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Great guitar!
By: Edgar B
Submitted: 11/26/2019
Product Rating
Product Review
This guitar is fantastic. The matte finish is really nice and the XII inlay on the 12th fret is a nice touch. My only complaint is the humbucker pickups arent the best, but an easy change to something like S Duncans will make it sound much better. Great for the price
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Love this axe
By: Myke
Submitted: 11/8/2019
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This is one of the best guitars I own.. can’t put it down
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Lightweight and the fretboard is smooth to play on
By: Tofer
Submitted: 10/10/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
When you play this guitar it describes it's self. There's no words for it.
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WOW
By: Todd edwards
Submitted: 5/9/2019
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This isn't he best bang for your buck pure metal
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Great budget guitar!
By: The Batman
Submitted: 4/5/2019
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Great price and plays great. Looks amazing and has great sustain.
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Awesome for the price
By: Antonio
Submitted: 3/6/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
This thing plays like a charm, only thing I don't really like is the fretboard, a lot brighter from the rest of the guitar, could've went with ebony
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Just love it!!
By: Eddie g
Submitted: 2/9/2019
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Finish,sound, playability!!
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Excellent!!!!!
By: Jeff R.
Submitted: 1/6/2019
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
Love this guitar!!!! Excellent quality, fantastic price, setup was well done. I love doing business with you guys. I was promised two day delivery and it was spot on. Awesome.
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1st time buying from ams and will buy from them again ! Great price and great shipping !
By: Michael moore
Submitted: 12/28/2018
2 people found this review helpful.
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Looking like an awesome Xmas
By: Jess4068
Submitted: 11/7/2018
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This is a Christmas gift for my husband but when I opened it I was really impressed. The finish on the outside is so smooth and everything he liked about it I get now. I can’t wait to give it to him on Xmas and see his reaction and hear him play it. Hoping this earns me an awesome wife award??
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Fantastic purchase
By: Matt
Submitted: 10/23/2018
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
Was originally going to buy the Gibson explorer but saw the reviews on this and decided to give it a go. Absolutely love it, plays like a dream. I would say switch out the pickups though, not the best.
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Great guitar for the price
By: Damien
Submitted: 7/22/2018
Product Review
I sold my Gibson Explorer many years ago and ended up regretting that decision. I’m not in a position to justify spending $1700 on a guitar right now so I settled on this one and it is definitely a worthy substitute. It plays and sounds great.
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MY DREAM COME TRUE!!!
By: Eddie G.
Submitted: 5/25/2018
Product Review
THIS GUITAR IS FOR AWAKE THE DEAD!!! THE WHOLE SHAPE IS JUST PERFECT BEAUTY!!!!
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Plays like a dream. Pickups are a tad low for me, but nothing a swap won't fix. It's my new favorite
By: Micah B
Submitted: 5/5/2018
Product Review
A beast. Love this explorer. Made to melt faces.
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A must buy
By: Mike mcpherson
Submitted: 5/4/2017
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
Awesome guitar! Right out the box it plays amazing. Great feel great tone. I like it just as much as my $1500 les Paul
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Awesome guitar!
By: Robert
Submitted: 3/23/2015
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
I have always been a sucker for the explorer model and when I saw the price of this brand new epiphone goth explorer I imediately jumped on it. I received the guitar very quickly and straight out of the box I fell in love. Good action, great sound. The guitar is very comfortable to play both sitting and standing. Can't wait to throw in some emg!
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excellent
By: tod
Submitted: 3/3/2015
Product Review
excellent guitar period...ive seen alot of guitars over the years...this guitar is the easiest guitar ive played so far...smooth neck..excellent sustain
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WOW!! What a bargain!!
By: Ray P
Submitted: 3/2/2014
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Review
What an amazing bargain! I've had the bug for several months to break down, get in touch with my inner 80's metal head, and buy an Explorer. Not that I play 80's metal, but I've always loved the look of the guitar. Boy howdy, did I get a winner with this one!! Plays great, sounds great, looks majorly cool. Makes me want to break out the spandex and the Aqua-net!!!
