Explorer Series
from Blue Book of Electric Guitars, Sixth Edition, 1999
EXPLORER (KORINA) - offset hourglass korina (African limba wood) body, white pickguard, korina neck, 22 fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, 6 on one side tuners, gold (1958-59) or nickel (1962-63) hardware, 2 P.A.F. (1958-59) or patent number (1962-63) humbucker pickups, 2 volume/1 tone controls, 3 position switch. Available in Natural finish. Mfd. 1958-1959 and 1962-1963 (brown case 1958-59, black case 1962-63).
Explorer Reissue - similar to Explorer (Korina), except has mahogany body/neck. Available in Black, Natural and White finishes. Mfd. 1975 to 1980.
Explorer II - similar to Explorer (Korina), except has 5 piece laminated walnut/maple body, maple neck, ebony fingerboard with dot inlay, E 2 engraved truss rod cover, tunable TP-6 stop tailpiece, gold hardware, 2 exposed coil humbucker pickups. Available in Natural finish. Mfd. 1979 to 1984.
Explorer (I) - similar to Explorer II, except has mahogany body, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, decal headstock logo, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece or black Kahler Flyer tremolo, 2 uncovered humbuckers. Available in Black and White finishes. Mfd. 1981 to 1989.
EXPLORER KORINA REISSUE (1984 Mfr.) - offset hourglass korina body, black pickguard, korina neck, 22 fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, stamped serial number on peghead, 6 on one side Schaller tuners, gold hardware, 2 humbucker pickups, 2 volume/1 tone controls, 3 position switch. Available in Antique Natural, Candy Apple Red, Ebony and Ivory finishes. Mfd. 1984 only.
Explorer Heritage (Limited Edition) - similar to Explorer Korina Reissue, except has inked serial number on peghead, pearloid buttons, black control knobs. Available in Antique Natural, Ebony and Ivory finishes. Mfd. 1983 only.
Explorer Heritage (Custom Shop) - similar to Explorer Korina Reissue, except has stamped serial number on peghead, black pickguard, gold hardware. Available in Antique Natural, Ebony and Ivory finishes. Mfd. 1983 only.
EXPLORER 83 (Also Later Known as EXPLORER) - offset hourglass body, mahogany neck, 22 fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tremolo tailpiece (Kahler and Floyd Rose systems), 6 on one side tuners, chrome hardware, 2 exposed coil humbucker pickups, 2 volume/tone controls, 3 position switch. Available in Black and White finishes. Mfd. 1984 to 1989.
Explorer with Black Hardware - similar to Explorer 83, except has Kahler tremolo system and black hardware. Mfd. 1985 only.
Explorer CMT - similar to Explorer 83, except has bound curly maple top. Mfd. 1984 only.
EXPLORER III - offset hourglass alder body, white pickguard, korina neck, 22 fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, peghead logo decal, 6 on one side tuners, chrome hardware, 3 'soapbar' P-90 pickups, volume/tone controls, 3 position switch. Available in Natural finish. Mfd. 1984 to 1985.
Explorer III With Black Hardware - similar to Explorer III, except has Kahler tremolo system and black hardware. Mfd. 1985 only.
EXPLORER 425 - offset hourglass mahogany body, set-in mahogany neck, white pickguard, 22 fret ebony fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, Kahler vibrato, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, 6 on one side tuners, black hardware, 2 uncovered single coil/humbucker pickups, volume/tone controls, 3 mini switches. Available in Natural finish. Mfd. 1986 only.
XLP Custom - similar to Explorer 425, except has bound top, sharply pointed horns, rounded cutout on lower treble bout, 2 Dirty Fingers exposed coil humbuckers, double locking tremolo system. Mfd. 1985 to 1987.
EXPLORER '76 (DSXR)(Originally EXPLORER REISSUE) - offset hourglass mahogany body/neck, white pickguard, 22 fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead
with pearl logo inlay, 6 on one side tuners, chrome hardware, 2 ceramic (496R and 500T) magnet humbuckers, 2 volume/1 tone controls, 3 position switch. Available in Cherry (CH), Classic White (CW), Ebony (EB), Natural (new
1999), Natural Burst (new 1999), Vintage Sunburst (VS) or Gothic (satin black finish, black chrome hardware, and 12th fret moon and star inlay) finishes. Mfr. 1990 to date.
GIBSON EXPLORER - mahogany body and neck, 2 ceramic (496R and 500T) magnet humbuckers, rosewood fingerboard, tune-o-matic bridge with stop tailpiece, chrome or gold hardware, various finishes (including Gothic, 100% satin black finish, black chrome hardware, and 12th fret moon and star inlay). New 1998.
EXPLORER 90 DOUBLE - offset hourglass mahogany body/neck, 25 1/2" scale, white pickguard, 22 fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead with pearl split diamond/logo inlay, 6 on one side tuners, gold hardware, 2 humbucker pickups, 2 volume/1 tone controls, 3 position switch. Available in Natural finish. Mfd. 1989 to 1991.