@@AudioStorm1980 Wait... What? You're telling me that when you heard Allen Collins back in 1973 (47 years ago) you went out and bought an Explorer that you then turned around and sold a year later, but that you've thought about, and have been impressed by that guitar every day (17,155 days) since? LMFAO! If that is the case, why didn't you just go get another one? After five years, & all that thinking, you'd think that you would have figured out that you really liked that f'ing guitar? LMFAO! Right?
My influences came from the scene a lil more than a decade later, but I still appreciated Collins, and I always wanted an Explorer too. Finally one day twenty years later, I was just at the guitar shop for something simple like stings, and saw one that I had to have after I played it. I'd never touched one, so I didn't know how freakin comfortable they are. One of my all time best decisions even tho it took me over twenty years to make it.
Allen Collins tone with his 58 Explorer stood out in the 3 electric guitar style L.S. were playing a tough gig when Steve & Gary are top notch themselves. R.I.P. fellas. 🕊
Paul Stanley? Maybe you're thinking of the flying V.... Ace Frehley played an Ibanez Destroyer, that Eddie Van Halen turned into the the "Shark" guitar...lol
@Alchemist edge's best lead is actually 11:00 tick-tock I wish he had stayed with the explorer from Gibson his sound and tone changed using other guitarsI believe Sunday bloody Sunday is playing on a black strat not a explorer from Gibson I once saw Eric Clapton borrow dr. Johns guitar players Les Paul Gibson's sound is the best I believe the neck is glued on not screwed on Mr Clapton sound on that Les Paul brown wood grain Les Paul was over the top I looked around and everyone was crying and I was two about a thousand people we're there you had to have a two year sobriety chip to get in to the summer camp grounds in Malibu canyon and Mr Clapton played music I have never herd before or after the performance dr. John had the best players I've ever heard live unbelievable his sound that day I will never forget Mr Clapton is a virtuoso this is before cell fones he blew our socks and shoes off he told us that he loved us and told us he had to go he walked over to the Cartier white Lincoln the chauffeur open the door for him and was driven away quietly well we all stood there and tears I will never forget that afternoon the rest of my life there are lots of players out good bad great there is no one like him
Whenever I see Explorer I remember Matthias Jabs of Scorpions with a Iconic black stripes... He is so underrated but too good and perfect fit to the band along with Rudolph Schencker with his flying V guitar💖🎸
Allen collins is has always been my favorite guitar player by far, his tone is still unmatched today. Even if you had his guitar and amps you wouldn’t get that sharp precise tone. He’s the reason I love explorers, and he is by far one of the most underrated players in the history of pickers. So Is Steve Gaines
@GROOVE ECHO I'm nearly 50 so my Metallica was mid 80's. I remember getting the Circus magazines that had James with his "so what" Explorer. I wanted one ever since.
I would have wanted one anyways. Whether James had played it or not. I mean, cool is cool right? A rose is a rose by any other name. I love Metallica, and do agree that Hetfield is a huge cultural icon, but damn that explorer shape is instinctively rockin! I wonder how come the explorer wasnt more used for media exposure before James? Because now that I think of it, it seems the 80's metalers certainly brought attention to the models. Other guys did play on occasionally( Clapton etc), but cant recall as heavy a continued use until Metallica. I think the explorer shaped guitar played by Adrian Smith in the Iron Maiden NUMBER OF THE BEAST video in 82 was in fact an Ibanez destroyer. I love em.
Love the Explorer...never owned one ..yet!..lol!...Thanks so much for acknowledging Allen Collins...one of my favorite guitarists & one of the best of all time!!..GOD BLESS THA LYNYRD SKYNYRD BAND!!
James Hetfield, Tommy Shaw, Matthias Jabs. I have 2 Gibson Explorers in addition to 5 Dean Zs, an LTD Snakebyte (Hetfield signature), and a Schecter E-1.
In February 1970 I saw Leon Russell's band at the Royal Albert Hall in London and the guitarist Don Preston was using a 1958 Explorer. Don also used the Explorer with Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen and George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh
Holy Crap it’s Rick Vito.... (if it’s really you! LOL) So many legendary guitars have been used by Fleetwood guitarists. My fave would still be one that was pictured at the beginning of this vid ... It’s “Greenie” of course! Keep on rockin’ ... !!! \m/, ,\m/
My first guitar was a black Les Paul Epiphone. I was lucky to start with it and still have it! I bought my classic white Gibson Explorer and there hasn’t been one other guitar in this world I’d rather be playing. I’ve always loved the shape because it reminded me of a bolt of lightning. Such a bold and edgy design that always attracts the eye. If anything ever tried to come close, this one looked like a weapon in comparison. The sound of it was and still is perfect to me. Tough, attentive to dynamics, and all I wanna do is hear more of it and be seen with it. Believe it or not I’ve never encountered another guitarist playing one in real life besides Paul Stanley and James Hetfield live. They both happen to be two of my biggest inspirations. You’d think I would’ve mentioned that earlier but to be honest I never thought about them both in the same breath when it came to my guitar... I took the time to write this because I just realized it myself!!! Hetfield for the heavy chugging battle ready riffs and Paul Stanley for the style, poise, and untamed rockstar energy. Those two great flavors must’ve lead me subconsciously to the Explorer. If you’re considering this guitar, you gotta mean it!!! Like me I think it’s vibe is “jealous”. This guitar wanted to be seen since it’s incarnation. The design captures your curiosity, the audacity of it. It WILL be seen and WILL be heard. Anyway I’m rambling. The Gibson Explorer is my axe for every battle, war, and house fire. Keep playing y’all.
Just bought an Epiphone '58 Flying V, a 2021 model which is all korina/limba wood, best sounding Epiphone Pro-buckers I've ever played through. It's my understanding that Seth Lover, who designed humbucking pickups for Gibson, designed the Flying V (?). I like my new Flying V so much, that I just bought the Epiphone '58 Explorer too, also korina/limba body and neck, with pro-bucker pickups. These guitars are a great value at $599USD shipped. Apparently these natural finish models using all African korina/limba wood and gold hardware are an exclusive run for a USA retailer, so they may or may not make more of them like this. I never thought I'd own a Flying V or Explorer, because the Gibson versions cost over TEN TIMES more than these Epiphone dead-nuts clones. Great guitars - great values!!
i know guitar nerds don't count him among the greats, but the first guitarist i think of when i see an explorer is The Edge. He bought one in New York when U2 was starting out and used it a lot in the early years. Dunno about later.
