I’ve been playing P-basses and Jazz basses for 35 years, they are very comfortable and easy to play. Recently I joined a band where both guitarists play Explorers, so I got one to match, a relatively cheap Korean made Hamer. It looks great, but WOW is this thing uncomfortable to play! Does anyone have any advice on how to make this thing feel better? The neck is huge, the strap button placement makes me have to reach really far with my left arm, I just kind of hate it. But I want to match with the rest of the band. I’m not afraid to heavily modify this bass to make it easier to play, I’ve thought about moving the strap button further up on the neck (has anyone done this? I can’t imagine it’s good for the instrument but I dunno, I’ve just never seen anyone do it before). I’ve also considered shaving the neck down to make it thinner and even routing out some weight relief holes in the back. Does anyone have any advice? My back and shoulders are killing me!
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Can an Explorer be comfortable?
- Thread starter stinkmaster
- Start date
I've got some bad news for ya...lol They're all pretty uncomfy to play, even as a really tall bassist with a long wingspan. Most comfortable Explorer-adjacent style I've owned is a BC Rich Ironbird bass, and even then that was always a max 45min session sorta instrument for me despite being fairly light.
Age matters too, when I was in my 20s the Ibby Destroyer bass I had at the time seemed more tolerable. Never comfortable, but tolerable.
Age matters too, when I was in my 20s the Ibby Destroyer bass I had at the time seemed more tolerable. Never comfortable, but tolerable.
Perhaps you need a hook near the bridge to put your pinky finger through? That should solve everything....right? 
Sorry, I couldn't help it
In all seriousness though, moving the strap button could help or get some kind of extender. Unfortunately this is one of those basses that's a little divisive on its design merits. Maybe try wearing it a little lower and tilting upwards for easier fret access? I'm a short-armed guy so I've had to do that on a few basses myself.
Sorry, I couldn't help it
In all seriousness though, moving the strap button could help or get some kind of extender. Unfortunately this is one of those basses that's a little divisive on its design merits. Maybe try wearing it a little lower and tilting upwards for easier fret access? I'm a short-armed guy so I've had to do that on a few basses myself.
This (or something like it) might do the trick: Strap Extender For Our Headless Ace Bass and Spade Guitar
Does the bass have a screw on neck?
If so you could fabricate a strap extension that utilized two of the neck plate screws.
People made them for Steinberger's, which suffer some (but certainly not all) of the Explorer's logic problems.
If it does not have a screw on neck, and you don't mind messing it up, I suppose you could ad some screw holes yourself.
Get creative on the cheap! Do you have a garage full o' junk? I think that I have some old TV mounting hardware pieces that could probably work
If so you could fabricate a strap extension that utilized two of the neck plate screws.
People made them for Steinberger's, which suffer some (but certainly not all) of the Explorer's logic problems.
If it does not have a screw on neck, and you don't mind messing it up, I suppose you could ad some screw holes yourself.
Get creative on the cheap! Do you have a garage full o' junk? I think that I have some old TV mounting hardware pieces that could probably work
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So Anyway, I had an Epi TBird and had the same issues. Just didn't fit me.
The only way I could play it with any comfort was to tie the strap around the headstock, kind of like a Cowboy Guitar. I think Skip Batton did this with his P Bass in the Byrds.
That might negate some of the cool factor of the Explorer.
Didn't keep the TBird.
Good Luck with your decision.
The only way I could play it with any comfort was to tie the strap around the headstock, kind of like a Cowboy Guitar. I think Skip Batton did this with his P Bass in the Byrds.
That might negate some of the cool factor of the Explorer.
Didn't keep the TBird.
Good Luck with your decision.
This, although they do have a set neck, not bolt on.Does the bass have a screw on neck?
If so you could fabricate a strap extension that utilized two of the neck plate screws.
People made them for Steinberger's, which suffer some (but certainly not all) of the Explorer's logic problems.
If it does not have a screw on neck, and you don't mind messing it up, I suppose you could ad some screw holes yourself.
Get creative on the cheap! Do you have a garage full o' junk? I think that I have some old TV mounting hardware pieces that could probably work
If it were me I would be way more concerned about what bass played good, felt, good, sounded good, and fit in the mix, rather than what looked good.
I’ve never played a T-bird that felt good, i. e, wasn’t heavy and didn’t neck neck dive. But it’s your band, your show, and your decision.
I’ve never played a T-bird that felt good, i. e, wasn’t heavy and didn’t neck neck dive. But it’s your band, your show, and your decision.
PERHAPS John Entwistle was onto something with his Fenderbird basses?
IF you have the gumption & the resources to invest. It's also a bit of a longshot because you may not really know how it turns out until you're done BUT, if the group you're in gains traction on the circuit, it might be worth the investment.
