Only produced for four years, the Gibson Explorer II, also called the E2, was intended to serve as an update to the original Gibson Explorer. A few key differences that set the E2 apart included a five-piece maple or maple/walnut body that was contoured and sported beveled edges, as well as a few cosmetic appointments for differentiation. The E2 is sometimes confused for the The Explorer CMT, which has a bound body and curly maple top. In 1983, Gibson redesigned the Explorer again, shifting to a simpler design with repositioned control knobs, and optional optional kahler bridge.