New Gibson 80s Explorer

[Securb]

Color me intrigued. The pickups are listed as "80s Tribute" if these are Velvet Bricks, I really want to play this guitar. They could be Dirty Fingers, also.

The new 80s Explorer is based on the popular 1984 model. It features a fast-playing SlimTaper™ mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard. The iconically-shaped mahogany body is outfitted with new 80s Tribute pickups that accurately capture the unique fat-toned sound and rich sustain of the models from that era. Now available in Ebony. A hardshell case is also included.

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/Electric-Guitar/80s-Explorer/Ebony

 

[Mincer]

The Vs and explorers from this era were cool. It is about time they were reissued.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Mm, Cesar's debut as the big kahuna, as it were.

Some of the 80s models were indeed interesting. They should revive the triple P90 one .

 

[Securb]

I still cannot find anything regarding the pickups, even on Gibson's website, which is weird. This makes me think they are the Bill Lawrence-designed Velvet Brick pickups. Maybe there is some kind of licensing or royalties agreement with the Lawrence family they do not want to fulfill so they renamed the pickups. If they were Dirty FIngers I think they would simply call them what they are. "80s Tribute" is suspect in a good way.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Doesn't Dirty Fingers have two rows of screws?

 

[Securb]

Doesn't Dirty Fingers have two rows of screws?

Yes, but if you read the description, it says "tribute" not an exact replica of whatever '80s pickup they are reproducing. The pickup could be a derivative of anything at this point it is all speculation.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

No pickguard is a huge plus
toggle switch in a better place.
I really like that!

 

[Masta' C]

Agreed...looks great!