The Explorer™ was first introduced in 1958. While it was less than enthusiastically received at the time, guitarists discovered its many charms as the years passed. Rockers embraced its futuristic shape and powerful sound by the 1970s, but during the hard-rockin’ 80s, the model came into its own and was adopted by some of the greatest players of the decade. The new Explorer 80s EMG is based on the popular 1984 model. The 1984 Gibson Explorer is an iconic electric guitar that stands out for its distinctive design and massive tones. Players like The Edge, Billy Gibbons, and James Hetfield have all wielded Explorers, contributing to their legendary status. If you’re into retro-futuristic guitars, the Explorer 80s EMG is a stunning tribute to that era’s edge and attitude.

The Explorer 80s EMG features a fast-playing mahogany neck with a 60s SlimTaper™ profile. The neck is topped with a rosewood fretboard that features 22 medium jumbo frets and simple pearloid dot inlays. The Explorer headstock is equipped with mini die-cast tuners and a Graph Tech® nut to ensure solid tuning stability. The other ends of the strings pass over an Epiphone LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and are anchored with a LockTone Stop Bar tailpiece. The iconically shaped mahogany body is outfitted with active EMG™ pickups, with an EMG 60 in the neck position and an EMG 81 in the bridge position. They accurately capture the unique, fat-toned sound and rich sustain of the Explorer models that many players preferred during that era. A 9V battery powers the active EMG pickups, and the battery compartment is located on the back of the guitar for quick and easy access. The pickups are wired to individual volume controls and a master tone control; the controls are capped with knurled metal control knobs. There is no pickguard, which helps to give the Explorer 80s EMG a sleek and slightly menacing appearance. If you’re into retro-futuristic guitars, the Explorer 80s EMG is a stunning tribute to that era’s edge and attitude. It comes packed in a premium gig bag and is ready to partner with you to rock the world.

A battery is not included. To power your pickups, you will need a 9-volt battery.

Specifications