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hey guys.

I'm thinking about getting a Gibson Explorer. I already own a couple of SG's...

Since the body and neck material are very much the same, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fretboard, etc... will they sound exactly the same? (assuming I use the same pups in each?) Will the shape or thickness of the body have any effect on tone?

With the same pickups they'll sound very similar...especially through a cranked Marshall. But they won't sound the same. The Explorer will probably have a little thicker tone with more solid lows. The SG will sound a little thinner and twangier. Lew


Originally Posted by LewguitarWith the same pickups they'll sound very similar...especially through a cranked Marshall. But they won't sound the same. The Explorer will probably have a little thicker tone with more solid lows. The SG will sound a little thinner and twangier. Lew

Indeed. While an SG can achieve many different sounds, it tends to almost always retain that sharp, biting, midrange. The Explorer, at least to me, is best for metal and hard rock. It'll have a FAT bottom end.

lot more mahogany...darker...and more low end than a SG typically.Usually bright and/or some pups with good high end work best..59s..Custom, etc

Custom 59 como is just sick

No, they sound totally different IMO...

the SG will (generally, depends on the piece of wood, of course) be brighter with a more cutting midrange, while the explorer will be deeper with more girth in the low end and smoother highs.

The main difference is the massive size of a regular explorer versus the size of an SG. YOu might find that you get a closer sound to an SG with the smaller bodied Xplorer studio that Gibson had a few years back although I always thought they looked odd. SG are cool but I never liked the neck joint since it seemed like the weak spot on the guitar. My best advice is to go to a shop and a/b the guitars through the same amp and see what sounds and fits you best.

Thanks for the replies, guys.

Thats exactly what I was hoping for. Something with a little more low end than the SG.

I think I'm gonna go for it... GAS here I come!

If you get a white one...(Gibson) know that they (and white only) use an Ebony fingerboard...this makes them a bit quot;brighterquot; or snappier sounding.

My old late 80s Pewter Explorer had an ebony board...it needed (for me) a bit thicker pup to compensate compared to Rosewood.


Originally Posted by JeffBIf you get a white one...(Gibson) know that they (and white only) use an Ebony fingerboard...this makes them a bit quot;brighterquot; or snappier sounding.

My old late 80s Pewter Explorer had an ebony board...it needed (for me) a bit thicker pup to compensate compared to Rosewood.

Hey JeffB,

Thanks for the info... How did you know I was thinking about getting one in white? thats good to know about the ebony fret board....

Hey, tell me about that explorer you've got in your sig. Is that a Gibson? Do they still make 'em like that?

Thanks,


Originally Posted by lex666Hey JeffB,

Thanks for the info... How did you know I was thinking about getting one in white? thats good to know about the ebony fret board....

Hey, tell me about that explorer you've got in your sig. Is that a Gibson? Do they still make 'em like that?

Thanks,

Alot of people like the white Vs and Explorers..but don't know Gibson does Ebony boards on those..I just figured it was something you may not know of

That is a Hamer Standard Custom in my avatar. Honestly, production Gibsons are nowhere close to this thing. But if ya get a good piece of wood and a good quot;buildquot;, the Gibsons def will have good tone and play well. The Hamer is a quot;custom builtquot; instrument with alot of attention to detail and handwork. Closest you'll get in a Gibson is a Historic Reissue out of the custom shop, but you'll pay $4K for it.

The Explorer will look better and sound better, IMHO.

Explorers are fat sounding. I'm not a fan of the look but I just love the sound of an Explorer.

Super-Chuggggg, that's the word I can think of right now...to describe the explorer's sound.


Originally Posted by D-EJ915Super-Chuggggg, that's the word I can think of right now...to describe the explorer's sound.

Agreed...Explorers do some serious quot;chugga chuggaquot;....all that Mahogany...