Quality was outstanding. The only other Epiphone electric I've owned was a mid 90's Les Paul Elite (semi-hollow LP). Really cool guitar, but pretty chintzy with the inlays, plating, finish, etc. This guitar has definitely changed my opinion. Frets are dressed well, tuners are top notch, pots are high quality. Pickups are perfect. I remember reading somewhere that they were replicas of the original 58 Gibson humbuckers, so they aren't a high gain pup, but they sound great. I normally play Christian rock, along with more conventional Christian music and this guitar handles it flawlessly.
Lighter than I would have thought. I own a couple of Les Pauls and was expecting the same amount of weight. I was surprised at how light the guitar was, although it does tend to be a bit heavy in the neck. Definitely invest in a set of Strap Locks! The stock strap pegs are pretty flimsy and I would hat to have this thing pop loose. The neck is smooth and a bit chinky, but I've got large hands and it fits quite well. Easy layout on the control and the stutter switch in the tone pot is a really neat addition.
Warm, smooth, like a nice cup of hot chocolate. Plays clean, crunchy, and dirty with no problems. Notes sustain well during solos. Handles barre chords as well as open chords with a very nice voicing.
The finish, while a flat black, was amazing. The guitar looked like it was carved out of a chunk of black coal. smooth finish with no bubble or flaws.
This guitar is indeed a wonderful bang for the buck. It doesn't come with a cae or a gig-bag and will definitely NOT fit into anything you might have laying around, but a gig bag for it can be had for around 30.00.
Nice and low. Needed to change out the strings because it was strung with 9's and I prefer 10's with a wound G string, no buzz, no dead spots, nice and smooth.
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Best metal guitar in it's price range!!
By: Chris Beem from Lincoln, NE, USA
Submitted: 2/27/2014
Product Review
I've been playing 31 years now and I can't believe all that you get for the $350 price tag on this beauty! I've owned a Gibson Gothic Explorer too before and outside of the pickups that come on it these two guitars sound almost exactly the same. The only thing I didn't like was the "neck dive" when you let go of the neck and it drops towards the floor, but that is due to the location of the strap button. I put one on the back where Gibson always puts their's on their Explorers and that took care of 95% of it. Much easier to play now.
For me, the quality of this guitar is great, because it's simple in its design. The kill switch on the tone knob is a lot of fun (kills the volume when you push it until you release it) and saves wear and tear on your pickup switch. This is a great guitar for rock and metal. I use a Line 6 Spider IV 150W amp and can get any sound from any genre, and I can get cool blues and rockabilly tones from it as well.
This does have some weight to it, but it's not too bad. The neck is one of my favorites and feels smooth and fast. The controls are in easy reach, and the pickup switch is very handy on the lower horn. I usually leave the neck pickup off and flip the pickup switch up when I'm done with a song to kill the sound and its location is very handy for making that happen quickly.
The tone is nice on this guitar. The bridge pickup gets decent harmonics and has a good, warm sound to it. The neck pickup is a little dark, but that's what amps are for: to dial in or out whatever you like or dislike about a pickup. It does get that vintage "tubular" sound, though not as good as upper-end pickups. I will eventually upgrade to DiMarzio's Joe Satriani signature series pickups (the Mo' Jo Bridge and the PAF Joe Neck, around $150 for both).
This has a basic black paint job all over the body, neck, and headstock. There are some flaws, but just in the smoothness in places. There are no chips or cracks that I can find anywhere.
I must say that this is an excellent guitar for $350. Change the pickups to what Gibson puts on their Explorers or what I recommended from DiMarzio and you'll have the closest thing to a Gibson Gothic Explorer for a fraction of the price.
I found the guitar to be set up very well. I do, however, always have my own guitar tech check out every guitar I buy so I will see what she (yes she) has to say about Epiphone's set up on this one, lol.
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$400 vs. $2400?
By: Don in Rio Rancho, NM from Rio Rancho, NM USA
Submitted: 3/29/2012
1 person found this review helpful.
Well, had a lot of "neck-dive", and the strap button out of the "horn" (neck area NOT rear of body) fell out within 10 minutes of playing! Luckily, I had my hand on the neck and caught it before it hit the floor.
Haven't had it long enough to tell, but I assume it will be just fine.
Your general opinion of this product.
Really nice guitar overall. Had some issues, made some adjustments, bet WELL worth the money! I couldn't afford the Gibson, and for the price difference, and the DiMarzios, not sure I would spend the money for the Gibson. Maybe if I was a rock star...