Thanks for the video. I bought a 2019 Explorer about 2 months ago. My first real guitar, that my gramma bought me was a 2007-2008 Natural Explorer with gold hardware and Dirty Finger pickups, I loved it but at the time was young and impatient with playing so I traded it for another guitar which got traded for another guitar that I no longer own, thankfully. One of the biggest regrets of my life was giving that guitar away and not knowing what I had. So when the time came I went to my guitar shop and offered them one of my Telecasters for some money towards the guitar and it was the best decision! Seriously, I am very happy with this guitar compared to the old one, silver hardware, Burstbucker pickups bring out the real tone instead of being muddy and poop gain with no clean high and low end. People so often dismiss this guitar but they are true gems hiding among the bandwagon of popular guitars, or at least mine is, but really you could play just about anything on this guitar and still find yourself with some surprises along the way! Thanks for the comeback Gibson +)
I'm glad they started making them again. I just purchased a 2016 model and I love it. Most of my collection are vintage but I just had to have one. I have wanted one ever since I saw Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd playing one back in '78.
When I saw Cheap Trick live for the first time in April 1979 Rick Nielsen played many guitars BUT the one(s) he seemed to play the most were Hamer Explorers. The next day at high school I asked a singer/friend what was the weird shaped guitar Rick played called? He said, "Oh, it's an Explorer, man." That's when I decided I wanted to play the electric guitar. My first guitar was a natural wood Cameo Explorer. I bought a Gibson Explorer 2 a year later. Probably because I was so intrigued with Rick's proliferation of guitars on stage I decided I wanted to do the same. I don't own as many as Nielsen but I own more than most music stores. The Explorer is hands down my favorite guitar body style to this day... Thank you, Gibson Guitars and Hamer Guitars!!!
I got a new Epi Korina Explorer in 2010. $499.00 was the tag price. Same for the Standard Burst LP with a very nice flame top. A few years later, that top was called a Plus Top. Cost a couple hundred more. Now, it's an inspired by Gibson and is $1300.00. What a f rip.
He played an explorer shape bass build by Alembic. Gibson offered to build him several Explorer basses with Moog electronics but he refused. He preferred the Alembic basses.
I'm 61 years old. If I knew back in the 60's what I know now, I would have bought up a lot of guitars back then and have a collection of vintage guitars later on. I remember looking at a Gibson 335 in the early 70's at Chuck Levin's music store. I could have bought it for $300 back then.
Of all the guitars I’ve owned and played, I’ve never owned an explorer and only played a handful. I too loved Allen Collins tone he got with it. Never knew Clapton played one, his was definitely weirdly customized. I bet he was pissed when he found out someone took a band saw to the body. NOT Gibson. Great history piece, thanks!
I wonder if it was a Corrina? In the 80s, I was on the road playing with a band. A dude came to our hotel room one day, early in the morning and had a Les Paul custom and a corrina explorer he wanted to sell, 200 bucks apiece or both of them for 300. I could stab myself in the face for not getting them, but we only made 100 bucks a week apiece. He even had original cases with both of them.
that was really well done,thank you. There is a video on youtube of Allen Collins playing with L.Skynyrd at a show in aug of 1976 where he plays that guitar and just makes it sing......I was never a big fan of them but the way he makes that thing talk to the crowd is just a sight & sounds to behold.....
35 seconds into this review, the 'Greeny' Les paul makes a appearance! How fantastic is this. It shows the out of phase pick ups and the wear and tear abuse that Peter Green and Gary Moore inflicted upon this legendary, iconic piece of world wide artform history. Considering this is about the explorer, aka; futura. So many great guitar rock legends shaped and nfluenced rock music with this crazy design, we lovingly call the Explorer. Long live rock!🤘
Matthias Jabs of the Scorpions influenced me on the explorer. I always wanted one as a kid in the early 80’s. I bought a knockoff Arbor brand explorer in the late 80’s which I still have but it’s basically junk. Fast forward to 2017, 6 years ago. It took me about 35 years to get it but I FINALLY got a real 2009 model Gibson explorer in the white finish. Absolutely one of my favorite guitars!! Great video thanks for sharing the info!
I really like the comfort of the Explorer style. It just allows me to play differently and be more adventurous going up the neck. Strats and SG's body styles seemed to be prohibitive and awkward by the mount. Yet I was always cheesed going live or in the studio when everyone would say "Ooooo - heavy metal man!" It's style changed my technique, and my technique became unique. Thanks Gibson! :)
4 роки тому+1
Nice history. My first real guitar was an early 1980's Explorer E2. Still have it. It is marvelous.
I have a Hamer I absolutely love. Allen Collins was a huge influence. The guitar is always in attack mode and has biting tone that cuts through the mix. Several people have said it is my best sounding guitar and it is Definatly me. It has a fast neck with anymore Duncan pick ups. I have about 10 electrics. Its my number 2 next to my 93. Les Paul classic plus.
I have an '85 Gibson Explorer bass that as I understand is one of 300 ever made. I wish I had more information on it, it's quite the beast! It's so heavy, tone and weight wise.
Epiphone just reissued the Explorer bass, with African korina/limba body and neck, two humbucking pickups, only $599USD shipped from the US retailer the "run" of these models were made for. I may get one of them, the korina makes them much lighter in weight, at least my Flying V is light weight, waiting for the Explorer guitar I just bought to arrive, may get the bass too if I like it.
