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Embraced by the masters of metal and rock

When the Explorer™ was first introduced in 1958, it was not an instant hit with players, who at the time may have thought its now-iconic body shape was a bit too modern. However, as the years progressed, guitarists discovered the Explorer’s many charms, and the model became more and more popular. Rockers embraced its futuristic shape and powerful sound by the 1970s, but during the hard-rockin’ 80s, the model came into its own and was adopted by some of the best players of the era. Players like Gary Moore, The Edge, Billy Gibbons, and James Hetfield have all wielded Explorers, contributing to their legendary status. Now, Gibson is proud to introduce the Explorer 80s, which is based on the popular Explorer models from that era. It has been featured on stages worldwide, but this 80s icon is back for a new generation of players to explore. This Explorer begs to be played loud. With its futuristic body shape, iconic headstock, black Speed knobs, and chrome hardware, it looks as iconic as the generation of music it helped create.

The Explorer 80s features a lightning-fast mahogany neck with a SlimTaper™ profile. The neck is topped with a rosewood fretboard that features 22 medium jumbo frets and understated acrylic dot inlays. The Explorer headstock is equipped with Grover® Mini Rotomatic® tuners and a Graph Tech® nut to ensure the tuning stays dialed in. The other ends of the strings pass over an aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and are anchored with an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece. The iconically shaped mahogany body is outfitted with 80s Tribute humbucker pickups that accurately recreate the fat-toned sound and rich sustain of the Explorer models from the 80s era. The pickups are hand-wired to individual volume controls, while a master tone control with an Orange Drop® capacitor provides even more tonal adjustability; the controls are capped with black Speed knobs for great functionality and a classic aesthetic. There is no pickguard, which helps to give the Explorer 80s a sleek and slightly menacing appearance. If you’re into retro-futuristic guitars, the Explorer 80s brings back some of the era’s edge and attitude. It comes packed in a Gibson hardshell case and is ready to join you wherever your music takes you.

Highlights

  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck with a SlimTaper profile
  • Rosewood fretboard with acrylic dot inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets
  • Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners
  • Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece
  • 80s Tribute humbucker pickups
  • Gibson hardshell case

Specifications

Body Specs

Body Finish Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Body Material Mahogany

Body Shape Explorer

Body Styles Explorer

Neck Specs

End Of Board Width 57.4mm / 2.26in

Fingerboard Material Indian Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius 304.8mm / 12.0in

Fret Count 22

Frets Medium Jumbo

Inlays Acrylic Dot

Joint Glued In, Set Neck

Neck Material Mahogany

Nut Material Graph Tech

Nut Width 43.05mm / 1.7in

Profile SlimTaper

Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in

Electronics Specs

Bridge Pickup 80s Tribute

Controls 2 Volume, Master Tone; Hand-wired with Orange Drop Capacitors

Neck Pickup 80s Tribute

Output Jack 1/4"

Pickup Selector 3-way Toggle

Hardware Specs

Bridge Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic

Control Knobs Black Speed

finish Chrome

Jack Plate Cover Chrome

Pickguard None

Switch Tip Black

Tailpiece Aluminum Stop Bar

Truss Rod Adjustable

Tuner Plating Chrome

Tuning Machines Grover Mini Rotomatic

Misc Specs

Accessories Gibson Accessory Kit

Model: DSXE00CHCH1

Case Hardshell Case

Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046

Gibson Explorer 80s, Cherry

Gibson Explorer 80s, Cherry

New
Price
Regular price £2,299
Price incl. VAT. Free Shipping.
Details
Mahogany body, mahogany neck with a SlimTaper profile, rosewood fre...
Finish
Cherry

Lifetime Warranty

Shop and play with confidence knowing that your instrument is protected by our limited lifetime warranty. Learn more about warranties and exclusions here .

Case Included

Your instrument ships with a factory-supplied hard- or soft-shell case for safe storage and transportation. Please refer to the product specifications for details.

