Gibson Explorer EXP 425 Panther Pink 1986 Electric Guitar

This guitar is a commission sale. If you have a high-end or vintage guitar you are interested in selling, please contact us. 

Here for sale we have a Gibson Explorer EXP 425 Electric Guitar in Panther Pink finish. Made in the USA in 1986, this guitar consists of a Mahogany body, a Maple neck, and a 22-fret Ebony fingerboard. Other appointments include Black Hardware, Grover tuners, a Kahler Flyer Tremolo system, and a locking nut. The pickups installed are a Dirty Fingers humbucker in the bridge position, and two Gibson Single Coil pickups in the neck and middle position. These pickups are wired to a master volume (push/push coil-split), a master tone, and three mini-toggle pickup on/off switches. 

The Maple neck plays exceptionally well, with the 'C' profile offering a smooth and responsive playing experience across the register. Certainly on the slim side, the profile is well suited to fast lead playing and technical riffing. That said, there is enough substance to the neck to sustain a firm grip for chordal and rhythm playing. The luxurious Ebony of the fingerboard is pleasant under the fingers, and with the traditional Gibson 12" radius bending and vibrato techniques are very well accommodated. Still looking very striking even today, the guitar is well balanced in both standing and seated positions. 

The pickups in this guitar offer a great versatile sound, they produce a mixture of sparkly tones with a hint of a darker undertones, whilst retaining clarity with each note. The Dirty Fingers humbucker in the bridge provides a full driving mid range with the best natural harmonic overtones, and a top end that produces a crunchy edge. The Gibson single-coil in the middle position produces a smooth single coil sound with more output and more mids, providing bright trebles and full warm bass, and lends itself well to rhythm tones. The Gibson single-coil in the neck position provides a warm, rounded sound, offering a smooth tone that handles distorted tones as well as it handles clean tones. The coil split push/push switch allows the user to get a single-coil sound out of the humbucker, adding extra versatility for the player to explore.

Brand- Gibson

Model- Explorer EXP 425

Finish- Panther Pink

Year- 1986

Made In- USA

Body- Mahogany

Neck- Maple

Neck Profile- 'C'

Fingerboard- Ebony

Fingerboard Radius- 12"

Frets- 22

Scale Length- 24.75"

Nut Width- 1.69"

Pickups- 1x Dirty Fingers Humbucker, 2x Gibson Single Coils

Controls- Master Volume (Push/Push Coil Split), Master Tone, 3x Mini Toggle Pickup On/Off Switches

Luthier Report

Our ID: 1100726222775

Weight: 8.45lbs  

Serial: 82045599

Aesthetic Condition:

Headstock: Overall very good condition. Light indentations are present to the front face top edge, these can be seen at close scrutiny and have not pierced the finish. Light to mild fine scratching is present to the front face of the headstock, these can only be seen under direct light.

Neck: Overall very good condition. Mild discoloration is present to the rear of the neck across the register, this is common with nitrocellulose finishes on a guitar of this age. Very light markings are present to the fingerboard across the register, these can only be seen under direct light and can not be felt in the playing position. A light lacquer crack is present to the rear of the neck bass side of the 17th fret, this is common with nitro finishes.

Body: Overall very good condition. Light lacquer cracking is present at the neck joint where the neck and body meet, this is common with nitrocellulose finishes and does not affect the structure of the guitar. Light indentations are present to the rear face bass side lower bout edge, this have pierced the finish not revealing the wood beneath. More light indentations are also present to the rear face bass side lower bout and front face bass side lower bout, these have not broken the finish. All aspects of the body display moderate discoloration of the finish, this is common with nitrocellulose finishes on a guitar of this age. Light scratching is also present to all aspects of the body, these can only be seen under direct light.

Condition of Frets:

The frets demonstrate moderate signs of use, not affecting playability. Light denting and moderate flattening of the frets is apparent throughout the register.  There is light material remaining for any fret work the new owner may wish to perform.

Current Set Up:

Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (5/16" socket) not included.

Hardware: Overall very good condition. Light tarnishing is present to the bridge, this is most apparent to the bass side consistent with past use. Light to mild scratching and indentations are present to the pickups and pickup rings, this is consistent with past use. Tremolo arm included.

Structural: No concerns or issues to note.

Height of the string from the 12th Fret-1.5mm - Bass 2mm

Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.

Strings on Guitar - 10-46

It is worth noting that this guitar displays very good condition for a guitar that is 41 years old.

Electrics: Fully functional.

Case & Accessories

Original Gibson hard case.

Overall very good condition and fully functional. The exterior of the case displays mild signs of past use, these included scratching , markings, discoloration and slight tearing of the tolex and tarnishing and oxidation of the metal clasps. This is common for a case of the age.

Tremolo arm included. 

Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.