gibson limited run explorer at guitar center - Page 3

HypersoulRocks · #41 09-09-2012, 09:06 AM

Used it at a gig last night for about half the songs.

It has a fat sound..much better than expected. The neck is thick and narrow...maybe a bit too small for me?

It was comfortable ( I wear it high), with no dive at all. And everyone said it looked awesome.

It is a high quality, very well built instrument. I only question the long term durability of the satin nitro finish.

The case is a monster...it took a while to fit it in my car...it ended up occupying the front passenger seat, with the headrest removed.

I'm gonna decide if I want to sell it or spend some money and have Jim Fulton set it up to my specs....the stock strings are fat pieces of flaming garbage.

HypersoulRocks · #42 09-13-2012, 09:46 AM

Jim Fulton set it up with my strings, leveled some frets, put thick cushions under the pickups and installed straploks..now the bass plays like butter.

Btw, he's closing his shop and is gonna work out of his house in Santa Fe, Tx.

beatsbears · #43 09-18-2012, 01:21 PM

Saw one of these yesterday at our local GC when I was browsing used pedals, I couldn't get if off my mind all day and had to go back later that afternoon and take it off their hands. Mine did have a small ding on the back of the headstock, which they took a few bucks off for, but otherwise it looks and plays great.

Very slim, yet thick neck. Definitely not much heftier than your standard jazz neck. Online they seem to have it wrong on the fret count. Mine has 22 frets, which was a pretty nice surprise.

No neck dive and feels like it weighs about the same as my Fender Deluxe P Special. Kind of awkward to play sitting down, but very comfortable when standing.

I only wish it had a pickguard and maybe some chrome pickup covers, but that's purely aesthetic. It plays great, and while it may take so tweaking to get it right for different styles of playing, it seems fairly versatile.

beatsbears · #44 09-18-2012, 01:23 PM

Oh, and the case is larger than any case I've ever seen before. Had trouble fitting it in a 4 door sedan.

TN WOODMAN · #45 09-18-2012, 08:58 PM

The satin nitro finish will age and relic rather quickly if you perspire heavily, as under stage lghts. Some actually like this aspect of these finishes.

If the stock bridge worries you, switch it to a Hipshot Supertone like on my EBO.

HypersoulRocks · #46 09-19-2012, 09:21 AM

I may consider the hipshot bridge and a 3 band eq... But it does make me channel Entwistle when I'm playing...I really dig it.

But the size of the case? :-(

HypersoulRocks · #47 09-29-2012, 09:02 PM

Now available on musicians friend..

change-jug · #48 10-14-2012, 06:52 PM

I`m super stoked about this bass! I`m ordering mine in the morning!!!

HypersoulRocks · #49 11-06-2012, 02:10 PM

I'm totally unhappy with the sound, so I just ordered some SGD pickups, and will soon order a Bart pre and the Hipshot Supertone bridge...

But, it plays real well, and the girls like it..

brotherbassj · #50 11-06-2012, 02:19 PM

I would be interested to hear one of these. I am a huge fan of explorer body style instruments.......

change-jug · #51 11-06-2012, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypersoulRocks

I'm totally unhappy with the sound, so I just ordered some SGD pickups, and will soon order a Bart pre and the Hipshot Supertone bridge...

But, it plays real well, and the girls like it..

Can you go into detail about why you`re unhappy with the sound?

I did notice that the Explorer is darker sounding than my P bass but I haven`t played with anyone yet to hear how it sounds with others. Do you get lost in the mix?

HypersoulRocks · #52 11-06-2012, 03:32 PM

I've tried different amp settings, and I've used it live in my blues band, and my classic rock band, and yes, it just gets lost.
It's muddy, and has no punch. Perhaps I'm spoiled by my arsenal of
screaming active basses, but I played passive basses for 20 years, and this one just doesn't have punch. And I like the option of having some midrange. I pretty much change tones for every song, so I need more flexibility.

To me these pickups are dead. But I like the bass, so I'll spend the money...

PWV · #53 12-22-2012, 12:06 AM

I picked one up at the GC Black Friday sale, switched out the 3-point bridge and chrome tuners for Hipshot hardware. All black. DR Neon strings and now I'm ready for New Year's Eve!

HypersoulRocks · #54 12-29-2012, 08:05 PM

Nice! I just put the chrome hipshot bridge on mine, and am eagerly awaiting chrome pickups from SGD...

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change-jug · #55 12-29-2012, 08:25 PM

That hipshot looks pretty nice! Have you noticed any change in tone or sustain? Or just an improvement with intonation(and looking a bit more cool)? I`d like to eventually get one for my Explorer.

HypersoulRocks · #56 12-29-2012, 08:54 PM

It's a totally different bass now...it is 1000 times better in feel, due to the spacing adjusters, and in sound, due to the mass, the way it lays right on the body, and the more accurate intonation...

I often practice unplugged at night (2 little kids and a tired wife) and its much louder now with this bridge...I don't understand why Gibson doesn't do something to improve their own design, or buy out the Hipshot bridge similar to how Fender locked down the Badass...

change-jug · #57 12-29-2012, 09:41 PM

That`s good to hear, I`m glad it`s such an improvement! I agree,Gibson needs a better bridge. A bridge that makes more contact with the body and is a bit more adjustable. I was a bit disappointed when I saw the 3 post bridge on the new Explorer. I looked around online in a vain attempt to snag an original Explorer bass bridge,but I didn`t have any luck. I really liked that old,massive bridge.

mournblade · #58 01-01-2013, 04:27 PM

I have the silverburst Explorer and the first mod I did was upgrade to the hipshot. I really like the bass, has a deep , powerful sound. I am undecided whether or not to change to the EMG Tbird pickups. I like EMG's, but I haven't played the TBird pickups. anone have experience with them?

HypersoulRocks · #59 01-01-2013, 04:55 PM

I had emg jazz on a custom bass I recently sold...they were paired with an emg 3 band pre, and pretty much gave me any sound I needed...not sure about how they sound passive...I'm strongly considering an aguilar, wired for 3 knobs so I don't have to do too much routing.
Bestbassgear.com has lots of options...

PWV · #60 01-07-2013, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HypersoulRocks

It's a totally different bass now...it is 1000 times better in feel, due to the spacing adjusters, and in sound, due to the mass, the way it lays right on the body, and the more accurate

+1

That Supertone bridge really brings the wood into the tone. I changed the DR Neons for nickels and that was a big improvement too. The neons are coated, and that seemed to cause static electricity in the signal, nickels are great.

I'll be keeping it now. Too bad Gibson insists on putting the 3 point on everything. I don't mind it on T-Birds and SG's, but everything else: meh.