Is Allen Collins Explorer in the rock n roll Hall of Fame. Being as so few were produced he must have purchased it from someone notable. When he got his Explorer he gave his third interation 1964 firebird 3 to Pete haycock of the Climax Blues Band and it was auctioned off by Christie's in December 2013
@@TheGuitarShow you can find a detailed provenance at Christie's web site. Sale#5818. Lot#76 Date:. 12.16.2014 I sure would like to own and play. C-Ya. Great show
I've been wanting an Explorer ever since I was a kid. I'm 55 years old now and just got a brand new one. Antique Natural. This guitar is the cream of the crop!!!!
Great Video! Still my favorite shape after first seeing James Hetfield playing his ESP versions in the 80's. I own a 90's era Epiphone 1958 Korina, and is the most comfortable guitar to play that I own. I knew that the Flying V and the Explorer had an interesting history and was excited to see this video come up on my recommendations. Thanks!
I too have a Gibson Explorer because of, as many others have alluded to - James Hetfield. James actually owns an original Gibson Explorer circa 1959. He's actually played with it live more recently, but i'd imagine has to limit its usage due to ESP contractual obligations and the fact that his 59 is probably worth serious money! Loved the video by the way!
The first time I saw someone using one was in the movie '' Concert for Bangladesh ''. I remember that one of the things that excited me most about going to the movies was the presence of Eric Clapton at the concert. But what happened was that who captured my attention was Don Preston, guitarist in Leon Russell's band ... not for his Gibson Explorer, but for the excellent guitarist he was.
@@Seventysongs yes he seems to have gone right out and bought one - although that one was missing the upper bout - he got another intact one later on - he actually sounded great on it!
@@TheGuitarShow I was wondering ... if Eric was influenced in 1971, year of the Concert for Bangladesh, to buy an Explorer, maybe there is something like photos, bootlegs ... before 1975, year of the album EC Was Here, with him using this model. Some expert on Eric Clapton must know something about this ... although, for me it is enough ... I will not look for this person lol
James hetfield is like the most known explorer guy and lastly he's been taking his 59 explorer out. It can be seen on for whom the bell tolls live Grand Rapids
I bought a mahogany Gibson Explorer in 1990 think it was around £599 at the time. Originally I had tried to buy a Firebird but this was more difficult to do, no internet, certainly for me back then. Wanted either really as a tribute to the great Allen Collins. Freebird was pretty much the 1st song I learnt, but I could never play it as well as that fella
My Explorer model (which I unfortunately got rid of) was an Epiphone. I still appreciated the iconography of all the different musicians associated with the shape, one of whom (Eric Clapton) is the guy that inspired me to pick up the guitar. Eric is probably the reason why I chose several models I've owned since 1995. I probably said some of these same things from a different UA-cam account (ShreadTheWeapon).
Meine erste Gitarre war ein Hohner Ex Devil, ein Explorer Kopie ende der 80er. Mittlerweile bin ich Besitzer von mehreren Gibson, Epiphone und Hamer Explorers. Mein Highlight ist eine Explorer 90, die legendäre Matthias Jabs explorer die er ab Savage Amusement spielte. Für mich ist Matthias Jabs der Explorer Gitarrist überhaupt, er hat für mich den gleichen Stellenwert für die Explorer wie es Rudolf und Michael Schenker für die Flying V haben.
Surprised there's not more comments about the Edge, dude was playing an Explorer way before Hetfield and the metal guys. Nothing against them of course, I love them all
You forget to mention Don Preston (of Leon Russell's band) owned a 1958 Explorer that was filmed in George Harrison's "Concert for Bangladesh"! BTW - that same Explorer is pictured at 6:03 to 6:08 in your video. I took this photograph of Mike Parker holding (former owner) Don Preston's '58 Explorer in August, 2000 at the Orange County Guitar Show in Costa Mesa, CA at the back parking lot. Unfortunately Mike passed away in 2002. I took several photos of Mike holding his newly acquired '58 Explorer (one of which you are using at 6:03). I traced this guitar out on paper after I took these photographs. Too bad you didn't use the frontal pics I took...
Thanks James - I have mentioned him in a Bob and Ramon show but he probably deserves some more mentions on this channel - let me see if I can do a short history on him.
I've had an Explorer since 1994 when I bought it new. An early Gibson Custom Shop model with unique paint (a sort of black over white pickle finish). I say "early" because it was when the custom shop guitars still had the standard serial number system instead of the current CS prefix. It's definitely a guitar I've had a love-hate relationship with. Not one of my primary guitars by any stretch. I am constantly fiddling with the strap length as a comfortable playing position has been elusive.
Nice work. Rick Derringer for Live Derriinger was prob first player though saw Rick Neilsen for Cheap Trick ads. And yes I wish I could cop some RD with a Hamer Standard. Maybe throw in LS "Workin' For MCA/ I Ain't The One" Had those,,,,still here.
One of the earliest public appearances of on original Explorer was in the hands of Don Preston during George Harrison's Concert For Bangla Desh. The Explorer can be seen in both the photo album that came with the 3 record set, and the film of the concert. Check it out.
The V-shaped headstock probably inspired the symmetrical Dean V headstock. Models like the Dean ML and Cadillac are clearly two Gibsons put together on the drawing board.
It wasn't until the early 2000s that I found out the Explorer and Flying Vs were made in the late 50s! Wow, was I shocked. All my life I thought these two models was created in the early 70s. It just goes to show how advance Gibson was back in those days.
About guitars, I go with the opinion of Scott Grove. It's all about scale length, pickup type and pickup location. So the Explorer is in fact a Les Paul, with another body shape. So an Explorer with the pickups of a Les Paul sounds like a Les Paul.
No I wouldn’t go with the opinion of that guys even if i was paid. No explorer is gonna sound like a lp. Exp if we are talking about a original 58 has a korina body vs a mahogany body with a maple top they could both be using the same patent applied for pickups but they arent gonna sound the same
jj jordan Jeff’s Explorer is not a Gibson - it is a Rhyne Custom with Mother of Pearl hawk inlays. For many years I actually thought it was a Gibson one-off custom.
