When the Explorer™ was first introduced in 1958, it was not an instant hit with players, who at the time may have thought its now-iconic body shape was a bit too modern. However, as the years progressed, guitarists discovered the Explorer’s many charms, and the model became more and more popular. 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 best players of the era. Players like Gary Moore, The Edge, Billy Gibbons, and James Hetfield have all wielded Explorers, contributing to their legendary status. Now, Gibson is proud to introduce the Explorer 80s, which is based on the popular Explorer models from that era. It has been featured on stages worldwide, but this 80s icon is back for a new generation of players to explore. This Explorer begs to be played loud. With its futuristic body shape, iconic headstock, black Speed knobs, and chrome hardware, it looks as iconic as the generation of music it helped create.

The Explorer 80s features a lightning-fast mahogany neck with a SlimTaper™ profile. The neck is topped with a rosewood fretboard that features 22 medium jumbo frets and understated acrylic dot inlays. The Explorer headstock is equipped with Grover® Mini Rotomatic® tuners and a Graph Tech® nut to ensure the tuning stays dialed in. The other ends of the strings pass over an aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and are anchored with an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece. The iconically shaped mahogany body is outfitted with 80s Tribute humbucker pickups that accurately recreate the fat-toned sound and rich sustain of the Explorer models from the 80s era. The pickups are hand-wired to individual volume controls, while a master tone control with an Orange Drop® capacitor provides even more tonal adjustability; the controls are capped with black Speed knobs for great functionality and a classic aesthetic. There is no pickguard, which helps to give the Explorer 80s a sleek and slightly menacing appearance. If you’re into retro-futuristic guitars, the Explorer 80s brings back some of the era’s edge and attitude. It comes packed in a Gibson hardshell case and is ready to join you wherever your music takes you.

General:
Brand Name: Gibson
Case Type: Hardshell Case
Hardware Color: Chrome
Made in: Made in the USA
Product Color: Cherry
Series: Gibson Modern

Body:
Body Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Material: Mahogany
Body Shape: Explorer

Neck:
Fingerboard Inlay: Acrylic Dots
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Frets to Body: 12
Headstock Inlay or Decal: Gibson Silkscreen Logo
Neck Binding: None
Neck Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Neck Joint: Set Neck
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Shape: SlimTaper
Number of Frets: 22 Frets
Nut Material: Nylon
Nut Width: 1.69" (42.85mm)
Side Marker Inlay: Dots
Truss Rod: Adjustable

Electronics:
Bridge Pickup: '70s Tribute Humbucker
Controls and Switching: 3-Way Switch; 2 Volume, 2 Tone
Electronics Notes: Hand-Wired With Orange Drop Capacitors
Neck Pickup: '70s Tribute Humbucker

Hardware:
Bridge: Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic
Knobs: Black Speed Knobs
Saddle Material: Metal
Switch Cap: Black
Tailpiece: Aluminum Stop Bar
Truss Rod Cover: Black
Tuning Machines: Grover Mini Rotomatic