Epiphone Explorers, what are they like?

[JSett]

i miss having an explorer. did you get one yet?

Not yet. I'm still internally debating it. I've got a wanted advert up on FB for a lawsuit-era copy to try and snag a Greco/Aria/etc 70s one but no bite yet.

Jeez, didn’t realise how much people are asking for lawsuit explorers!

There’s a couple of epiphones on eBay. A 2006 for £500 (probably more than you wanted to spend), or an unmentioned year model for £400

Yeah, there's a black Korean on on there for 400 (probably the same one) that's the next town over. I definitely would prefer one with the korina look. Obviously because I want to grow a goatee, wear a beanie and be The Edge

[sal paradise]

Not yet. I'm still internally debating it. I've got a wanted advert up on FB for a lawsuit-era copy to try and snag a Greco/Aria/etc 70s one but no bite yet.

Jeez, didn’t realise how much people are asking for lawsuit explorers!

There’s a couple of epiphones on eBay. A 2006 for £500 (probably more than you wanted to spend), or an unmentioned year model for £400

Yeah, there's a black Korean on on there for 400 (probably the same one) that's the next town over. I definitely would prefer one with the korina look. Obviously because I want to grow a goatee, wear a beanie and be The Edge

This is the unknown year one. Also, says pickup only. But might be worth quick check?

[JSett]

That's not the one I was looking at, that's a Chinese one. I'll pass.

[ldp54002]

For a sizable chunk of my guitar playing life, the Explorer body shape was my favorite (it's since been eclipsed by the Jazzmaster/Jaguar, but it's still very high up there).

My first guitar was a crappy Strat copy, but my first "real" guitar was a 1998 Epiphone Korina Explorer that I still own. It was and is a legitimately great guitar, especially considering the original price of about $350 (1998 money, of course). It was made in the Korean Unsung plant, which it pretty well known for putting out high quality guitars, especially in that era. The fretwork was immaculate and the fit and finish of everything else was very good to great. The only issue I ever had with it was fairly microphonic pickups, but I replaced them long ago anyway. The gold hardware is severely tarnished, but that's a given.

It is one of those "save it from a fire" guitars for me, for both sentimental and playability reasons. I straight love that guitar.

I would recommend keeping an eye out for as many late-90s/early-00s MIK Explorers as you can find.