I remember reading an old Guitar Player magazine interview with John Entwistle in which he discussed his extensive guitar & bass collection (May 1982). I'm sure that JE stated that he owned two 1958 Gibson Explorers, but had sold one to the guitarist in his solo band, John Entwistle's Ox, something that he later regretted having done. I don't have the magazine any more, but it was an extensive interview, lavishly illustrated with many colour plates. I wonder what became of the Entwistle collection after his death? He was a compulsive collector of both vintage guitars & basses and owned a huge collection in 1982.
I always was influenced by Allen Collins and always wanted and still want an Explorer!
Same.....went and got me one....had it for about a year....that thing still impresses me every day.
He was one of the greatest ever!
@@AudioStorm1980 Wait... What? You're telling me that when you heard Allen Collins back in 1973 (47 years ago) you went out and bought an Explorer that you then turned around and sold a year later, but that you've thought about, and have been impressed by that guitar every day (17,155 days) since? LMFAO! If that is the case, why didn't you just go get another one? After five years, & all that thinking, you'd think that you would have figured out that you really liked that f'ing guitar? LMFAO! Right?
My influences came from the scene a lil more than a decade later, but I still appreciated Collins, and I always wanted an Explorer too. Finally one day twenty years later, I was just at the guitar shop for something simple like stings, and saw one that I had to have after I played it. I'd never touched one, so I didn't know how freakin comfortable they are. One of my all time best decisions even tho it took me over twenty years to make it.
This is what I'm talking about. A comprehensive history which why I watch UA-cam videos about guitars
Pleasure Stevie thanks for watching bro!
when i saw dave grohl with that black and white explorer i fell in love with that guitar
So cool - thanks Lucas
Allen Collins tone with his 58 Explorer stood out in the 3 electric guitar style L.S. were playing a tough gig when Steve & Gary are top notch themselves. R.I.P. fellas. 🕊
Allen's firebird also sounded great when Ed was still in the band.
when I look at the explorer I think mathias jabs paul Stanley and james hefield
Paul Stanley? Maybe you're thinking of the flying V....
Ace Frehley played an Ibanez Destroyer, that Eddie Van Halen turned into the the "Shark" guitar...lol
I think of dave grohl
@@bryonkidder6199 yeah Paul made the iceman famous
Mathias Jabs!
@@bigdaddybuster9494 Davd Grohl wasn't even playing Guitar when the latter where already establish Rock star!
The Edge had a 1976 Explorer that he bought as U2 was forming. He used it for many years in the studio and onstage.
That was the 1976 Reissue edition.
Edge has MANY Explorers..He would send his guitar tech out while on tour to search for korina bodys only..
@Chiefline he's a dumb troll child who listens to Billie Eyelash
@Alchemist edge's best lead is actually 11:00 tick-tock I wish he had stayed with the explorer from Gibson his sound and tone changed using other guitarsI believe Sunday bloody Sunday is playing on a black strat not a explorer from Gibson I once saw Eric Clapton borrow dr. Johns guitar players Les Paul Gibson's sound is the best I believe the neck is glued on not screwed on Mr Clapton sound on that Les Paul brown wood grain Les Paul was over the top I looked around and everyone was crying and I was two about a thousand people we're there you had to have a two year sobriety chip to get in to the summer camp grounds in Malibu canyon and Mr Clapton played music I have never herd before or after the performance dr. John had the best players I've ever heard live unbelievable his sound that day I will never forget Mr Clapton is a virtuoso this is before cell fones he blew our socks and shoes off he told us that he loved us and told us he had to go he walked over to the Cartier white Lincoln the chauffeur open the door for him and was driven away quietly well we all stood there and tears I will never forget that afternoon the rest of my life there are lots of players out good bad great there is no one like him
ua-cam.com/video/bm1OeEjMtW8/v-deo.html
Whenever I see Explorer I remember Matthias Jabs of Scorpions with a Iconic black stripes... He is so underrated but too good and perfect fit to the band along with Rudolph Schencker with his flying V guitar💖🎸
Allen collins is has always been my favorite guitar player by far, his tone is still unmatched today. Even if you had his guitar and amps you wouldn’t get that sharp precise tone. He’s the reason I love explorers, and he is by far one of the most underrated players in the history of pickers. So Is Steve Gaines
Yes I loved his playing - watch out for my video coming tomorrow where I will mention him!
Steve just didn't have enough time for the big time exposure. But the mark he left after such a brief time is still quite substantial!
James Hetfield is the reason I have an explorer.
@GROOVE ECHO I'm nearly 50 so my Metallica was mid 80's. I remember getting the Circus magazines that had James with his "so what" Explorer. I wanted one ever since.
No better reason
He’s the reason I want a explorer
He always had cool guitars. 🤘
I would have wanted one anyways. Whether James had played it or not. I mean, cool is cool right? A rose is a rose by any other name. I love Metallica, and do agree that Hetfield is a huge cultural icon, but damn that explorer shape is instinctively rockin! I wonder how come the explorer wasnt more used for media exposure before James? Because now that I think of it, it seems the 80's metalers certainly brought attention to the models. Other guys did play on occasionally( Clapton etc), but cant recall as heavy a continued use until Metallica. I think the explorer shaped guitar played by Adrian Smith in the Iron Maiden NUMBER OF THE BEAST video in 82 was in fact an Ibanez destroyer.
I love em.
I always think of Mattias Jabs of the Scorpions when I think Explorer.
Yes, another iconic Explorer with Mattias's distinctive black lines on white. Still plays it.
Yep, me too. The very reason I bought the Effector (Cort) from the Sears catalog back in the early 80's. lol
Ricky Medlocke Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Yeah He is my biggest influence of playing guitar
Love the Explorer...never owned one ..yet!..lol!...Thanks so much for acknowledging Allen Collins...one of my favorite guitarists & one of the best of all time!!..GOD BLESS THA LYNYRD SKYNYRD BAND!!
James Hetfield, Tommy Shaw, Matthias Jabs. I have 2 Gibson Explorers in addition to 5 Dean Zs, an LTD Snakebyte (Hetfield signature), and a Schecter E-1.
Thanks
You EVER play a Hamer Flying V or explorer from Hamer !?
@@auntjenifer7774 I can't find a lefty Hamer Standard to save my life.