I relocated the strap button, and got rid of the "neck dive", it plays wonderfully! Not as heavy as I expected, very fast, neck is really smoooooooth!
With the DiMarzios, this thing screams! Great crunch, crisp highs, and sustain for days! More sustain than I know what to do with!
No issues there. Looks great!
Too high, had some fret buzz, had to sand a few frets down, and adjust the neck a bit. Now, it is awesome!
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GREAT GUITAR FOR THE PRICE
By: VIC MARTINEZ from SAN DIEGO , CA.
Submitted: 1/23/2012
YES
Your general opinion of this product.
I WISH IT CAME WITH THE CASE
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Metal!!
By: Jaymez from Tupelo, MS, USA
Submitted: 11/2/2011
0 people found this review helpful.
Metal!!!
Metal!!!!
Your general opinion of this product.
Metal!
METAL!!!!!!!!!
MMMMMEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!
Metal!!!!!
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2009 goth explorer
By: stevie c (blackberry wednesday) from memphis,tn. u.s.a.
Submitted: 6/23/2009
guitar seems overall well made.gave it a 3 cause of the hardware.tuners are fine but it seems that they used a plastic input jack plate,feel like plastic strap pegs and crappy electronics.finish a little rough in spots but thats ok.pickups on mine sound pretty good.will leave them 4 now.later might put a seymour jb in bridge.pickups dont turn off completely when u turn volume knobs off.weight feels good lighter than my gibson explorer.
dont know yet havent had it long.will punish it at some gigs and see how it holds up.
Your general opinion of this product.
with a little work to it i think its a good guitar.bought it as a back up but i think i will use it as my main for a while and save some wear and tear on my gibson.definetly worth the money.get u one
neck feels great,very fast.i was surprised at the fret job.frets on mine are great.set up was pretty good.still needs a little tweaking but what new guitar dont.first put some strap locks on it.move the top strap peg on the back behind 21st fret.will balance out.
pickups sound pretty good on mine any how.for now they will stay.may put a seymour duncan jb in bridge and 59 in neck.
looks good,few rough spots here and there but good
action was set perfect for me.not to low and not to high.
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outstanding choice
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
if you want to rock like James Hetfield of METALLICA than u want this.
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Maybe not.
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
I cant rate this very high. When it came out of the box the toggle switch was loose. The back of the switch came off the back of the pickgaurd.
FEATURES:
The best feature of this guitar was the neck. Nice and chunky.
EASE OF USE:
Easy to use.
VALUE:
I sent it back,the broken switch really turned me off. Also,I couldnt get any midrange out of it.
SOUND:
Sound was bad. No midrange at all. Lots of chunk and treble,but nothing in the middle.
STYLE:
Metal,hard rock,acustic.
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
Been playing a long time.
OVERALL:
I sent it back.
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Excellent guitar for the money.
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
This guitar looks much better than the picture. Sound is very good, could be even better with some EMG pickups. Good tone with distortion and clean. Beginners beware, the only fret markers are on the side of the neck, none on the fretboard. Definitely worth the money.
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one hell of a guitar for metal!
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
I played it twice and it was absolutely the best guitar experience ý ever had.ý would count on it
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Explore
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
This isn't going anywhere for a long time, all i did was put in emg's and its great
rugged guitar bad ass for playing standing up
not much different from other guitars
great for standing up
it is a very good guitar in my arsenal
pickups aren't great, but drop in an emg 81 and a emg 60 and your set
Heavy metal
5yrs playing, in a band
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New Rating
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
STYLE:
metal
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
6 years of playing
OVERALL:
this is the best gituar i have ever played
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crazy good cheap guitar its radical
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
this is so amazing
FEATURES:
i could never have better
EASE OF USE:
very easy i love it
VALUE:
the value is so good i could have never of bought it
SOUND:
the sounds is crystal sharp its amazing
STYLE:
metal
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
great
OVERALL:
great the best
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a good rhythm guitar
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
not bad at all for $450. changed the pickups they're a little cheap and thats pretty much it.
FEATURES:
mine wasnt too great because when the volume is turned down, you still have sound, so you cant do the randy rhoades mute switch thing. it really pissed me off.
EASE OF USE:
dont believe what others say about standing and playing. the fret board is way to the left it will throw you off unless youre rhythm than its just what you are looking for. leads are difficult because the neck doesnt have a v-shape.