There's likely body parts & hardware out there to make it work. I'd do it but, I'm just some internet rando who should be practicing smarter.
IF you have the gumption & the resources to invest. It's also a bit of a longshot because you may not really know how it turns out until you're done BUT, if the group you're in gains traction on the circuit, it might be worth the investment.
There's likely body parts & hardware out there to make it work. I'd do it but, I'm just some internet rando who should be practicing smarter.
I don't know if this would help but I like how the late Allen Collins wore his Explorer.
Comfort????
Its an Explorer man! Its made to look cool.Comfort be damned!!
Ever tried to get in or out of a Corvette?
Its an Explorer man! Its made to look cool.Comfort be damned!!
Ever tried to get in or out of a Corvette?
(On the upper horn use the existing hole) I've made my own strap extensions. Drill press and a good drill the size you need to get the screw through is about it. Cut a bolt (aluminum or steel) the length you want, center punch it and drill it slowly. When done, cover it with shrink tubing. I've never made one over an inch or so long. Use a good screw. Anything helps. Typically put the end of the extension near to or as close to the 12th fret. Some basses that could be tough to do. Might sound stupid but it works for me and a few other musicians I've made them for.
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So I can't speak for explorer-shaped basses, but I have a Gibson explorer guitar. I use a neoprene strap with it that is both a bit stretchy (for comfort) and has enough friction to keep it from sliding around. It is easily the most balanced stringed instrument I own. I can hold it in a playing position and then take both hands away and it stays absolutely still and stable - zero neck dive and feels incredibly comfortable. The reason is that the big pointy part of the body acts as a nearly perfect counter-balance to the length of the neck as it extends away from the body.
For context I also have an SG that is noticably lighter but tends to neck dive all over the place.
As far as basses go, I can see how a Thunderbird wouldn't have the same balance as the explorer guitar - the neck is a lot longer and the "pointy" part is less pronounced. Also it's my understanding that Gibson explorer basses use the same body as the guitar version - so the longer neck on the bass might overcome the nice balance achieved by the guitar, resulting in more neck dive.
Just my .02.
For context I also have an SG that is noticably lighter but tends to neck dive all over the place.
As far as basses go, I can see how a Thunderbird wouldn't have the same balance as the explorer guitar - the neck is a lot longer and the "pointy" part is less pronounced. Also it's my understanding that Gibson explorer basses use the same body as the guitar version - so the longer neck on the bass might overcome the nice balance achieved by the guitar, resulting in more neck dive.
Just my .02.
Does the bass have a screw on neck?
If so you could fabricate a strap extension that utilized two of the neck plate screws.
People made them for Steinberger's, which suffer some (but certainly not all) of the Explorer's logic problems.
If it does not have a screw on neck, and you don't mind messing it up, I suppose you could ad some screw holes yourself.
Get creative on the cheap! Do you have a garage full o' junk? I think that I have some old TV mounting hardware pieces that could probably work
Yeah definitely for recording and stuff I’ll still use my Jazz bass, but for shows it really works when all three guitars match. At least for the vibe our band is going for.
I played quite a few gigs with an Epiphone Explorer about 10years ago and the thing I remember being most uncomfortable about it and probably why I ultimately got rid of it, was the flat & wide neck carve. Balance issue was easy enough to address on mine.
One easy mod I did to make it giggable was to move the strap button from the original location here:
To the back of the neck joint, right around where that last fret marker dot is (but obviously on the back side), so that I could wear the bass at more of an upward angle like this:
It's possible I got lucky, that the weight distribution of mine was just easier than most to correct some of the neck dive? But either way, this made the bass comfy enough. Still a little neck dive but nothing crazy. I will say, with the added Alumitone bassbar pickup, I thought it sounded pretty excellent. Sure wish they'd make a short scale version! That would be our best bet at a really well balanced explorer bass.
One easy mod I did to make it giggable was to move the strap button from the original location here:
To the back of the neck joint, right around where that last fret marker dot is (but obviously on the back side), so that I could wear the bass at more of an upward angle like this:
It's possible I got lucky, that the weight distribution of mine was just easier than most to correct some of the neck dive? But either way, this made the bass comfy enough. Still a little neck dive but nothing crazy. I will say, with the added Alumitone bassbar pickup, I thought it sounded pretty excellent. Sure wish they'd make a short scale version! That would be our best bet at a really well balanced explorer bass.
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My old Exploiter was very comfortable but the reach to the lower notes was a bit of a stretch.
One of these (upper right). Mine was a Spoiler with the Exploiter body.
One of these (upper right). Mine was a Spoiler with the Exploiter body.
- Apr 18, 2008
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Dang I miss my Ibanez Destroyer bass and my Gibson Explorer Pro now.
They were both quite comfortable. Maybe because I wear my axes low…
They were both quite comfortable. Maybe because I wear my axes low…