I have a 2005 explorer and it's one of my favorites. That body shape is perfectly balanced and so comfortable to play while standing.
In February 1970 I saw Leon Russell's band at the Royal Albert Hall in London and the guitarist Don Preston was using a 1958 Explorer. Don also used the Explorer with Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs & Englishmen and George Harrison's Concert For Bangladesh
Thats amazing Stuart thanks for the info - Ill check out Don Preston!
@@TheGuitarShow The headstock of Don Preston's Explorer appears at 18:14 of your recent George Harrison History
@@stuartpenney6829 Fantastic thanks for spotting that!
Love this one. Explorer is my favorite shape guitar.
Pleasure Scott Ii love these guitars also
Love my explorer's, got the 57 reissued korina and it's a beauty.
The first person that comes to my mind is Sir James Hetfield
Yes I agree he's well known espeically for the ESP versions
@@TheGuitarShow Yes exactly. Btw you're doing some very good work and I love the channel.
@@sheharyarkhan2384 Thank you so much Sheharyar
@@TheGuitarShow :)
FOR ME IT WAS ALLEN COLLINS- LONG LIVE THE LYNYRD SKYNYRD BAND
Allen Collins a so underrated! Thanks for including him. Great video!
Thanks John
James Hetfield's almight "EET FUK" Explorer is probably the most iconic in my opinion
Yes my dude.👍 also "So What".😀
Ramon, that is the VERY guitar I found and bought in 1990 while on tour with Fleetwood Mac. It has become quite famous!
Holy Crap it’s Rick Vito.... (if it’s really you! LOL) So many legendary guitars have been used by Fleetwood guitarists. My fave would still be one that was pictured at the beginning of this vid ... It’s “Greenie” of course! Keep on rockin’ ... !!! \m/, ,\m/
Rick I'm making the follow up video today on this! Stay well my friend
I always thought they were cool when I was a kid. I had no idea they were so rare for so long! Cool video thanks!
I had a '58 Explorer. Played it for 25 years. Fantastic guitar!
Really wow!!!
Had???
The first brand new guitar I bought, was a Gibson Explorer in 1978 along with a 100 watt Marshall 1/2 stack. Great times
My first guitar was a black Les Paul Epiphone. I was lucky to start with it and still have it!
I bought my classic white Gibson Explorer and there hasn’t been one other guitar in this world I’d rather be playing.
I’ve always loved the shape because it reminded me of a bolt of lightning. Such a bold and edgy design that always attracts the eye. If anything ever tried to come close, this one looked like a weapon in comparison.
The sound of it was and still is perfect to me. Tough, attentive to dynamics, and all I wanna do is hear more of it and be seen with it.
Believe it or not I’ve never encountered another guitarist playing one in real life besides Paul Stanley and James Hetfield live. They both happen to be two of my biggest inspirations.
You’d think I would’ve mentioned that earlier but to be honest I never thought about them both in the same breath when it came to my guitar... I took the time to write this because I just realized it myself!!!
Hetfield for the heavy chugging battle ready riffs and Paul Stanley for the style, poise, and untamed rockstar energy. Those two great flavors must’ve lead me subconsciously to the Explorer.
If you’re considering this guitar, you gotta mean it!!! Like me I think it’s vibe is “jealous”. This guitar wanted to be seen since it’s incarnation. The design captures your curiosity, the audacity of it. It WILL be seen and WILL be heard.
Anyway I’m rambling.
The Gibson Explorer is my axe for every battle, war, and house fire. Keep playing y’all.
I seem to remember ZZ Top playing a pair of white fuzzy ones that spun on the strap- don't remember the video though.
Yep, legs, but they were deans though.
Those fuzzy ones were Deans not Gibsons.
Don Preston, guitarist for Leon Russel, played one in the early 70ies especially in the Concert for Bangladesh.
Thanks for this info
Never had an explorer but i did have a jackson kelly.
8:01 I wondered if this was the guitar Eric played on E.C. Was Here - the tone is absolutely incredible!
Good point and one well worth researching
my favorite guitar shape, finally got one this year and I'm glad someone is finally uploading a well-edited and narrated history of these!
Thsts great news and thanks for watching
Just bought an Epiphone '58 Flying V, a 2021 model which is all korina/limba wood, best sounding Epiphone Pro-buckers I've ever played through. It's my understanding that Seth Lover, who designed humbucking pickups for Gibson, designed the Flying V (?). I like my new Flying V so much, that I just bought the Epiphone '58 Explorer too, also korina/limba body and neck, with pro-bucker pickups. These guitars are a great value at $599USD shipped. Apparently these natural finish models using all African korina/limba wood and gold hardware are an exclusive run for a USA retailer, so they may or may not make more of them like this. I never thought I'd own a Flying V or Explorer, because the Gibson versions cost over TEN TIMES more than these Epiphone dead-nuts clones. Great guitars - great values!!
thanks for this great comment and info David- I have a Flying V on my shopping list
i know guitar nerds don't count him among the greats, but the first guitarist i think of when i see an explorer is The Edge. He bought one in New York when U2 was starting out and used it a lot in the early years. Dunno about later.
Yes I agree The Edge is so famous for these and I would have included him but he is know playing a '75 model
@@TheGuitarShow Ah, i see. Cool.
Edge has owned a couple of Explorers.
@@Shred_The_Weapon He has more than a couple.. He has his guitar tech search every city they play and buys any Korina Explorers he finds..
When I think The Edge I don't necessarily think a particular guitar, I think effects pedals. Mainly electro harmonix memory man
Thanks for the video. I bought a 2019 Explorer about 2 months ago. My first real guitar, that my gramma bought me was a 2007-2008 Natural Explorer with gold hardware and Dirty Finger pickups, I loved it but at the time was young and impatient with playing so I traded it for another guitar which got traded for another guitar that I no longer own, thankfully. One of the biggest regrets of my life was giving that guitar away and not knowing what I had. So when the time came I went to my guitar shop and offered them one of my Telecasters for some money towards the guitar and it was the best decision! Seriously, I am very happy with this guitar compared to the old one, silver hardware, Burstbucker pickups bring out the real tone instead of being muddy and poop gain with no clean high and low end. People so often dismiss this guitar but they are true gems hiding among the bandwagon of popular guitars, or at least mine is, but really you could play just about anything on this guitar and still find yourself with some surprises along the way! Thanks for the comeback Gibson +)
I bet it sounds great!..i would love an Explorer..I just bought a 2019 LP Junior with a P90..Its an awesome axe..Do that Explorer justice!
