Any love for Gibson Explorers, Hamer Standards, and Dean Zs?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Any love for Gibson Explorers, Hamer Standards, and Dean Zs?

Posted: 2/11/2017 9:47:05 PM EDT

I had a US custom shop Dean Z in solid korina (real African Limba) with a sold ebony board, and it's one of the very few I really regret selling. That thing would resonate four-evah!

Posted: 2/11/2017 9:52:05 PM EDT

[#1]

never did like anything by Dean just because i think their headstock is one of the ugliest. i much rather prefer a Jackson Soloist in HH configuration

Posted: 2/11/2017 9:55:25 PM EDT

[#2]

Quote History

Quoted:
never did like anything by Dean just because i think their headstock is one of the ugliest. i much rather prefer a Jackson Soloist in HH configuration

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There's something about the explorer body shape, and the distributed mass, that is just magical for sustain.

Posted: 2/11/2017 9:57:13 PM EDT

[#3]

I have an explorer for all of my names hetfield needs

Posted: 2/11/2017 10:00:55 PM EDT

[#4]

Posted: 2/11/2017 11:24:10 PM EDT

[#5]

I always wanted an explorer type...one day

Posted: 2/11/2017 11:50:22 PM EDT

[#6]

Quote History

Quoted:
I always wanted an explorer type...one day

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If you've never played one, it's shocking how well balanced they feel in the lap and hanging. Ted McCarty and Co. really got it right the first time around, although ironically their original headstock design was a split V much like later Deans.

Posted: 2/12/2017 1:59:45 AM EDT

[#7]

Much love. They sound great, play great, sustain for days, and are surprisingly comfortable.

Posted: 2/12/2017 4:29:25 AM EDT

[#8]

I had an Explorer Pro that was a lot of fun to play. Sounded great... I got rid of it because I like to change things up from time to time. For some reason I like rotating everything except for a couple guitars.

Nothing wrong with the way it play though.. That's for sure.

Posted: 2/13/2017 11:26:45 PM EDT

[#9]

Yep, I've got an Explorer. Here it is the night I brought it home. It no longer has the stock Gibson 500T/496R set it came with in it, and currently has a Burstbucker 1&2 set. But the Burstbuckers are a little weak for what I want out of that guitar. So it'll either end up something else later on. Maybe a Het Set, or a Loomis Set, or a Duncan Distortion set, or a Duncan Custom and a Jazz. Haven't decided. And I definitely need to get some slower tuners and a bridge with some more travel for the bridge saddles so I can intonate it (not quite enough travel in the stock bridge).

Posted: 2/17/2017 8:13:40 AM EDT

[#10]

My first electric was a Dean Hollywood Z, I loved that guitar but later traded it for a black Les Paul Standard. I saw a cherry Explorer at GC a few weeks ago on sale and have wondered if it still there.

Posted: 2/17/2017 9:10:10 AM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
My first electric was a Dean Hollywood Z, I loved that guitar but later traded it for a black Les Paul Standard. I saw a cherry Explorer at GC a few weeks ago on sale and have wondered if it still there.

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Good time to buy, Gibson's 2016 stuff is on clearance everywhere right now.

Posted: 2/17/2017 8:32:26 PM EDT

[#12]

I almost pulled the trigger on the Schecter E-1 recently
kinda' explorer/iceman axe
just because I like the way it looks

$899 new, maybe I'll find a used one in a few years for less, well that's the plan.

Posted: 2/18/2017 2:39:21 PM EDT

[#13]

Quote History

Quoted:
I almost pulled the trigger on the Schecter E-1 recently
kinda' explorer/iceman axe
just because I like the way it looks
http://www.chorder.com/images/reviews-articles/19464-desktop.jpg
$899 new, maybe I'll find a used one in a few years for less, well that's the plan.

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Wow that is sexy!

Posted: 2/18/2017 9:19:04 PM EDT

[#14]

I had a Dean tiger stripe explorer style Z, had a Kahler on it. Wouldnt stay in tune at all.

Posted: 2/19/2017 1:47:38 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
I had a Dean tiger stripe explorer style Z, had a Kahler on it. Wouldnt stay in tune at all.

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Sounds like a typical Kahler. Floyd Rose, FTW!

Posted: 2/19/2017 2:29:32 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

Sounds like a typical Kahler. Floyd Rose, FTW!

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Yep

Posted: 3/4/2017 9:30:36 PM EDT

[#17]

A Jackson Kelly Professional was the first rock guitar I ever bought. Was shortly after I started playing and sold my Squire Strat to get it. Paid $480 for it back in the late 90s. It plays/sounds amazing, even thought it has "Jackson" pups, they rock. Japanese made. Bought it because it kinda looked like an Explorer but for half the price. Really grew to love the Kelly over the Explorer because it's lighter and much easier to get to the higher up frets (24 on the Kelly).

Then, in the early 2000s I bought this ESP Explorer in natural color. It's a Custom Shop, with the MX250-esq body/head style. I have no idea what it's worth; I've literally never seen another one, even in searching online. She doesn't come out much but she will when I'm feeling a little extra Metallica.

Posted: 3/5/2017 11:06:19 PM EDT

[#18]

I'm a fan of the body style. I watched a video of somebody playing an all black Gibson explored with EMGs in it and immediately popped a boner

Posted: 3/7/2017 9:47:06 PM EDT

[#19]

They are cool looking. But I've always had a desire for a Firebird. Never played one, don't think I've even seen one in person.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Any love for Gibson Explorers, Hamer Standards, and Dean Zs?

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