I've had Chinese, Indonesian, Korean, Mexican, Japanese, Canadian, even Czech, but this is my first ever American made guitar. You know, I usually play an ESP made SG lawsuit (Edwards), and they are allegedly supposed to have the same kind of neck, but the Gibson neck on this Explorer is different. It's like... got more "shoulder" to it? But not like a Jackson soloist or an Ibanez, because the neck is also very round. It's simultaneously round and shouldery. I like it though. IDK if someone swapped the pickups or just put covers over the stock ones, because I'm pretty sure 2016 Explorers came with uncovered pups. Plays fantastic. I just read that it is factory PLEK'd, so I believe this would be my first time playing a PLEK'd guitar as well. The action is very low and the frets are so good. There are some finish flaws that I imagine are from the factory, but I got such a deal on this thing and it plays so well I just can't find myself giving a crap about those.
You see a lot of people playing Explorer's with the neck very horizontal to the ground (James Hetfield), so I was worried that the balance of the guitar would keep the neck down, which is not my preference. I was happily surprised to find that neck stays right up there, and especially if you apply any pressure to the body with your forearm. I gotta be honest, I am not loving the painted neck. Maybe I'll have it stripped and refinished in oil like I did for my SG.
It's heavy as crap though. Man, I never thought I'd own a real Gibson! I feel like a pro.
You see a lot of people playing Explorer's with the neck very horizontal to the ground (James Hetfield), so I was worried that the balance of the guitar would keep the neck down, which is not my preference. I was happily surprised to find that neck stays right up there, and especially if you apply any pressure to the body with your forearm. I gotta be honest, I am not loving the painted neck. Maybe I'll have it stripped and refinished in oil like I did for my SG.
It's heavy as crap though. Man, I never thought I'd own a real Gibson! I feel like a pro.
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