Gibson Explorer II (1979-1983)
Overview
Brand name:
Product:
- electric guitars
Series name:
Variant of:
Dates of manufacture:
1979 to 1984
Gibson introduced the Explorer II (E2) model in 1979 and discontinued it around 1983. It had a 5 piece walnut/maple laminated body with a maple neck, ebony fingerboard and dot position markers. The tailpiece was the TP6 unit, with gold hardware, 2 exposed coil humbuckers, a black pick-guard, and 3 knobs in a row.
Specifications (19)
Body
| Body material | maple and walnut body |
| Pickguard material | white pickguard |
Hardware
| Bridge | tune-o-matic bridge |
| Hardware color | gold hardware |
| Tailpiece | Gibson TP6 tailpiece |
Fretboard
| Fingerboard material | ebony fingerboard |
| Fingerboard position markers | dot fingerboard position markers |
General
| Finish colors | natural finish |
| Number of strings | 6 strings |
Neck
| Headstock inlays or logos | pearl headstock inlay/logo |
| Neck joint | set neck |
| Neck material | maple neck |
| Number of frets | 22 fret |
| Peghead (headstock) | V-shaped headstock, black face headstock |
| Tuner layout | six-in-a-row tuners |
Controls
| Pickup selector controls | 3-way selector switch |
| Tone controls | 1 tone control |
| Volume controls | 2 volume controls |
Electronics
| Pickups configuration | 2 humbucker pickups |
Prices (5)
| Date | Price | Condition | Name | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | $700 | good | ||
| 1982 | 7150 FIM | new | Serious amateur | My main guitar for all these 35 years! |
| 1980 | $1250 | good | ||
| 2016 | $1800.00 | good | J.R. | Awesome playing guitar, very well built. A bit heavy on the shoulder but lines up great with the hands. Would purchase it again in the same situation. Knowing now how well they play I would probably go as high as $2400. |
| 1981 | $1250 | new | Ed C. | Great guitar, has aged beautifully, dark amber now. |
Reviews (1)
GIBSON Explorer II (E2) reviewed by Mick Milne
Mick Milne
Best axe I ever owned paid £635 quid for it brand new in part exchange for my trusty old cherry sunburst Arbiter Flying Vee from Rock City which back then was the mecca in Newcastle Upon Tyne for budding guitar hero's like me. Served me well as lead guitarist in the JJ Willus Bnad which is the correct incorrect spelling of the word band which was our signature take on life. My back line was 6 Marshall Super Lead Amplifiers played through 6 4x12 Marshall angled cabinets 3 of which were angled.I know seriously regret selling mine and plan to make an offer for the one advertised for sale at the paltry sum of a now breath taking £3,697.81 GBP
