Who makes a decent Explorer style guitar

[Tone Loco]

Gibson obviously, but anybody else out there? Probably nice solid woods. I'm partial to seeing the wood through the finish not solid color. Not too worried about pickups as I don't mind changing them, but decent hardware otherwise. Not real skinny necks...
Just wondering what that options are.

[fierce_carrot]

Don't overlook the Epi Explorer. They have a 58 Reissue in Korina that sells for about $499.00 and is an amazingly well built guitar, just as is their Flying V RI. Change the pickups and the pots and you have a guitar that won't take a back seat to anything out there.

[guitarnoize]

How about a Hamer Standard? http://www.hamerguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=399

mmmm....
http://www.hamerguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=394

[Tonal Comfort]

Don't overlook the Epi Explorer. They have a 58 Reissue in Korina that sells for about $499.00 and is an amazingly well built guitar, just as is their Flying V RI. Change the pickups and the pots and you have a guitar that won't take a back seat to anything out there.

I agree! Got a new Epi Explorer several years ago for a great price. It was a factory second, apparently because there's a small knot in the wood on the top. I think it gives the guitar great character. It's a nice guitar and played great right out of the gate with no setup needed. I still need to upgrade pick-ups and pots, but the stock ones are certainly playable.

[guitarnoize]

Here's a nice Explorer from UK luthier Jaime Campbell:

http://www.at-the-creamery.co.uk/blog/the-creamery/introducing-the-alleyway/

[pokey]

Dommenget, Dean, Stevens

Ibanez lawsuit destroyer
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1975-IBANEZ-DESTROYER-GUITAR-PRINT-AD-/21/!Byi9ChgEWk~$(KGrHqR,!h4Ew5BV!!lYBMSK+4,JE!~~_3.JP G

[frank62]

Gibson, Epi, and Hamer.

[c_mac]

Higher end Dean Z's are killer guitars.

[lordofthethighs]

Hamer Standard & Dean USA Z's
Hamer probably has a slight edge in the quality, but
the Deans ain't no slouch. I've never had the opportunity to
play an Ibanez "Lawsuit" Destroyer but have heard great things
about them.

[cmatthes]

Hamer is the easy "hands down" winner - better than decent, and better than Gibson production stuff any day. Depends on your price range though, because they don't go cheap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/cmatthes/EnvyburstStandardfull.jpg

The USA Dean stuff is pretty good too.

[Tonal Comfort]

That's some beautiful flame there! I normally wouldn't choose green but that guitar might make me change my mind!

[Tone Loco]

How about a Hamer Standard? http://www.hamerguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=399

mmmm....
http://www.hamerguitars.com/?fa=detail&mid=394

Any idea where the STDs are made? I wonder how the korina ones sound compared to the Epis? I guess they are pretty much the same guitars except the Hamer's have maple necks. Do they also have maple tops?

Looks like the other non USA Hamers have alder bodies. I wonder how they sound compared to mahogany.

For some reason I thought Hamer USA was out of business. I've had a couple, a TLE and a Newport Pro and liked them both. Almost pulled the trigger on a Monaco a little while back too.

[Thundrstruckk]

Hamer is the easy "hands down" winner - better than decent, and better than Gibson production stuff any day. Depends on your price range though, because they don't go cheap.

The USA Dean stuff is pretty good too.

That, is beautiful

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

[cmatthes]

Hamer is still making them to order in New Hartford, CT, where they've been building them since they moved from Arlington Heights, IL in 1997.

The USA Korina ones are as good or better than the $7k Gibson reissues - plenty of people here have done those head-to-head comparisons.

I'm not all that familiar with the Import Hamer stuff, but it is roughly comparable to the Epiphone line. The older MIK stuff is probably slightly better in some respects, but the Epi Korina Explorers they've been making since 1996 are pretty good in their own right.

[gregc]

Hamer rules the Explorer style guitar, hands down.

[Ron4406]

Hamer rules the Explorer style guitar, hands down.
I agree with this post.

[Virtual Pariah]

Hamer rules the Explorer style guitar, hands down.
Yup.

[stratzrus]

The USA Dean stuff is pretty good too.:agree

The necks on the Deans are spectacular...


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/4985154191_f701f1cbb4_b.jpg

[BrentB6]

Hamer is the easy "hands down" winner - better than decent, and better than Gibson production stuff any day. Depends on your price range though, because they don't go cheap.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v75/cmatthes/EnvyburstStandardfull.jpg

The USA Dean stuff is pretty good too.


Top Shelf !

[teefus]

hamer, definitely. this is my '97 custom order.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a131/teefus/standardsm.jpg

[lspaulsp]

If you don't mind the bolt on neck.....don't rule out Warmoth. Pick your body, pick yer neck. I have an amazing Les Paul. Tons of comments, amazing axe!