Not your Dads Explorer

brentrocks

New member
The 80s were known for pointy guitars with wild colors and blood splatter graphics...double locking tremolos and super-hot humbuckers...




...and camouflage????




Well...someone at Gibson thought so!!!




This is a Gibson Explorer III. 1984, made in Nashville, part of their "designer series" Made for a very short time...1984-1985...these came is a few different color schemes. Most of them came from the factory with the Kahler Flyer tremolo system. 3 P90s, master volume, master tone, 3-way toggle for the bridge and neck pickups, other toggle that controls the middle pickup. I took out the tone pot and installed a kill switch.




Everything else is basically the same as your regular Explorer. It's in pretty good condition for 38 years old. No cracks or breaks.




When I picked this one up today, it had only 1 original p90 in the middle...the neck and bridge pickups were fake import Dimarzio p90s sized humbucker copies. So I installed a Lollar in the bridge, left the original in the middle and installed a Van Zandt in the neck. I swapped cream covers for black. Took out the Kahler, cleaned and lubricated it and put a set of heavy-duty springs on it. Polished the frets and lemon oiled the fretboard. Them put her all back together!




Despite its interesting color scheme, this Explorer has it where it counts. After new strings and setup, this baby friggin rocks!!! The Kahler stays in tune like a champ! And the tone is what you would expect from a solid mahogany p90 guitar. It's a great weight too...under 9 lbs. It has a medium C neck carve and a beautiful, streaky rosewood board.




A really fun guitar!!!




IMG_4613 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4614 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4615 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4616 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4617 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4618 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4619 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4620 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4621 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4622 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4623 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4625 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4626 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr




IMG_4627 by brent HENDERSON, on Flickr
 
Man B, that one is unique and awesome! ...and a licensed Kahler as well. If you ever decide to sell it, hit me up!
 
Interesting - that visna factory finish?

Looks like something Saddam Hussein ordered. Typical Gibson; "Hey - camouflage is in! Does anyone know how to camouflage stuff? No - don't worry, just throw some green brown and tan on there!"

3 P-90's and a Khaler? Man...they just don't get it. A 500T and two 496's...TAHT makes sense. Thus, not what they put in it.

It is rather funky looking though. Interesting piece, no doubt. But I wouldn't want to own or play it. Someone will love it.
 
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Someone went at it w/a razor blade to relic lol.
I had a black sexplorer you just couldn't see that guitar.
Korina is the only one id consider these days.
That big wing torques on yer lower back not in a good way.
 
Interesting - that visna factory finish?

Looks like something Saddam Hussein ordered. Typical Gibson; "Hey - camouflage is in! Does anyone know how to camouflage stuff? No - don't worry, just throw some green brown and tan on there!"

3 P-90's and a Khaler? Man...they just don't get it. A 500T and two 496's...TAHT makes sense. Thus, not what they put in it.

It is rather funky looking though. Interesting piece, no doubt. But I wouldn't want to own or play it. Someone will love it.

Factory finish. I know. Hideous. Lol
 
Someone went at it w/a razor blade to relic lol.
I had a black sexplorer you just couldn't see that guitar.
Korina is the only one id consider these days.
That big wing torques on yer lower back not in a good way.

That’s no razor bade job there…good old fashioned weather checking.
 
I loved the Epiphone Explorer Korina... but considered it too expensive to buy :/... what a tone though!! :o ..

Custom bridge pickup? :o :)
 
Interesting - that visna factory finish?

Looks like something Saddam Hussein ordered. Typical Gibson; "Hey - camouflage is in! Does anyone know how to camouflage stuff? No - don't worry, just throw some green brown and tan on there!"

3 P-90's and a Khaler? Man...they just don't get it. A 500T and two 496's...TAHT makes sense. Thus, not what they put in it.

It is rather funky looking though. Interesting piece, no doubt. But I wouldn't want to own or play it. Someone will love it.

My thoughts exactly...except for the pups. That's the only thing I personally like about it.
 
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