Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

[Chad]

I just read on the Gibson page that this guitar is already out of production!? They just came out. Apparently, they were planned to be a limited run from the get-go. Somebody mentioned only 400 would be made, but I wasn't sure if that was correct or not.

Anyway, I have been planning to get one, but was gonna wait a bit. But with this news, I just went ahead and ordered one a few minutes ago. Don't want to wait around and see the prices go crazy like they have on the Thunderhorse Explorers.

 

[dominus]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Disappointed:

 

[The Guitar]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Hmmm.....not impressed with the character art there.

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

they sure dont like keeping the explorers around do they? bummer! My dream explorer would be solid black with no pg and white binding like the Hamer Lita played in the runaways, or an explorer with a black quilt or flame top like some of the hamers I wanted to order before they closed shop. I wish they would bring back that trad pro explorer with the black and white binding, but Id rather a normal sized one..

Chad, congrats!! Look forward to your review! Really curious about the pups on those.

 

[Chad]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Thanks! Yeah, if I understand correctly, the only Explorer still in production is the Jason Hook signature. And that thing is an atrocity IMO. And I LOVE Explorers.

I really liked those trad pro ones, but agree about the normal size. I probably would have bought one if they were normal size.

I used to have a 1996 Hamer USA Standard Custom. Beautiful guitar, but for some reason I never could bond with it, so I sold it.

 

[Lucy Diamond]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

They have a couple of used ones on musiciansfriend.

I was initially going to buy one and change all the hardware and electronics on it just to have an explorer with a burst.

Thankfully Gibson still makes the standard Explorers and I really miss the Explorer Pros. (Thankfully, I have two )

 

[Chad]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

^Are the standard versions back in production? I thought they were still on hiatus?

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Yeah, I thought the standards were out too.. The only things I like about the hook model is the deeper cutaway and the bevel on the top

 

[esandes]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

gibson did the same thing with the "blackwater" les paul. it was the chad kroeger signature.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

I just played one of those a few days ago at Sam Ash. It's probably my favorite Explorer I've ever played.
If I owned it I'd give the pickups a chance, although some nice gold Duncans is what it'd probably end up with.
The gold burst is beautiful in person.

One of the best features is the toggle switch location. The whole electronic layout is like a PRS McCarty, which makes switching pickups a simple swipe with your hand. I never liked the Explorers with the toggle switch out on the lower horn.

 

[Chad]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

I'll be interested to see how those pickups work out. In my 2006 natural, I've tried several pickups in the bridge and my favorites were a CustomUOA5 & Custom8.

I'll probably be replacing the truss rod cover with a plain one. And possibly the pickguard depending on how much that emblem sticks out in person.

Thoughts on the pickup rings? The cream color matches the binding and pickguard, but I wonder if black might contrast well with the dark part of the burst and the fretboard and look better?

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Disappointed:

Ohhh the memories. I loved golden axe growing up the video game that is
. Altered beast, golden axe. streets of rage to name a few all ridiculously cool as a kid

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

I'd throw my gold Brobucker set in there. The more I think about it, the more I want one! LOL

The price is what hurts!

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Disappointed:

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Wow, what a shame. We have one in at the store and its an absolute gorgeous guitar, the finish is perfect and the rosewood on it is the straightest I've seen, one definitely my favourite Gibson we have in right now...too bad I'm on a music store wage budget hah

 

[Chad]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

The price is what hurts! They went high on this one.

I wish it were a bit less expensive, but I don't think it's really all that bad. When the standard Explorers were still in production they had a MAP price of $1,399. This one has a MAP of $1,599 but adds: binding, burst finish, trapezoid inlays, specialized pickups, etc. I don't think an additional $200 for that is that out of line. And when compared to the price of other guitars in the Gibson USA line, it looks even better. And that's all talking MAP. I got mine for substantially less than MAP from a reputable mom & pop dealer.

 

[Chad]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Thoughts on the pickup rings? The cream color matches the binding and pickguard, but I wonder if black might contrast well with the dark part of the burst and the fretboard and look better?

Anybody?

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

Nah,I'd leave it,personally...

.02

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

I have a 59b in the neck and a custom 8 in my explorer. If I free up some money, Im gonna put a jb in the neck since I discovered how great they are in the neck..

On this axe, is it just a sticker over the normal selector switch hole? It would be nice if the pg was solid there.
The price really isnt bad in comparison to the normal ones considering the binding, inlays and outsourced pickups .

 

[Chad]

Re: Gibson Explorer Golden Axe Bill Kelliher signature already discontinued?

I have a 59b in the neck and a custom 8 in my explorer. If I free up some money, Im gonna put a jb in the neck since I discovered how great they are in the neck..

On this axe, is it just a sticker over the normal selector switch hole? It would be nice if the pg was solid there.
The price really isnt bad in comparison to the normal ones considering the binding, inlays and outsourced pickups .

I have a 59n in the neck of my other Explorer. Currently have a 59b in the bridge, but did have a Custom8 in there for awhile and it KILLED!

The logo on the pickguard is hot stamped, which I think is like branding...as in branded cattle. But I'll give it a closer look when the guitar arrives. Like you, I wish it wasn't there. But at least it's small.