▶ Products used in this video: ▶GUITARS: Gibson 80s Explorer: bit.ly/44eISed Gibson SG Standard '61: bit.ly/3s12PYq Gibson Les Paul Classic: bit.ly/3qmKsMZ Gibson ES-335: bit.ly/3s5k7Uo Gibson Firebird: bit.ly/3On48IF ▶AMP: MESA/Boogie Mark VII 1x12 Combo: bit.ly/3quf1jM MESA/Boogie 1x12 Boogie Thiele 19" Cabinet: bit.ly/3OJgITQ International Customers- Please contact your local or preferred dealer for all shipping inquires.
I have tried and/or owned about every guitar out there. I own mostly Gibson. I'm all in on Explorers. I have $7K Les Paul Custom 1959 M2M that I like far less than I like my USA Explorers. I have 2 Explorers so far, the Gibson 2023 Explorer Antique Natural and a Explorer 70s in White. I think my next guitar will be a Black Custom Shop Explorer.
Very Cool!!! I had a 76 Limited Edition Explorer that I played for years in bar bands and gave to my son. I still have an Epiphone SG bass and guitar that I like messing with when not doing acoustic Taylor stuff. It was a great video comparison!!! I honestly can say that I liked the cleaner SG sound and handling. You can easily add dirty electronics. I started out with a 66 Strat and kind of wish I would have gone the Gibson direction back when I first started in 1970....
Explorer and Firebird for me a Allen Collins fan and i play a 90 s firebird and a 2004 black 67 reissue both great i depends on what you play i play my les paul when jamming out old Kiss tunes v and firebird for the Rhythm guitars
They all sound great! :D One of the coolest things is, I own that 61 Standard SG and a LP Classic Honeyburst, both same pickups but they sound slightly different, it's awesome!
I ahve a USA Fender Pro2 Strat, 70s Flying V reissue, RG550 Ibanez and AZ2204NW, my next Gutiar will be an Explorer and a Les Paul Standard. Thats all the guitars i ever wanted.. I was always a big Fan of 80s ZZ Top and Scorpions, arena and melodic rock and Flying Vs and Explorers just fit perfectly that kind of music.
What I wanna hear… freebird solo or Lynyrd Skynyrd riffs in general on explorer vs LP vs Firebird since all three were used. Oh hell, and might as well throw in a strat :)
Man the Explorer is the best shape ever. I used to play Les Paul’s only but then I found my Explorer Ebony and it just fits my aggressive style of playing way better. It stays in tune and I even modified the pickguard with a custom one made out of teardrop aluminum. I have a very unique Explorer now!
This is very interesting. Though I think the pickups in the 80’s explorer are wrong for this comparison, they’re too high output and so sound a bit muffled, less clear and less defined than the sg and Les Paul.
I thought the SG and the ES335 sounded the best. I’ve had an Explorer for 30 years and it’s one of my favorite guitars, but in this case, the SG sounded more focused when compared to the roundness of the Les Paul. The ES sounded like it had more bite definition when up against the Explorer.
I have a 93 custom shop in heritage cherry i bought it in 97 for $700 at gc in Boston. Thnx Jodie. They had a power outage but since I was a good customer and I had cash the manager Jodie took me through with a flashlight cause I was going to buy another paul until I saw that Explorer.
Not a bad tone in the lot. I would say each has it's place. For that thick, creamy overdrive, I'd go with the LP. For a more gnarly, edgier overdrive, the SG. For blues and slightly overdriven tones, nothing can touch a 335 in the neck position, IMO. And the Firebird had really nice clarity and top end in the overdriven tone.
Nonsense. Everybody says the black beauty is super bright. Unless it's solid maple, then that's the opposite of what, everybody says about mahogany and what, maple is supposed to do.
To me the biggest difference between the flat body Gibson Models is the balance of the neck. An SG dips down which makes you play like Angus Young. The V headstock wants to points to the sky so you hold the guitar like Randy Rhoads or Judas Priest. The Explorer wants to sit flat and parallel to the ground so you hold it like Hetfield.
I like the Explorer, but it seems (to me) the shape always gets pigeon holed as a "rock" machine and if an old dude like myself should be playing such an axe. 😀 Guess I shouldn't about shape since I only play at home!
I love Explorers . Gibson should make the pro with the smaller body again. Explorer is a big guitar. The pro's smaller size and weight im sure would appeal to alot of people.
