Gibson Explorer Faded vs Ebony

[Jaymz]

Why does these have such a price difference? Is it purely due to the lack of nitro finish?

http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?pid=10166&c=119

http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?pid=11097&c=119

 

[Derpsicle]

Heard someone talk about quality differences too... but i'm not sure.
Also, Cherry explorers are hawt

 

[mickrich]

Gibson uses expensive nitro lacquer on their non faded guitars. This would amount to a saving in the manufacture of the faded one.

 

[Jaymz]

Derp that picture is actually of a nitro lacquer cherry finish rather than the faded And your quite right! I dig the wood grain through the finish....although if I get one I plan of it being a total black machine Hetfield monster. So the Ebony would work out

Also have a feeling the lacquer wouldn't be as bad for "dings"....my loomis got a dent on its back easy as fuck and that's a similar faded varnish style.

 

[Mago]

Damn the black one is sexy as fuck.

the other is nice, and normally I'm not easily sold on black guitars cause I allready have enough of that kind, still..
dayum.

also the 500T should be a decent pick, altho I think you'll want to replace it with a 81?
If you end up doing so, would you care to make some clips to compare it?

 

[Jaymz]

Damn the black one is sexy as fuck.

the other is nice, and normally I'm not easily sold on black guitars cause I allready have enough of that kind, still..
dayum.

also the 500T should be a decent pick, altho I think you'll want to replace it with a 81?
If you end up doing so, would you care to make some clips to compare it?

Yeah id be swapping them out for the 81/60 combo. Im sure the 500T is great as a passive pup but im after that typical sound with the EMG's so ill probs put them up for sale if I do this.

Would look like this at first....

But then I was thinking about making it a little more like...

 

[Mago]

Nah, I'd leave the pickguard on there, I think the black/white contrast is what makes this guitar look so awesome!

If I had a guitar to put them in right now I'd snatch them PUs from you :/

 

[Jaymz]

I think with the white it looks too "classic" bah

Well get a new guitar for them bought! haha

 

[Mago]

I think with the white it looks too "classic" bah

Well get a new guitar for them bought! haha

haha not necessary cause thanks to you I'm now GASing for the classic bitch

strange, I never had a thing for explorers until I played one at a shop a couple of weeks back. Imagined it to feel awkward, but it was comfy in some way.

The ebony totally slipped my mind as they didnt have that one there, but now that I see it the GAS comes up.
thought my next guitar would be a customshop with natural finish in a couple of years when I could afford it hahaha

 

[Jaymz]

Was it a Gibson explorer you played?

I've not played a Gibson explorer before but I should be going into Newcastle next week and hopefully they'll have one in stock I can hammer around with for abit.

Its a shame the classic white has an ebony board yet the ebony body version has a rosewood board

Well as I say, if I get one (looking very likely) then im game for selling you the pups straight away as new

 

[Mago]

Was it a Gibson explorer you played?

I've not played a Gibson explorer before but I should be going into Newcastle next week and hopefully they'll have one in stock I can hammer around with for abit.

Its a shame the classic white has an ebony board yet the ebony body version has a rosewood board

Well as I say, if I get one (looking very likely) then im game for selling you the pups straight away as new

Yeah was a gibson, that 76 cherry version think.
very nice, IIRC!
dunno the difference of the 68 and 76 versions though

True with the ebony board, it's really a shame.
Apart from it looking much better then rosewood (imo) my other 3 axes also have rosewood, so I wouldnt mind some more bright attack, especially with the passive PUs. Would be a different sound guitar for sure for me.

If I end up "needing" the pups I'll tell you dude!

 

[Mago]

getting the classic white with the ebony board and refinishing it black could be an idea though

do you know how well ebony board and mahahony body goes together?

 

[Skinny Viking]

no pick guard!

 

[Jaymz]

Yeah the snakebyte had mahogany body and ebony as the fretboard material but I really don't like that slightly yellow tained white...might just be able to get some kinda polish that can really darken up the rosewood or something.

If im getting one...it will be the black!

Ahh awesome so you've played one! Are they quite weighty? Neck heavy if you know or not?

 

[Mago]

no pick guard!

no love for classic sexyness?!

 

[Mago]

Yeah the snakebyte had mahogany body and ebony as the fretboard material but I really don't like that slightly yellow tained white...might just be able to get some kinda polish that can really darken up the rosewood or something.

If im getting one...it will be the black!

Ahh awesome so you've played one! Are they quite weighty? Neck heavy if you know or not?

that kind of white is also not the one I like, for the same yellow reason
recently saw some youtube vids with guys darkning their rosewood fretboards...wouldnt have even thought about that myself

Not heavier then my Epi LP Custom...but not as light as my ltd F400.
Only played it sitting without strap, felt balanced to me that way!

 

[Jaymz]

I think it will be heavier than say the Snakebyte or my EX-351 then since most LTD's have a similar weight. Like your F-400 will be close to my EX id have thought.

I guess this is the best option without snagging a ESP MX-250 or something....get a good quality body, pickups of choice and its all good.

Whats the neck like? & I assume the sustain is quality?

Perhaps a mirror or carbon fibre scratch plate would look good.....shame there's no little program to show how they would look with interchangeable pick guards

 

[Mago]

I think it will be heavier than say the Snakebyte or my EX-351 then since most LTD's have a similar weight. Like your F-400 will be close to my EX id have thought.

I guess this is the best option without snagging a ESP MX-250 or something....get a good quality body, pickups of choice and its all good.

Whats the neck like? & I assume the sustain is quality?

Yeah it wasn't a "light" guitar for sure.
And the LP Custom is anyway the heaviest mofo I know^^

ESP/Ltd would be the closest that gets I think too...altho if you allready have an EX I wouldnt get anther ltd/esp
that one with ebony fretboard would be a killer white guitar imo
http://www.espguitars.com/guitars/esp-standard/ex.html


Neck felt quite the same as on the LP, if I'm not mistaken (its allready a while back and I tried a lot of different guitars that day)
Sustain was ok...not PRS sustain level, but good non the less

white pickguard allready takes the win for me
altho carbon could look nice too

 

[Sloan]

I have a feeling that the quality control is a little more lax on the faded models. I remember when the faded series first hit and I absolutely hated how they played, couldn't ever find a decent one. Recently I have come across some faded models that were pretty damn good. Played a faded V at a best buy and get a mega hard on.

 

[Jaymz]

Yeah that ESP EX is a cop out in my eyes....same as mine but with better hardware....the neck might be a bit different but for £1500 I could get the Gibbo and save like £500.