Pricing and availability
We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 7 stores. Prices updated .
Store
Reviews
Price
Average Price: $711
Standard/Professional
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 4 merchants for "Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
The Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar is a stylish recreation of the iconic, boundary-pushing guitar originally launched in the late '50s. Its radical, angular body represents the spirit of rock and roll rebellion while delivering powerful, full-throttle tone. Crafted with a solid mahogany body, this guitar offers remarkable sustain and punch that truly stands out, even before you plug it in.
Its ProBucker pickups ensure a broad spectrum of tones, from sweet cleans to classic crunch, perfect for all your musical endeavors. The ProBucker-2 in the neck position provides a slightly warmer output, while the ProBucker-3 in the bridge position adds a snarl with attitude.
The SlimTaper neck, coupled with a 22-fret Indian laurel fingerboard, facilitates fast, low-action playing, making complex chords and string bending a breeze. The guitar's high-performance hardware, including Grover Mini tuners and a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, enhance sustain and keep your instrument perfectly in tune.
Whether you're a fan of the original 1958 design or a modern rock enthusiast, the Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar offers a unique blend of style, performance, and tone that's sure to impress.
Key Features:
- Solid mahogany body for fuller tone with enhanced sustain and resonance
- ProBucker-2 and ProBucker-3 pickups deliver a range of tones, from clean to raunchy
- SlimTaper neck and 22-fret Indian laurel fingerboard enable fast, low-action playing
- Grover Mini tuners and LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge for perfect tuning and enhanced sustain
- Iconic, futuristic style inspired by the original 1958 design
- Durable gloss ebony finish to protect against wear and tear
- High-performance hardware for rock-solid performance.
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Solidbody |
| Body Shape | Explorer |
| Body Material | Mahogany |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | SlimTaper |
| Neck Joint | Set Neck |
| Radius | 12" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | White Dots |
| Number of Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Nut Width | 1.693" |
| Nut Material | GraphTech |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | LockTone Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Stopbar Tailpiece |
| Tuners | Kidney-style Tuners |
| Neck Pickup | ProBucker-2 Humbucker |
| Bridge Pickup | ProBucker-3 Humbucker |
| Controls | 2 x volume, 1 x master tone |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup switch |
| Strings | Gibson, .010-.046 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Sold Separately |
FAQs
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What kind of music is the Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar best suited for?
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The Epiphone Explorer is well-suited for rock and metal genres due to its powerful ProBucker humbuckers, which deliver strong, aggressive tones ideal for distortion and high-gain settings.
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What is the neck profile of the Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar?
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The Epiphone Explorer features a SlimTaper neck profile, providing a comfortable and fast-playing experience suitable for various playing styles.
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Are the pickups on the Epiphone Explorer suitable for clean tones?
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Yes, the ProBucker-2 and ProBucker-3 humbuckers on the Epiphone Explorer offer excellent clarity and warmth, making them versatile for both clean and distorted tones.
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Does the Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar stay in tune well?
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The Epiphone Explorer is equipped with Grover tuners and a LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge, which provide stable tuning and reliable intonation for extended playing sessions.
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Is the Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar comfortable to play standing up?
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The Explorer's unique body shape may take some getting used to, but its ergonomic design and balanced weight distribution make it comfortable for standing performances once accustomed.
Videos
Lucas Fowler
2020 Epiphone Explorer! Is The Hype Real?
2020 Epiphone Explorer! Is The Hype Real?
Lucas Fowler
Lzzy Hale Epiphone Explorer
Phillip McKnight
Epiphone Explorer Ebony | NAMM 2020 | SOUNDBITES
GUITARGUITAR
Epiphone Explorer Demo & Tones - Everything You Need To Know
OfficialEpiphone
Epiphone Explorer 2020 (Inspired by Gibson) - Demo
Metropolis Guitar MX
Epiphone Explorer Unboxing - Initial Thoughts & Sound Demo
Chris Cruise
Epiphone Explorer Review & Demo
Electric Flamingo
Reviews
PROS
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Coolest looking guitar with an iconic Explorer body
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Excellent build quality, comparable to higher-end models
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Surprisingly comfortable to play sitting or standing
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Neck is versatile, suitable for both rhythm and lead
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Provides iconic Gibson tone with right pickups
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Inspires you to play more often
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Loud and powerful stock pickups, particularly for hard rock and metal
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Great intonation and action right out of the box
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Lightweight and ergonomically balanced
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Fit and finish are top-notch, with durable aesthetics
CONS
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Requires setup and potential fretwork upon arrival
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Stock pickups could be better for some players
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Upper fret access is limited compared to other models
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Knobs are too large and awkwardly positioned
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Occasionally goes out of tune with extensive bending
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Some guitars arrive with cosmetic damage or blemishes
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Size may be ergonomically uncomfortable for those in tight spaces
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Middle knob may be loose or fall off easily
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Plastic nut and high frets may need adjustments
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Some units experience neck issues, like concavity around 6th fret
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar.