The shape of a solid body guitar has hardly any effect on how a guitar sounds. The pickups and other electronic components are what will make a difference in a guitar's tone. Also, a Firebird doesn't have Mini-Humbuckers, they have Firebird pickups; they are built completely different and offer a different sound than Mini-Humbuckers. Choose whatever body style you want, the pickups and the electronic components are what make the tone. 👌
Nonsense..everyone knows that the guitar, the amp, pickups, strings, speakers, and pedals have zero impact on tone. From what I understand it all comes from skin.
Gibson dropped the ball so hard on the 80s Explorer. It should’ve had an alder body and maple neck. That’s the one everyone thinks of when u think of an Explorer from the 80s like the one Hetfield played.
▶ Products used in this video:
▶GUITARS:
Gibson 80s Explorer: bit.ly/44eISed
Gibson SG Standard '61: bit.ly/3s12PYq
Gibson Les Paul Classic: bit.ly/3qmKsMZ
Gibson ES-335: bit.ly/3s5k7Uo
Gibson Firebird: bit.ly/3On48IF
▶AMP:
MESA/Boogie Mark VII 1x12 Combo: bit.ly/3quf1jM
MESA/Boogie 1x12 Boogie Thiele 19" Cabinet: bit.ly/3OJgITQ
International Customers- Please contact your local or preferred dealer for all shipping inquires.
I have tried and/or owned about every guitar out there. I own mostly Gibson. I'm all in on Explorers. I have $7K Les Paul Custom 1959 M2M that I like far less than I like my USA Explorers. I have 2 Explorers so far, the Gibson 2023 Explorer Antique Natural and a Explorer 70s in White. I think my next guitar will be a Black Custom Shop Explorer.
Shout out to the Explorer fan!
Wow, cool! What do you prefer more 70s or anticue natural?
I mean, if you don't like that les paul custom 59 m2m ill be happy to take it off your hands 😂😂😂
Very Cool!!! I had a 76 Limited Edition Explorer that I played for years in bar bands and gave to my son. I still have an Epiphone SG bass and guitar that I like messing with when not doing acoustic Taylor stuff. It was a great video comparison!!! I honestly can say that I liked the cleaner SG sound and handling. You can easily add dirty electronics. I started out with a 66 Strat and kind of wish I would have gone the Gibson direction back when I first started in 1970....
Explorer and Firebird for me a Allen Collins fan and i play a 90 s firebird and a 2004 black 67 reissue both great i depends on what you play i play my les paul when jamming out old Kiss tunes v and firebird for the Rhythm guitars
My 2017 Explorer traditional is my favorite guitar. Its great at every genre
Love them jangly Firebirds.
They all sound great, but the Explorer just has that punch that the others don't
There’s certainly a punch to it for sure!
I have a 1976 Limited Edition and it does have a punch but that darn fin is always banging into stuff - lol!!!
Maybe it's just me but that Firebird had some Angus vibes
It's got some serious bite for sure!
They all sound great! :D One of the coolest things is, I own that 61 Standard SG and a LP Classic Honeyburst, both same pickups but they sound slightly different, it's awesome!
Always good to have some variety when it comes to guitars! Thanks for watching!
I think the LP still dominates but the SG sounds cool too...they're all great in the end
Definitely has its own sound for sure.
I need that 80s explorer 🤘
Me too! Such BITE!
LOL - I could tell you a funny story about how I got my 1976 Limited Edition one....
It is an obvious choice...you have to have'em all. Simple.
I mean, I think I agree! -Lee
Think the main sound difference is when they're in the middle position due to the single tone control. Cool vid though.
I ahve a USA Fender Pro2 Strat, 70s Flying V reissue, RG550 Ibanez and AZ2204NW, my next Gutiar will be an Explorer and a Les Paul Standard. Thats all the guitars i ever wanted.. I was always a big Fan of 80s ZZ Top and Scorpions, arena and melodic rock and Flying Vs and Explorers just fit perfectly that kind of music.
Awesome!
What I wanna hear… freebird solo or Lynyrd Skynyrd riffs in general on explorer vs LP vs Firebird since all three were used. Oh hell, and might as well throw in a strat :)
I'll ask Dinesh to start shredding Free Bird in the next video ;) Thanks for watching!
The SG and ES has got vintage pu, would have been more occurent to have used the vintage style EXP behind you.
