One of my friends has that horrendously expensive Ernie Ball Kaizen, and he loves it except for the trem, which he said is dive only. Sweet body shape as far as pointies go.

6d7ae10ff8695b17561aad45275e93ab1936229c_ERN_730665200VBBM_1_1.jpg
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Reminds me if a Strat and a Steinberger had a baby.

All the kids are into Evertuned Fluenced Solar type guitars now because of YouTube guitarists.

I see those when I could see an 80s style Floyded Destroyer with diverse wiring options and think their expectations are so low.

Nothing says basic to me more than a fixed bridge Strat.

"Would you like white to go with your vanilla and blandness, sir?"
 
You just need to find out what brand of felt-tipped permanent marker they used for the "zebrawood" stripes, color between all the lines, and give it a little spray of clear coat. Boom, gloss black.
 
It's not really Schecter as much as it's really only they, Jackson, And Dean who make Floyded Explorers.

I just prefer Explorers to Strats or LPs.

What you really want is a Dean ML, without the Dean headstock. All those are ML knock offs.

If you could get over your dislike of the Dean headstock you would have access to many more guitars.

I like the Dean headstock on that kind of guitar fwiw.
 
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