Features and functionality
Comparisons
User experience
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The location of the upper strap button may contribute to the guitar tilting forward, though not causing neck dive.
Source -
Despite its smaller size, players find the Explorer GT comfortable for reaching all frets, making it suitable for shorter individuals.
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The Explorer GT is noted for its good action across the neck, providing a smooth playing experience with light strings without causing finger discomfort.
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One owner likens their Epiphone Explorer's playability to a Gibson SG '61, indicating high satisfaction.
Source
Value and pricing
Build quality
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Multiple users appreciate the neck feel and find the pickups to be decent for the price point.
Source
Setup and maintenance
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The stock bridge is praised for needing minimal intonation adjustments, with only a truss rod adjustment required when changing strings.
Source
Mods and upgrades
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Owners recommend replacing stock pickups with Seymour Duncan P-Rail for improved tonal versatility.
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Adding locking tuners is a common upgrade, although not essential, to enhance tuning stability.
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Re-routing controls to a two-volume/three-position toggle setup is a modification for personalized control.
Source
Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 7 Reviews and 29 Ratings
487
A really solid guitar for the money
This is my first Epiphone I bought from the inspired by Gibson line and I'm impressed. The build quality is outstanding. There have been no fret issues and out of the box intonation and neck angle when tuned to pitch were spot on. I only had to adjust the action and pickup height, The Tusq nut insures me that the strings won't get caught up in the nut, The CTS pots are also a really nice touch and tells me that I won't have to gut the guitar if I put in new pickups and the inclusion of grover tuners is always a bonus. The guitar overall plays and sounds really good, the neck on mine is sort of baseball bat-esc but thats actually how I prefer my necks.
99
Love this guitar.
The Epiphone Explorer is one of the most comfortable guitars I have played. It has quite a slim neck which I am fond of. The pickups sound great all around. It holds tune surprisingly well. And it came straight from the factory set up really well, with only a couple minor scratches. This is overall such a fantastic guitar for the money and I have such a blast playing it.
116
Currently my favorite guitar
I knew from the first time I picked this guitar up, that it was my new favorite. it plays amazing, definitely one of the best playing guitars that I have ever played. I have played several Gibson, and other high end brands, and it surprisingly stacks up very well in comparison to its higher end counter parts. When I went to Parkway music in Clifton Park, I tried out all of their Explorer body guitars, including Gibson models. This is the one I liked the most visually, sound wise, and play-ability. The gold hardware gives this guitar a great and unique look. Each part of the guitar stands out very well, and the colors look very good with the contrast between each
426
This is a great guitar and gets even better once you change the pick-ups!
I use this as a back-up guitar to my Gibson V. I swapped the pick-ups from the generics to Seymour Duncan SH4's and it sounds so damn good and is the perfect back-up guitar for me. It's a dream to play too. I love this thing. I can only imagine what a Gibson Explorer must sound / play like if the Epi's sound this good.
75
Great guitar, definitly my favourite.
A great guitar for anyone beginning or even experienced. It's a guitar that just doesn't let you down, great neck, spread out weight and a great tone for anything from metal to blues
289
Is awesome
I've always wanted an explorer and I finally got one it plays like a baller nuff said
379
A badass looking guitar
Another axe rescued at a pawn shop, this Explorer is yet another one of a kind masterpiece
Artist usage
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In a live performance of "Bloody Valentine and forget me too," MGK can be seen playing an epiphone exclusive purple sparkle explorer. This performance was documented by mgkmagic on YouTube during 1075 The River's River On The Rooftop show on September 24, 2024, in Nashville, TN.
Here Leo Moracchioli explains how/why he uses the Epiphone Explorer
Ryan Roxie can be seen at 0:35 and then multiple times during the video of the 2022 Graspop Metal Meeting show using an Epiphone Explorer.
Quoting the Epiphone official site: "Epiphone has been privileged to work with Dave Rude for several years. Epi instruments in his collection include an original Alleykat, a TV Silver Explorer Pro (both shown in the live Bridgestone Arena photos below), a Sheraton-II, a Masterbilt EF-500RCCE, and more."
Pete uses this guitar to demonstrate the Dimebucker pickup according to the description of this video.
In this image Snowy Shaw can be seen playing his Epiphone Explorer at Wacken Open Air 2016
In this photo, Bugo is holding a modified Epiphone Explorer guitar.
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In this post Florent Shows off his Epiphone Explorer
In his YouTube video titled GUITAR COLLECTION 2025, Étienne Fournier, from 10:23 to 11:23, presents his Epiphone Explorer.
I got it only because I really enjoy that shape very much. It kind of was my dream guitar at some point, from when I was very little and looking at electric guitars, that was my favorite shape, and now I got one.
In his video, Danilo demonstrates his Explorer playing Kickstart My Heart
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Epiphone Explorer Electric Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yours
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