VALUE:
better than most esp's for $450 because these alnico pickups are better than the emg hz set.
SOUND:
the sound is a bit murky but all the strings make a sound in a chord. you can hear every note.
STYLE:
mostly metal
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
2 years of playing
OVERALL:
excellent rhythm all strings have even output. the pickup volumes are disapp
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Good guitar, Great price
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
Pretty well made machine. The weight placment is a little off (i.e. neck of guitar drops a little if you let go while standing up).
FEATURES:
This is your basic no bullshit guitar. There are no kick ass special features about this guitar.
EASE OF USE:
Very easy to use. Literaly a plug and play guitar. Awsome to play standing up, looks so cool!
VALUE:
This is probably the best value for a guitar out there. Such a cool guitar for an amazing price.
SOUND:
Most people say thath there is no mid-range. WRONG! I think the mid-range is just fine. THough getting a set of EMG humbuckers won't hurt.
STYLE:
Metal, Rock, Blues
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
A Few Years
OVERALL:
Overall this is the best guiatr for this price range out there. It won't las as long as a Gibson but as long as you change the strings reguraly and get some sick-ass pickups it'll last a long
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best damn guitar ever made!!
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
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Best Bang For The Doller
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
If you a want a very good guitar for your money this is the one.I've ben playing for about three years now and went through plenty of guitars and this is the best one yet.
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POOR MAN'S GIBSON
By: AMS Customer from USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
For the price, you just can't beat it! Put some EMG pick-ups, some Jumbo frets and you got a winner!!!
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1/2 the price but not the quality of a Gibson!
By: Jason from Mobile, Alabama
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
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Great guitar. No regrets.
By: Patrick244 from Fresno, CA USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
For the price you can't beat it. this is a heavy metal guitar. If you love Metallica then this is the guitar for you.
FEATURES:
EMG pickups would be great but you could do without. this is a great guitar.
EASE OF USE:
Really good for heavy ass music. Just pick it up and rock out man. But I wouldn't recommend it for those of you shredders. the balance of this guitar is weird. But that's the only bad thing about the guitar and it doesn't bother me.
VALUE:
Price is worth it. nuff said.
SOUND:
Sounds great. Depends on your amp too ofcourse for any guitar but with a ok amp it still sounds good. I've had for almost three years and I don't think I'll ever change the pickups.
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Better than Gibson
By: rodney from Sarasota,Fl USA
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
QUALITY:
Quality is the same as Gibson construction but with out the price. Guitar was packed well and in perfect shape upon delivery. Needed set up and that's it.
FEATURES:
Guitar is perfect. I put straplocks on it with a leather strap to help with the top heaviness. But that is easy to get used to. And I wish the pickup switch was closer to the bridge.
EASE OF USE:
After the normal set up done to a guitar just shipped to me. The hardest thing for me to get used to was the string width and the fret width. It was just a little farther apart than I'm used to with all my other 24 fret guitars. This having 22 changed things for me.
VALUE:
I have a hard time paying for something just because of the name. This is better than gibson its the same thing.
SOUND:
The overall sound is good for me.If I was to change anything I will eventually put emg's and an earvana nut on it(like on my esp ec-2005)
S
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Ultimate Guitar Searcher
By: Someone-you-should-listen-to-as-well from Colorado Springs, CO.
Submitted: 2/5/2008
Your general opinion of this product.
STYLE:
Rock / Instrumental Rock
MUSIC EXPERIENCE:
Active Musician
OVERALL:
I have the Goth Explorer w/Floyd Rose,which is now unavailable.With the exception of the Floyd,it is made exactly the same as the stop tail piece version. I gave it a 3 on quality because,while it is made of mahogany,is it a laminate.Epiphone has taken approx.4 sheets of mahogany about 7/16" each and glued them together to make the 1-3/4" thickness of the body.Now mine, you can see a seam down the center of the body through the paint when held in the light just right,so I assume it is made by approx 8 sheets of mahogany-2 stacks of 4 then glued together side by side.The guitar is neck heavy,both the Floyd version and the stoptail version,(I have played the stoptail version in my local music store)so when you let go of the neck it will drop to the floor.I relocated the strap button to behind the neckjoint and it relieved the problem about 90%,it still drops a li