NGD 1984 gibson explorer...the bane of my gas!

[XBIGJIMX]

Ok this is the one I have been hunting for . My great white whale if you will. My first real Guitar was a 84 explorer and like a dumb ass I sold it. So for the last 10-15 years I have been looking for one that was A) had not had the "Hetfield Mod" in other words still had the original Dirtyfinger pickups and B) not super expensive. I refuse to pay extra just because they say gibson or are the Metallica guitar. So I picked this up for $400 at music go round with a case. Now it needs some work. I will be filling in the Kahler Route , and fixing the crack in the body near the input jack and painting it (maybe) but with out further delay...pics!!!!

 

[Leuchty]

Fuck yeah!

Looks in better condition than this 29 year old!

 

[Tom 1.0]

Amazing.

One of my favourite ever guitars.

 

[HRC51]

Cool. I thought they came with pickguards in the 80's. I remember seeing Tommy Shaw play a black one at a Styx show.

 

[SYLrules88]

damn, that thing sure has seen some use!! its beautiful! thats a killer price too, i was thinking these would go for a bit more than that. Id love one of these myself. good luck with the repairs and refinish!

 

[Ironbird]

Yeah bro, that's the shit right there! Congrats on the awesome score. Great price too!

Please post progress pics of the repairs/refinish?

 

[Grand Moff Tim]

I'd be more than half tempted to leave the kahler route. Adds character.

 

[MontaraMike]

F-ing SWEET!

 

[JLocrian]

Happy NGD man! That looks awesome!

 

[Andromalia]

Didn't even know they came in red.

 

[BlackStar7]

Bad. Ass.

 

[iRaiseTheDead]

brb, fap time.

HNGD!

 

[Dan_Vacant]

I have severe gas for a older explorer. Soon it'll be satisfied.

 

[The Echthros]

Don't change a thing. That thing has some mojo. If it already sounds as good as it looks, why fix that which aint broke? Cosmetic flaws =/= BROKE!

 

[XBIGJIMX]

Don't change a thing. That thing has some mojo. If it already sounds as good as it looks, why fix that which aint broke? Cosmetic flaws =/= BROKE!

It all depends on how I feel once i fix the body crack. I do love a beat up guitar

Didn't even know they came in red.

If i remember they came in white, black, and red, I may have seen a dark blue as well

I'd be more than half tempted to leave the kahler route. Adds character.

I know right! but if I fill it i will probably put a brass block in there first for a little mass then fill the rest

Yeah bro, that's the shit right there! Congrats on the awesome score. Great price too!

Please post progress pics of the repairs/refinish?

I will

damn, that thing sure has seen some use!! its beautiful! thats a killer price too, i was thinking these would go for a bit more than that. Id love one of these myself. good luck with the repairs and refinish!

They usually go for alot more. Some where in the $800 -1200 range. And i just did not want to pay that much for one

Cool. I thought they came with pickguards in the 80's. I remember seeing Tommy Shaw play a black one at a Styx show.

late 83 -mid 85 they did not pick guard models with the triangle knob pattern. They were made of Alder with maple necks instead of Mahogany. during that time as well. Which is why I had such a problem with Gibson 84 reissue. the reissue was not even close to the original it was a hetfield Signature with out his endorsement

 

[WiseSplinter]

Score!!!

If you do a refin leave the neck unpainted
Or do a full natural finish
Bare wood gets me hard

Pretty awesome as it is though, congrads!

 

[metallatem]

My 2nd guitar ever was a brand new 1984 Gibson Explorer from Manny's in NY. Still my favorite guitar.

 

[Drowner]

I love those things, but to me, it looks like hell. I would definitely fill that route in and refinish the entire thing.

 

[Garnoch]

$400?! NICE and congrats! I'm a fan as you can seen by my avatar. My 84 was my first real guitar too but I've kept it all these years. Still my favorite pickups!