I got a2017 Hp Explorer and I Love it 😊
James Hetfield of Metallica should be credited with making the Explorer popular in the 1980s and 1990s, with ESP making custom models for the band.
Very true, I'm a huge ESP fan
ESP explorers for sure! In fact i think both Hetfield and Hammet put ESP on the map with a bit of help from Lynch of coarse;)
I'm glad they started making them again. I just purchased a 2016 model and I love it. Most of my collection are vintage but I just had to have one. I have wanted one ever since I saw Allen Collins of Lynyrd Skynyrd playing one back in '78.
When I saw Cheap Trick live for the first time in April 1979 Rick Nielsen played many guitars BUT the one(s) he seemed to play the most were Hamer Explorers. The next day at high school I asked a singer/friend what was the weird shaped guitar Rick played called? He said, "Oh, it's an Explorer, man." That's when I decided I wanted to play the electric guitar. My first guitar was a natural wood Cameo Explorer. I bought a Gibson Explorer 2 a year later. Probably because I was so intrigued with Rick's proliferation of guitars on stage I decided I wanted to do the same. I don't own as many as Nielsen but I own more than most music stores. The Explorer is hands down my favorite guitar body style to this day... Thank you, Gibson Guitars and Hamer Guitars!!!
Man I was waiting and waiting what a surprise very well made and joy to watch as always 😊
Thanks bro!
I was in a gallery yesterday and saw a beautiful photo of Earth Wind & Fire from 1979. The guitarist is holding a lovely Explorer with three pick-ups!
Nice!
I got a new Epi Korina Explorer in 2010. $499.00 was the tag price. Same for the Standard Burst LP with a very nice flame top. A few years later, that top was called a Plus Top. Cost a couple hundred more. Now, it's an inspired by Gibson and is $1300.00. What a f rip.
Lovely mate - those Epiphone Explorers are amazing
John Entwhistle played an Explorer bass.
Martin Turner from Wishbone Ash used an explorer bass also.
He played an explorer shape bass build by Alembic. Gibson offered to build him several Explorer basses with Moog electronics but he refused. He preferred the Alembic basses.
I’ve always loved the shape, so cool & radical. I’ve had many Ibanez Destoyers, a Hamer & a Jackson & they aren’t guitars for the timid!
Exactly well said Raymond
For an oddly-shaped guitar, they are EXTREMELY comfortable to play, especially the Futura! Ether standing up or sitting down, they feel so good!
Rick Nielson says he's the only one in the world with two 58 Explorers. I believe Slash owns one also. Hard to believe the design is 61 years old.
I know it was so far ahead of its time - thanks Richard!
I'm 61 years old. If I knew back in the 60's what I know now, I would have bought up a lot of guitars back then and have a collection of vintage guitars later on. I remember looking at a Gibson 335 in the early 70's at Chuck Levin's music store. I could have bought it for $300 back then.
I know a collector in NJ who owns 3 original 58's. Sorry, Rick
hard to believe I`m even older than that.....peace,& keep rocking
Of all the guitars I’ve owned and played, I’ve never owned an explorer and only played a handful. I too loved Allen Collins tone he got with it. Never knew Clapton played one, his was definitely weirdly customized. I bet he was pissed when he found out someone took a band saw to the body. NOT Gibson. Great history piece, thanks!
Yeah, Eric was pissed. But he also had a second (unmodified) Explorer
I wonder if it was a Corrina? In the 80s, I was on the road playing with a band. A dude came to our hotel room one day, early in the morning and had a Les Paul custom and a corrina explorer he wanted to sell, 200 bucks apiece or both of them for 300. I could stab myself in the face for not getting them, but we only made 100 bucks a week apiece. He even had original cases with both of them.
The first time I ever saw an Explorer was in the mid-70's. Drew Abbott was playing one with Bob Seger on the Beautiful Loser tour.
that was really well done,thank you. There is a video on youtube of Allen Collins playing with L.Skynyrd at a show in aug of 1976 where he plays that guitar and just makes it sing......I was never a big fan of them but the way he makes that thing talk to the crowd is just a sight & sounds to behold.....
The Axe to end all Axes !
All hail the mighty Gibson explorer
35 seconds into this review, the 'Greeny' Les paul makes a appearance! How fantastic is this. It shows the out of phase pick ups and the wear and tear abuse that Peter Green and Gary Moore inflicted upon this legendary, iconic piece of world wide artform history. Considering this is about the explorer, aka; futura. So many great guitar rock legends shaped and nfluenced rock music with this crazy design, we lovingly call the Explorer. Long live rock!🤘
agreed I love the Ex!
Really love Explorers - with the Epiphone reissues, this great video has shown up; nice 👍
Thanks very much!
Great video. And I'm so glad you chose not to do just another "history of the Telecaster/lesPaul/SG/etc". I'd love to see more along these lines.
Thanks Carl! More coming soon!
Great job as always Ramon. A very forward looking design for the late 50s
Thanks Wade yes amazing to think they were made in the late 50s - Ill do the flying V soon!
Matthias Jabs of the Scorpions influenced me on the explorer. I always wanted one as a kid in the early 80’s. I bought a knockoff Arbor brand explorer in the late 80’s which I still have but it’s basically junk.
Fast forward to 2017, 6 years ago. It took me about 35 years to get it but I FINALLY got a real 2009 model Gibson explorer in the white finish. Absolutely one of my favorite guitars!! Great video thanks for sharing the info!
I really like the comfort of the Explorer style. It just allows me to play differently and be more adventurous going up the neck. Strats and SG's body styles seemed to be prohibitive and awkward by the mount. Yet I was always cheesed going live or in the studio when everyone would say "Ooooo - heavy metal man!" It's style changed my technique, and my technique became unique. Thanks Gibson! :)
Nice history. My first real guitar was an early 1980's Explorer E2. Still have it. It is marvelous.
