Epiphone Explorer article
Everything You Need to Know About Epiphone Explorer
That angular shape gets attention fast — here's what actually separates the standard, EMG and Lzzy Hale versions of the Epiphone Explorer.
Right, let's sort out what the Epiphone Explorer actually is, because that angular shape gets people's attention long before they know anything about the guitar underneath it. It's Epiphone's take on one of Gibson's oddest, boldest designs — and these days it comes in a few genuinely different flavours worth knowing apart.
Where that shape came from
Gibson introduced the original Explorer in the late 1950s as part of a batch of deliberately futuristic solidbody designs, a world away from the Les Paul and SG shapes of the time. The run was limited back then, but the design found a second life decades later when hard-rock and metal players adopted it — James Hetfield's use of Explorer-style guitars in particular did a lot to cement that association with thrash and heavy metal.
The standard Epiphone Explorer, spec by spec
Epiphone's regular production Explorer sticks to a familiar Gibson-family formula:
- Mahogany body and glued-in mahogany neck (a set-neck construction, for sustain)
- 24.75-inch Gibson scale length — shorter than a Fender-style 25.5 inches, generally giving lower string tension at the same tuning
- SlimTaper neck profile, 12-inch fingerboard radius, 22 medium-jumbo frets
- ProBucker 2 (neck) and ProBucker 3 (bridge) humbuckers, with the bridge unit voiced hotter for output balance
- LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece, Graph Tech nut, Grover mini tuners
- Two volume controls, one master tone, three-way pickup selector
The Explorer 80s EMG — a different animal
Where the standard model is passive, the Explorer 80s EMG swaps in active EMG electronics: an EMG 60 in the neck and an EMG 81 in the bridge, run off a 9-volt battery. That combination is built for tight, compressed, high-gain rhythm tone rather than dynamic clean playing — the EMG 81 in particular is a staple bridge pickup in modern metal for exactly that reason. It ships in a Classic White finish and, according to Guitar World's review, weighs in at roughly 4.7kg, with a launch price reported around £849/$899 — treat that as a launch figure rather than a guaranteed current price.
The Lzzy Hale Explorer Custom
Announced in August 2026, this is a signature model built around Halestorm frontwoman Lzzy Hale's heavy-rock requirements: a black diamond holographic sparkle finish, an ebony fingerboard at the same 12-inch radius, 22 medium-jumbo frets, and a pair of Epiphone ProBucker Ignite humbuckers. It's positioned as a striking, stage-ready instrument rather than a budget option — reported pricing around $999 in secondary coverage hasn't been independently confirmed, so check current listings directly.
Living with that shape
The Explorer's size is part of its appeal and part of the compromise. Its extended lower point can hang past a standard guitar stand, the upper horn can catch on furniture or other instruments in a crowded rehearsal room, and it can feel large sitting down — most players find it settles far more comfortably on a strap, standing. A dedicated Explorer-shaped case or gig bag is worth the money over trying to force it into a generic case.
| Model | Pickups | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Explorer | ProBucker 2/3 (passive) | Classic rock, hard rock, general versatility |
| Explorer 80s EMG | EMG 60/81 (active) | Thrash, modern metal, high-gain rhythm |
| Lzzy Hale Explorer Custom | ProBucker Ignite | Heavy rock, stage presence, signature appeal |
Sound and genre range
None of this fully decides your tone on its own — pickups, amp gain structure, speaker choice, string gauge and playing technique all matter enormously too. But as a starting point, the standard passive Explorer tends to be the more flexible instrument across classic rock, hard rock, alternative and even blues-rock territory, while the EMG-equipped version is more purpose-built for the tighter, saturated sounds of thrash and modern metal. Both share the same mahogany-and-24.75-inch-scale foundation that's made the Gibson family sound recognisable for decades.
Where to go next
Trying to decide which version actually suits you? Our Epiphone Explorer buyer's guide walks through exactly what to check. New to the shape altogether? Our beginner's guide covers the practicalities without assuming prior experience. And if you already know you want one but not which model, see our pick of the best Epiphone Explorers for the money.
The bottom line
The Epiphone Explorer isn't one guitar any more — it's a small family sharing one unmistakable shape. Whether you want passive versatility, active high-gain aggression or a genuine signature statement piece, there's a current version built for that specific job.
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