Man the Explorer is the best shape ever. I used to play Les Paul’s only but then I found my Explorer Ebony and it just fits my aggressive style of playing way better. It stays in tune and I even modified the pickguard with a custom one made out of teardrop aluminum. I have a very unique Explorer now!
That pickguard sounds cool!
The explorer, les paul and sg sounded the best in my opinion.
Loved them all that kes Paul is my favorite
Hell yeah the Gibson Explorer 80s Reissue is for me!
A great guitar!
This is very interesting. Though I think the pickups in the 80’s explorer are wrong for this comparison, they’re too high output and so sound a bit muffled, less clear and less defined than the sg and Les Paul.
I thought the SG and the ES335 sounded the best. I’ve had an Explorer for 30 years and it’s one of my favorite guitars, but in this case, the SG sounded more focused when compared to the roundness of the Les Paul. The ES sounded like it had more bite definition when up against the Explorer.
Interesting POV there!
I have a 93 custom shop in heritage cherry i bought it in 97 for $700 at gc in Boston. Thnx Jodie. They had a power outage but since I was a good customer and I had cash the manager Jodie took me through with a flashlight cause I was going to buy another paul until I saw that Explorer.
Love the firebird! All sound great. I always like a 335 and Les Paul.
Right on!
Feel i need all of them
I was considering to buy LP custom ebony or the explorer custom ebony. Not sure which one should I go. Both is amazing
Oh wow - that's a tough choice
Not a bad tone in the lot. I would say each has it's place. For that thick, creamy overdrive, I'd go with the LP. For a more gnarly, edgier overdrive, the SG. For blues and slightly overdriven tones, nothing can touch a 335 in the neck position, IMO. And the Firebird had really nice clarity and top end in the overdriven tone.
Thanks for the insight! I do love the edge an SG has, but the upper end grit of the Explorer really shines too!
Nonsense. Everybody says the black beauty is super bright. Unless it's solid maple, then that's the opposite of what, everybody says about mahogany and what, maple is supposed to do.
The Heritage Cherry Sunburst Gibson Les Paul Classic sounded best to my ears.
Bring back the Firebird!
To me the biggest difference between the flat body Gibson Models is the balance of the neck. An SG dips down which makes you play like Angus Young. The V headstock wants to points to the sky so you hold the guitar like Randy Rhoads or Judas Priest. The Explorer wants to sit flat and parallel to the ground so you hold it like Hetfield.
Some very good points here...
In this comparison, the firebird definitet takes the cake.
I like the Explorer, but it seems (to me) the shape always gets pigeon holed as a "rock" machine and if an old dude like myself should be playing such an axe. 😀 Guess I shouldn't about shape since I only play at home!
You should play whatever feels right to you, dude! ROCK ON!
Now, if I can just get that lottery jackpot 😅
Explorer ❤❤❤❤❤
It was a toss-up between the 335 and the firebird
They certainly sound different!
Ya me convencí, amo el sonido rockanrolero que tiene la firebird
roca en amigo
its awesome but the Explorer is one BIG electric guitar with a baseball bat thick neck.
Gibson CEO promised a white 80s Explorer for the fall. Well, Autumn is here and we still don't have the white 80s Explorer, where is it?
I love Explorers . Gibson should make the pro with the smaller body again. Explorer is a big guitar. The pro's smaller size and weight im sure would appeal to alot of people.
The shape of a solid body guitar has hardly any effect on how a guitar sounds. The pickups and other electronic components are what will make a difference in a guitar's tone. Also, a Firebird doesn't have Mini-Humbuckers, they have Firebird pickups; they are built completely different and offer a different sound than Mini-Humbuckers. Choose whatever body style you want, the pickups and the electronic components are what make the tone. 👌
Nonsense..everyone knows that the guitar, the amp, pickups, strings, speakers, and pedals have zero impact on tone. From what I understand it all comes from skin.
@@jordanpratt3821 Dem meat paws
@@joeyskar yeah the paws
Gibson dropped the ball so hard on the 80s Explorer. It should’ve had an alder body and maple neck. That’s the one everyone thinks of when u think of an Explorer from the 80s like the one Hetfield played.
The one Hetfield played was all Mohaghany, both of them in fact. Read his book Messngers and you'll see.
And all of them still loose to a good tele deluxe, or just a regular tele xD
It's that big, cumbersome body.
And because James Hetfield is the only person known to play one 🤣