Incredible lesson on early Explorers!
I have a Hamer I absolutely love. Allen Collins was a huge influence. The guitar is always in attack mode and has biting tone that cuts through the mix. Several people have said it is my best sounding guitar and it is Definatly me. It has a fast neck with anymore Duncan pick ups. I have about 10 electrics. Its my number 2 next to my 93. Les Paul classic plus.
I'd love to try out a Hamer I heard they got very close maybe closer than any Gibson since.
Allen Collins is the man I think of when I see a korina EX ... .
I have an '85 Gibson Explorer bass that as I understand is one of 300 ever made. I wish I had more information on it, it's quite the beast! It's so heavy, tone and weight wise.
Epiphone just reissued the Explorer bass, with African korina/limba body and neck, two humbucking pickups, only $599USD shipped from the US retailer the "run" of these models were made for. I may get one of them, the korina makes them much lighter in weight, at least my Flying V is light weight, waiting for the Explorer guitar I just bought to arrive, may get the bass too if I like it.
Is Allen Collins Explorer in the
rock n roll Hall of Fame. Being as so few were produced he must have purchased it from someone notable. When he got his Explorer he gave his third interation 1964
firebird 3 to Pete haycock of the Climax Blues Band and it was auctioned off by Christie's in December 2013
I love the Climax Blues Band - Ill have to check that out - thanks Louis for the info!!
@@TheGuitarShow you can find a detailed provenance at Christie's web site. Sale#5818. Lot#76 Date:. 12.16.2014 I sure would like to own and play. C-Ya. Great show
Many thanks Louis!
I love the way Allen would have the strap in front of the fin. It looked like a cool stripe, but also helped keep the guitar close to the body.
Allen was awesome.
I've been wanting an Explorer ever since I was a kid. I'm 55 years old now and just got a brand new one. Antique Natural. This guitar is the cream of the crop!!!!
I have an old copy of Guitar Player Magazine with Rick Derringer playing that 58 Explorer!
Great video. Beautiful story of a beautiful guitar. 👌🏽
Certainly was ahead of his time. 👍🏼✌🏽
Many thanks Will
James Hetfield currently owns a 58 explorer. He's been playing it since 2018 or so and uses it in for whom the bell tolls when live
Great Video! Still my favorite shape after first seeing James Hetfield playing his ESP versions in the 80's. I own a 90's era Epiphone 1958 Korina, and is the most comfortable guitar to play that I own. I knew that the Flying V and the Explorer had an interesting history and was excited to see this video come up on my recommendations. Thanks!
I too have a Gibson Explorer because of, as many others have alluded to - James Hetfield. James actually owns an original Gibson Explorer circa 1959. He's actually played with it live more recently, but i'd imagine has to limit its usage due to ESP contractual obligations and the fact that his 59 is probably worth serious money! Loved the video by the way!
No mention of The Edge
The first time I saw someone using one was in the movie '' Concert for Bangladesh ''. I remember that one of the things that excited me most about going to the movies was the presence of Eric Clapton at the concert. But what happened was that who captured my attention was Don Preston, guitarist in Leon Russell's band ... not for his Gibson Explorer, but for the excellent guitarist he was.
Thanks for this. I think this is what made Clapton what to get his
@@TheGuitarShow It is true. I remember seeing a photo of him at the time of the '' EC Was Here '' album using one.
@@Seventysongs yes he seems to have gone right out and bought one - although that one was missing the upper bout - he got another intact one later on - he actually sounded great on it!
@@TheGuitarShow I was wondering ... if Eric was influenced in 1971, year of the Concert for Bangladesh, to buy an Explorer, maybe there is something like photos, bootlegs ... before 1975, year of the album EC Was Here, with him using this model. Some expert on Eric Clapton must know something about this ... although, for me it is enough ... I will not look for this person lol
James hetfield is like the most known explorer guy and lastly he's been taking his 59 explorer out. It can be seen on for whom the bell tolls live Grand Rapids
Allen Collins was the reason I bought an Explorer but mine was Gibson/Epiphone around 1994.
My first guitar was a Gibson Explorer and also because of Allen Collins.
I bought a mahogany Gibson Explorer in 1990 think it was around £599 at the time.
Originally I had tried to buy a Firebird but this was more difficult to do, no internet, certainly for me back then.
Wanted either really as a tribute to the great Allen Collins. Freebird was pretty much the 1st song I learnt, but I could never play it as well as that fella
My Explorer model (which I unfortunately got rid of) was an Epiphone. I still appreciated the iconography of all the different musicians associated with the shape, one of whom (Eric Clapton) is the guy that inspired me to pick up the guitar. Eric is probably the reason why I chose several models I've owned since 1995.
I probably said some of these same things from a different UA-cam account (ShreadTheWeapon).
thanks for the comment Eric
My pleasure Ramon!
I would love to have one they do have great tone I played some of the newer ones and they have great tone also
Meine erste Gitarre war ein Hohner Ex Devil, ein Explorer Kopie ende der 80er. Mittlerweile bin ich Besitzer von mehreren Gibson, Epiphone und Hamer Explorers. Mein Highlight ist eine Explorer 90, die legendäre Matthias Jabs explorer die er ab Savage Amusement spielte.
Für mich ist Matthias Jabs der Explorer Gitarrist überhaupt, er hat für mich den gleichen Stellenwert für die Explorer wie es Rudolf und Michael Schenker für die Flying V haben.
I have a 1993 custom shop heritage cherry Explorer I've owned it since 99
Nice
Coolest looking guitar ever. I still want one.
Surprised there's not more comments about the Edge, dude was playing an Explorer way before Hetfield and the metal guys. Nothing against them of course, I love them all
You are certainly right - I will do an update on it very soon
Edge doesn't count!
@@dadasha why wouldn't he count? He's 1 of the most famous explorers, he was playing one way before they really took off
You forget to mention Don Preston (of Leon Russell's band) owned a 1958 Explorer that was filmed in George Harrison's "Concert for Bangladesh"!
