Are Explorer guitars worth the hype?

If you're looking to buy an Explorer guitar, then this video is for you!

In this video, I'm talking about my love/hate relationship with my explorer guitar. I'll be sharing different reasons why I love and hate this guitar in multiple ways. So you'll know what it's really like having one.

This is not a regular Gear Review video, but you'll get the opinion on the guitar by someone who actually plays it regularly

2021 Epiphone Explorer Ebony, upgraded tuners and modded controls

[etiennefournier]

What I love: The shape
What I hate: The shape

[nickrana]

Both my Gibson explorer’s don’t neck dove at all. Yours dives because of the strap button placement, if it was on the heel oh the neck joint it wouldn’t dive.

[IwanTimmermans]

Love the looks of the Explorer... Cause of Hetfield

[NegdoshaManido]

I love me some Flying V and Explorer! This video had me literally laughing out loud, because every Explorer player has these same experiences. Great video, man. Rock on!

[francisonehour]

As an Explorer lover myself, I'm going to put my 2 cents in there. I've had an Epiphone Explorer Goth back in 2005, which suffered from neck diving too! Or maybe *I* was suffering from it? Anyway, I had to carry the neck while playing and it was SO annoying! But it was a so cool guitar. A few years ago I bought an Edwards Explorer (model name E-EX-125D) which doesn't dive!!! Perfectly balanced! How cool is that!? I also own an ESP MX250 which doesn't dive either (but it's heavy comme un cheval mort because I'm french-speaker and I don't know the words to say it's goddamn heavy). Cheers Etienne!

[marksmith]

Wanted an explorer . Got an explorer. Absolutely love it in fact, I bought 2 Hamer standards to go along with it. All are fabulous. No neck diving. But need to be so careful moving around in tight quarters.

[PrettyboyAshtun]

just got my explorer and i’m loving it so far

[psychoster]

Got my first explorer yesterday.. even tho it has flaws.. if your play on an open space while sitting, it's an enjoyable guitar i absolutely love it

[countryfan]

I’ve always been a strat style guy (Schecter, Charvel, ESP, Etc.) and never thought I would like an explorer. However I bought an LTD Snakebyte last week and I can’t put the damn thing down! Fantastic guitar in a very comfortable and ergonomically pleasing shape.

[purplebelike]

Explorer: Easy to play while sitting but also hard to play while standing

Flying V: Difficult to play while sitting but simple to play while standing with a strap.

Keep up the good content 👌

[Sammael]

If you're thinking about gettung an explorer, you can plan ahead to fix some of these issues. They're definitely worth the adjustments.

Neck dive: relocate (or simply add) a strap button at the neck heel. I use a 4" leather top/suede bottom strap, but it wasn't enough on cheaper the explorers (Epiphone, Edwards) - moving the button made it a complete non-factor though.

Sitting: Sit in the classical position with the guitar between your legs - flying V owners will fit right in, as they may have already adapted to playing all their guitars like this 😎

Stage stand: Embrace the suck or don't use that style. I have mostly flying Vs and explorers, I can't use that rack-type of stand, so I got a heavy duty regular stand that holds 3 guitars.

The case: Uh...maybe take up a recreational canoe/kayak hobby so you have another use for it? At least the car-moynt racks to hold those might fight these gigantic beast-cases.

Moving around: I either steer by grabbing the neck at the nut/headstock, or cup a hand over the tip of the headstock, but in eithwr case I always cup a hand over the rear horn. Again, flying V owners probably already have this habit.

[hetfield]

Although I don't own a Explorer, I have a Jackson Kelly, wich is really similar on shape, and I could agree more with you. EVERY TIME I TRY TO PUT IT ON A STAND THE THING DECIDES TO HIT EVERY SINGLE THING NEARBY. But it is all worth it when you see that beautiful sexy shape.

[ddsdave]

I own a epiphone Korina wood 58 copy, it's super light, and lovely to play. Put Zack wilde emg pickups in it, it slays.

[LoveDGroove]

Best looking design ever period! I have an Explorer bass, i feel you bro on everything you mentioned... but it freaking looks amazing so it's worth it 😂

[serkanyilmazkurt]

As a long-time explorer owner, I couldn't agree more... The Explorer is certainly not the most comfortable body shape that's for sure. But I love my explorers and don't intend to get rid of them.

[SDR]

I have Jackson Kelly (basically an Explorer) and Tokai Star (an Explorer with deck cut out in center) and I love them. Extremely comfortable to play while sitting.

[caedavch.]

I have an ESP MX-2 replica in white, like the one James Hetfield used starting from the "...And Justice For All" period. The biggest issue I have with Explorers is trying to find a case or gig bag that fits the thing.

But, it's definitely worth the looks.

[Glue-pc]

I just tried out my first explorer guitar today at guitar center. Loved it. Sounded good and looks better

[Ryan_Thompson_Guitarist]

To fix the neck dive, either move the strap button to the neck join or put the strap over the bottom of the body.

[genaroperez]

The more I watch these videos the more I doubt on if I really want to buy an explorer as my first electric guitar