Gibson Explorer article
Gibson Explorer Explained: Features, Types and Tips
The angular body, the hockey-stick headstock, and what's genuinely under the hood of a Gibson Explorer.
Right, let's get the basics sorted. The Gibson Explorer is one of those guitars everyone recognises on sight and almost nobody can explain properly — that angular body, the long headstock, the "is that even comfortable?" question every non-player asks. Here's what it actually is, where it came from, what's inside one, and what to expect if you're thinking about getting your hands on one.
What Is the Gibson Explorer?
It's a solid-body electric guitar with an asymmetrical, angular body — one long pointed lower "wing", one shorter upper horn, and a distinctive six-in-line headstock often nicknamed the "hockey stick". Underneath the striking looks, it's built around the same core recipe as most classic Gibson solid-bodies: a set neck, dual humbucker pickups and a 24¾-inch scale length.
A Bit of History, Briefly
Gibson launched the Explorer in 1958 as part of its "Modernistic" series, alongside the equally radical Flying V. Both were meant to look like nothing else on the market — and both flopped. The shapes were simply too far ahead of what most players wanted in 1958, and the original run lasted only a few years before Gibson quietly dropped it.
The Explorer's second life came in the 1970s and 80s, when hard rock and heavy metal players started actively wanting guitars that looked as aggressive as they sounded. What had been a commercial failure became a genuine icon, and it's stayed in Gibson's catalogue ever since.
What's Actually Under the Hood
| Feature | Typical Explorer spec |
|---|---|
| Body wood | Mahogany (korina on historically styled models) |
| Neck | Glued-in (set neck), usually mahogany |
| Scale length | 24¾" |
| Frets | 22, medium-jumbo |
| Pickups | Two humbuckers |
| Bridge | Tune-o-matic with stopbar tailpiece |
A humbucker, for anyone new to the term, is a type of pickup built from two coils wired to cancel out background hum — hence the name — which is also why it tends to sound thicker and warmer than a single-coil pickup.
The Different Types You'll Come Across
Not every Gibson Explorer is identical. You'll typically run into:
- Gibson USA Explorer — the standard modern production model.
- Explorer II / E2 — a variant with a slightly different body outline and hardware from certain production eras.
- Explorer 90 — a smaller-bodied version, roughly 90 percent scale, associated with Scorpions guitarist Matthias Jabs and built to be more manageable.
- Korina reissues — models built to echo the original 1958 wood and specification.
- Epiphone Explorer — Gibson's own more affordable sister brand, including historically styled versions that recreate several 1958 details at a lower price.
Working out which of these actually suits you and your budget is really its own decision — this complete buyer's guide walks through it properly, and if price tiers are your main concern, the best Explorers for the money breaks that down directly.
What It Actually Sounds Like
Here's the honest bit: the pointed body shape doesn't inherently make a Gibson Explorer sound different from any other mahogany, set-neck, humbucker-loaded Gibson. What you're hearing is strong midrange, plenty of sustain, thick distortion from the bridge pickup and a warmer, rounder neck-pickup tone — the same family of sound as a Les Paul, broadly speaking. The pickups, the setup and your amp do far more of the tonal work than the silhouette does.
A Few Practical Things Worth Knowing
The body's size and shape genuinely affect how the guitar handles day to day. The long lower wing means it needs a dedicated Explorer-shaped case rather than a generic gig bag, and the pointed edges are worth keeping clear of doorframes and car boots. Some players also find it sits slightly neck-heavy depending on the strap, which a wider, grippier strap usually sorts out.
If you're brand new to guitars generally and wondering whether an Explorer is a sensible place to start, this beginner's guide covers that question directly, and it's worth reading before you commit either way.
The Bottom Line
The Gibson Explorer earns its reputation honestly: a genuinely striking design attached to a thoroughly conventional, dependable rock guitar underneath. Once you know what's actually inside one, the rest — which version, which budget, which era — becomes a much easier decision to make.
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