Gibson USA’s Shred-X Explorer

The new Shred-X Explorer—Gibson USA’s Guitar of the Month for June 2008—takes a classic and gives it a shot of adrenalin. The Gibson Explorer has long been a coveted workhorse guitar among the ranks of the hard rock and heavy metal players. Now, the new Shred-X Explorer takes it up a notch, with a mahogany body outfitted with black chrome hardware, and an Ebony finish. A pair of EMG 85 pickups deliver the output needed for hard rock and metal, and a Kahler 2215K tremolo system ensures there will be no intonation or tuning issues when dive bombing chords and notes. The neck is also one-piece mahogany with Gibson’s traditional ’50s rounded profile, an ebony fingerboard with black acrylic dot fretboard inlays unique only to the Shred-X, and locking Grover tuners. The toggle switch has been relocated to the position it occupies on the Explorers from the 1980s, allowing easier access for quick pickup selection. Gibson USA’s new Shred-X Explorer comes with a custom Guitar of the Month case. Production is limited to just 1,000 guitars.

Finishes

  

Hot Points

The Gibson Logo

The Gibson logo has graced the headstock of some of the finest stringed instruments of our time. From the Les Paul to the ES-335, and everything in between, the name Gibson is synonymous with originality and excellence. The silver, silk-screened logo is stamped onto the pressed fiber-head veneer, which is then glued to the face of the mahogany headstock. It is the most recognizable logo in all of music. There is simply no equal.

Adjustable Truss Rod

A Gibson innovation that revolutionized the guitar, the adjustable truss rod—which moves a neck forward and back—makes it possible for guitars to be set up using a variety of string gauges and string heights, which can accommodate any style of playing. Before this ground-breaking discovery in the early 1920s, the truss rod was used only to strengthen and stabilize the neck. It has become a fundamental part of the guitar, and another example of Gibson’s commitment to developing the instrument.

Angled Headstock with Locking Grover Tuners

Gibson’s angled headstock is a small, subtle engineering marvel. Angled at exactly 17 degrees, the Gibson headstock increases pressure on the strings to help them stay in the nut slots, which means there is no loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, equaling better sustain. In addition, each Gibson headstock is carved out of the same piece of wood as the neck, ensuring solid alignment and excellent tonal qualities. The Shred-X Explorer headstock also comes with a set of locking Grover tuners, that helps keep it in tune when using the Kahler 2215K tremolo system.

’50s Rounded Neck Profile

The ’50s rounded neck profile on the new Shred-X Explorer is the thicker, rounder profile, emulating the neck shapes found on the iconic 1958 and 1959 Les Paul Standards. Every Gibson neck is machined in a rough mill using wood shapers to make the initial cuts, but the rest of the process is done by hand. This ensures that no two necks are exactly alike. They’ll have the basic characteristics of the respective profile, but each neck is slightly different, with a distinct but traditional feel.

Nickel and Silver Alloy Fret Wire

The fret wire on the Gibson models is a combination nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver) specifically designed for long life and superior wear. Gibson’s traditional “medium/jumbo” fret wire is first shaped by hand, then cut to an exact 12-inch radius. After hand pressing it into the fingerboard, a machine press finishes the job to eliminate the gap between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard.

New Black Dot Acrylic Inlays

The black dot inlays on the new Shred-X Explorer are a new inlay design from Gibson. They are a variation of Gibson’s more traditional dot inlays, giving the Shred-X Explorer’s fingerboard a sleeker look. They are made of acrylic and inserted into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps and doesn’t require the use of fillers.

Set-Neck Construction

Like all classic Gibson guitars, the necks on the new Shred-X Explorer are glued into the body of the guitar using a process known as “set-neck construction.” Gluing the neck to the body of the guitar insures a “wood-to-wood” contact, no air space in the neck cavity, and maximum contact between the neck and body, allowing the neck and body to function as a single unit. The result? Better tone, better sustain, and no loose or misaligned necks.

Mahogany Body with Ebony Finish

The Shred-X Explorer’s body is a piece of mahogany in the classic style of the 1976 Explorer, glossed in a smooth Ebony finish. The mahogany itself goes through the same rigorous selection process as all of Gibson’s woods, and is personally inspected and qualified by Gibson’s team of skilled wood experts. Inside the Gibson factories, humidity is maintained at 45 percent, and the temperature at 70 degrees. This insures all woods are dried to a level of “equilibrium,” where the moisture content does not change during the manufacturing process. This guarantees tight-fitting joints and no expansion, and controls the shrinkage and warping of the woods, in addition to reducing the weight. It also improves the woods’ machinability and finishing properties. Consistent moisture content means that a Gibson guitar will respond evenly to temperature and humidity changes long after it leaves the factory.

EMG 85 Pickups

The EMG 85 is one of most popular active humbuckers in the world, and rightfully so. Equipped with a bar-shaped Alnico V magnet and coils with separate outputs, the EMG 85 yields a warmer and more natural tone, and delivers balanced and uniform string response. The wide aperture of the coils produces a beefier low end and fatter top end, with loads of output that doesn’t get muddy. They can be used to play everything from classic rhythm and blues to heavy metal.

Kahler 2215K Tremolo System in Black Chrome

For those wanting the ultimate in tremolo systems, look no further than the Kahler 2215K from Kahler USA. This black chrome stud mount tremolo system features individual fine tuners, and a 360HH brass cam. It also has stainless steel saddles that can be adjusted six different ways: side to side for string spacing, front to back to intonation, and up and down to adjust action and match the radius of the fingerboard. The brass cam and stainless steel saddles also deliver enhanced sustain and harmonics and a warmer, rich tone.

22-Fret Ebony Fingerboard

The fingerboard on Gibson USA’s new Shred-X Explorer is constructed from the highest grade ebony on the planet. The resilience of this dense and durable wood makes every fingerboard extremely balanced and stable, and gives each chord and note unparalleled clarity and bite. The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates “dead” or “choked out” notes, which can occur on fingerboards with lesser radiuses.

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