Watch It First
Subtlety is not on the menu here. The Epiphone Explorer is a giant angular slab of mahogany that looks like it was drawn with a ruler and a bad attitude.
This particular version is the 80s model loaded with active EMGs, so it is aimed squarely at anyone who thinks a guitar should be able to level a building.
It is a lot of guitar in every sense. But does the flashy shape come with the tone to match? Let’s plug it in.
The Short Version
It is a proper metal machine. Mahogany body, set neck, and a pair of active EMGs that mean serious business. If you want brutal, this delivers brutal.
Those EMGs Are the Headline
An EMG 81 in the bridge and a 60 in the neck is the classic metal loadout, the same recipe found on countless pro players’ guitars for decades.
They are active, so there is a 9V battery inside, and they are tight, high-output and almost noise-free even under mountains of gain.
If you are building a rig for heavy music, it is worth comparing this against the ESP LTD EC-1000 and the Ibanez GRG131DX to see which flavour of heavy suits you.
Living With That Shape
Standing up, the Explorer hangs and balances better than you would expect. It is designed for the stage, and it looks absolutely enormous on one, in a good way.
The Downside of the Shape
Sitting down is another matter. That long lower wing wants to slide off your leg, so it is not the comfiest guitar for couch practice. Classical position helps.
The Neck
The 60s SlimTaper neck is thin and fast, and it suits the metal remit perfectly. Medium jumbo frets and a 24.75-inch scale keep it comfortable for chugging and leads alike.
So How Does It Sound?
Huge, tight and aggressive. The mahogany body gives it weight and sustain, and the EMGs turn that into a focused, percussive wall of gain that stays clear even at extreme settings.
It is built for riffing, and it eats Alice in Chains-style riffs and modern metal chugs for fun. Cleans are usable but honestly nobody buys this guitar for its jazz tone.
The Niggles
Active pickups mean battery management. Leave a lead plugged in and you will drain it, so keep a spare 9V handy.
It is not a versatile all-rounder. This is a one-trick guitar, and the trick is heavy. If you want cleans and funk, look elsewhere.
And the shape is genuinely awkward seated. You get used to it, but it is worth knowing before you buy.
Who Is It For?
Metal and hard rock players who want the look, the attitude and the active tone without paying Gibson prices. Also anyone who just thinks the Explorer is the coolest shape ever made.
If you want something more do-it-all, the Epiphone SG Standard is more flexible, and beginners should start with the best cheap electric guitars for beginners.
The Specs
- Body: mahogany
- Neck: set mahogany, 60s SlimTaper profile
- Fingerboard: rosewood, dot inlays
- Scale: 629 mm (24.75″)
- Nut: Graph Tech, 42.9 mm
- Frets: 22 medium jumbo
- Pickups: EMG 81 (bridge) + EMG 60 (neck), active
- Controls: 2 volume, 1 tone, 3-way toggle
- Bridge: LockTone Tune-o-matic with stopbar
- Finish: Classic White gloss, gig bag included
- Thomann article no.: 633827
Verdict
The Epiphone Explorer 80s is big shape, big attitude, and big tone. It knows exactly what it is: a mahogany-and-EMG metal weapon that looks the part and backs it up.
If you play heavy and you have always wanted that iconic pointy silhouette, this is a seriously fun, seriously loud way to get it. Just do not expect to play it comfortably on the sofa.