Setup Included

Our craftory-trained technicians perform a final thorough inspection and detailed setup moments before your instrument is packed and shipped to you.

Three Months Free

Three Free Months of the Gibson App

For a limited time only, receive a three-month subscription to the Gibson App for free with the purchase of this product. Click here to learn more about the Gibson App.

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Embraced by the masters of metal and rock

When the Explorer™ was first introduced in 1958, it was not an instant hit with players, who at the time may have thought its now-iconic body shape was a bit too modern. However, as the years progressed, guitarists discovered the Explorer’s many charms, and the model became more and more popular. Rockers embraced its futuristic shape and powerful sound by the 1970s, but during the hard-rockin’ 80s, the model came into its own and was adopted by some of the best players of the era. Players like Gary Moore, The Edge, Billy Gibbons, and James Hetfield have all wielded Explorers, contributing to their legendary status. Now, Gibson is proud to introduce the Explorer 80s, which is based on the popular Explorer models from that era. It has been featured on stages worldwide, but this 80s icon is back for a new generation of players to explore. This Explorer begs to be played loud. With its futuristic body shape, iconic headstock, black Speed knobs, and chrome hardware, it looks as iconic as the generation of music it helped create.

The Explorer 80s features a lightning-fast mahogany neck with a SlimTaper™ profile. The neck is topped with a rosewood fretboard that features 22 medium jumbo frets and understated acrylic dot inlays. The Explorer headstock is equipped with Grover® Mini Rotomatic® tuners and a Graph Tech® nut to ensure the tuning stays dialed in. The other ends of the strings pass over an aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and are anchored with an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece. The iconically shaped mahogany body is outfitted with 80s Tribute humbucker pickups that accurately recreate the fat-toned sound and rich sustain of the Explorer models from the 80s era. The pickups are hand-wired to individual volume controls, while a master tone control with an Orange Drop® capacitor provides even more tonal adjustability; the controls are capped with black Speed knobs for great functionality and a classic aesthetic. There is no pickguard, which helps to give the Explorer 80s a sleek and slightly menacing appearance. If you’re into retro-futuristic guitars, the Explorer 80s brings back some of the era’s edge and attitude. It comes packed in a Gibson hardshell case and is ready to join you wherever your music takes you.

Highlights

  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck with a SlimTaper profile
  • Rosewood fretboard with acrylic dot inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets
  • Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners
  • Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic bridge and stop bar tailpiece
  • 80s Tribute humbucker pickups
  • Gibson hardshell case

Specifications

Body Specs

Body Finish Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer

Body Material Mahogany

Body Shape Explorer

Body Styles Explorer

Neck Specs

End Of Board Width 57.4mm / 2.26in

Fingerboard Material Indian Rosewood

Fingerboard Radius 304.8mm / 12.0in

Fret Count 22

Frets Medium Jumbo

Inlays Acrylic Dot

Joint Glued In, Set Neck

Neck Material Mahogany

Nut Material Graph Tech

Nut Width 43.05mm / 1.7in

Profile SlimTaper

Scale Length 628.65mm / 24.75in

Electronics Specs

Bridge Pickup 80s Tribute

Controls 2 Volume, Master Tone; Hand-wired with Orange Drop Capacitors

Neck Pickup 80s Tribute

Output Jack 1/4"

Pickup Selector 3-way Toggle

Hardware Specs

Bridge Aluminum Nashville Tune-O-Matic

Control Knobs Black Speed

finish Chrome

Jack Plate Cover Chrome

Pickguard None

Switch Tip Black

Tailpiece Aluminum Stop Bar

Truss Rod Adjustable

Tuner Plating Chrome

Tuning Machines Grover Mini Rotomatic

Misc Specs

Accessories Gibson Accessory Kit

Model: DSXE00CHCH1

Case Hardshell Case

Strings Gauge .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046