BTW - that same Explorer is pictured at 6:03 to 6:08 in your video. I took this photograph of Mike Parker holding (former owner) Don Preston's '58 Explorer in August, 2000 at the Orange County Guitar Show in Costa Mesa, CA at the back parking lot. Unfortunately Mike passed away in 2002.
I took several photos of Mike holding his newly acquired '58 Explorer (one of which you are using at 6:03). I traced this guitar out on paper after I took these photographs.
Too bad you didn't use the frontal pics I took...
Thanks James - I have mentioned him in a Bob and Ramon show but he probably deserves some more mentions on this channel - let me see if I can do a short history on him.
@@TheGuitarShow Do separate stories on Don & on his 58 Explorer; Where is it now?
Phil Collen from Def Leppard Pyromania videos! Love those old school Hamer guitars!
Phil Collen played a Ibanez Destroyer. Pete Willis played a Hamer Standard
I've had an Explorer since 1994 when I bought it new. An early Gibson Custom Shop model with unique paint (a sort of black over white pickle finish). I say "early" because it was when the custom shop guitars still had the standard serial number system instead of the current CS prefix. It's definitely a guitar I've had a love-hate relationship with. Not one of my primary guitars by any stretch. I am constantly fiddling with the strap length as a comfortable playing position has been elusive.
McCarty was a GENIUS WAY ahead of his time and grievously largely forgotten today - Lloyd Loar too...
6:05 ...talks about the toggle switch being accessed thru a plate on the rear of the guitar, shows a pic of a guitar without that plate, lol!
Ah - I was showing the difference between the two
Saw that Elderly Instruments has a '63 Explorer with a bigsby for a cool $218 grand. It's on my Christmas list....
That's actually a good deal believe it or not.
Nice work. Rick Derringer for Live Derriinger was prob first player though saw Rick Neilsen for Cheap Trick ads. And yes I wish I could cop some RD with a Hamer Standard.
Maybe throw in LS "Workin' For MCA/ I Ain't The One" Had those,,,,still here.
One of the earliest public appearances of on original Explorer was in the hands of Don Preston during George Harrison's Concert For Bangla Desh. The Explorer can be seen in both the photo album that came with the 3 record set, and the film of the concert. Check it out.
I hope that someday that I can get, buy, play, and own a vintage '58 Korina Explorer.
we all have the same dream bro
@@TheGuitarShow I will hopefully someday, make that dream come true.
@@michaelgonzalez7304 amen
How did he not mention the god of downpicking himself
I see what you did there
Because Johnny Ramone didn't play an explorer...
The Futura is awsome , so is the Moderne . But I do like all 4 korina models. Rick Deringer play an explorer with the split fork headstock.
The Edge from U2 plays a Gibson Explore and James Hetfeild played one as well and Eric Clapton played a Gibson Explorer . Allen Collins played one.
My brother bought the ,75 reissue new, still has it. It's the same one the Edge has.
Would love to try one of those
Its one of The Edge's favourite guitars, he has 11 of them, all from 1976. Never does anything to them, plays them as is....so says Maestro Dallas.
The V-shaped headstock probably inspired the symmetrical Dean V headstock. Models like the Dean ML and Cadillac are clearly two Gibsons put together on the drawing board.
It wasn't until the early 2000s that I found out the Explorer and Flying Vs were made in the late 50s! Wow, was I shocked. All my life I thought these two models was created in the early 70s. It just goes to show how advance Gibson was back in those days.
About guitars, I go with the opinion of Scott Grove.
It's all about scale length, pickup type and pickup location.
So the Explorer is in fact a Les Paul, with another body shape.
So an Explorer with the pickups of a Les Paul sounds like a Les Paul.
No I wouldn’t go with the opinion of that guys even if i was paid. No explorer is gonna sound like a lp. Exp if we are talking about a original 58 has a korina body vs a mahogany body with a maple top they could both be using the same patent applied for pickups but they arent gonna sound the same
Rolf from Running Wild plays these. Always wanted to get my hands on one.
Thanks for the comment - me too I really want one
@@TheGuitarShow they are so nice. And no prob dude I'll sub you seem like a nice dude.
@@yucatansuckaman5726 thanks
I must have one of this guitars..... Gibson Explorer that is......thankyou for postning this show....!!
The knob from U2 is who I think about with explorers.
The guitars were only 22 in 1958 and only 1 for bass in 1959! Wow!
I believe 38 special’s lead player did all the soloing on an explorer through a peavey red stripe bandit
That would be Jeff Carlisie
jj jordan Jeff’s Explorer is not a Gibson - it is a Rhyne Custom with Mother of Pearl hawk inlays. For many years I actually thought it was a Gibson one-off custom.
Jeff's custom made explorer is patterned off Allen Collins 58. They were friends and Allen let him take measurements and make body patterns off it.
I remember reading an old Guitar Player magazine interview with John Entwistle in which he discussed his extensive guitar & bass collection (May 1982). I'm sure that JE stated that he owned two 1958 Gibson Explorers, but had sold one to the guitarist in his solo band, John Entwistle's Ox, something that he later regretted having done. I don't have the magazine any more, but it was an extensive interview, lavishly illustrated with many colour plates. I wonder what became of the Entwistle collection after his death? He was a compulsive collector of both vintage guitars & basses and owned a huge collection in 1982.
Thanks for this
These pickgards on 50's explorers and flying Vs are not 3-ply, but actually 4-ply @ about .080" total thickness.
Thanks Ron for this valuable information just checked on my navigator explorer and it is indeed 4 ply 🙏
EVH played explorers too.. plus the Ibanez Destroyer which is sort of a mock up...
Ed has an original V, but the Explorer he played was an Ibanez that he painted white, then hacked up (the Dragon guitar).
I had a cream colored 82 with a factory kahler. Bought for $200.00 in 1991, very much regret selling it several years later
Allen is my favorite guitarist
And Eric Clapton bought an explorer in the city I live in Tulsa Oklahoma
Are you from Tulsa Time???!!