Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Brow on August 22, 2015, 04:12:57 PM
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Hey guys.
Some of you may remember a thread I made a few months ago where I posted about a guitar that I'd been given that was in a pretty bad way: https://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=32709.0
Anyways, to cut a long story short it's been to the tech and has come back with a clean bill of health after a fair bit of work :)
You can see on the pic below that the body needed a bit of TLC as it'd started to go a bit mouldy from sitting in a case in a cellar for many years
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/Browsif/Guitars/100_5012_zpsex754s2y.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/Browsif/media/Guitars/100_5012_zpsex754s2y.jpg.html)
The neck and frets were VERY unclean and had started to go mouldy too
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/Browsif/11427799_10152798890216090_3310443502303845382_n_zpsvsd17bvl.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/Browsif/media/11427799_10152798890216090_3310443502303845382_n_zpsvsd17bvl.jpg.html)
The tech said he had to physically scr@pe the dirt and mould off the body, neck and frets before he could even begin to condition it. After that and a bit of work on the neck and truss rod he said it was easier to work on than he originally expected.
Here's as it is now
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/Browsif/Guitars/20150801_140551_zpskwqxzjni.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/Browsif/media/Guitars/20150801_140551_zpskwqxzjni.jpg.html)
And with a few of my other main guitars for 1 of my bands big gigs we did a few weeks back
(http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y158/Browsif/Guitars/20150803_180925_zpsacz7jrl6.jpg) (http://s5.photobucket.com/user/Browsif/media/Guitars/20150803_180925_zpsacz7jrl6.jpg.html)
I've only used the Explorer at 1 gig since I got it back, it's current hardcase is far too big and cumbersome to carry around normally so until I get a better case for it I'll keep it home, but it faired well for the 5 or 6 songs I used it for at the gig.
I'm quite a short and stout chap, ie short and fat :D, so have never found bigger bodied guitars very user friendly but after a lot of tweaking with a strap I got it to where I'm happy with it. The pickups, an old MJ would Custom in the bridge and a Jazz in the neck faired well but I may end swapping them for something a bit hotter, maybe an EMG Het Set as I don't have EMGs in anything at the minute.
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Nice one Craig. And for free ? You're a lucky man to have such a good mate.
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Nice work, it's cleaned up nicely there :grin:
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Looks nice, good work! Explorers are sexy. Got to have one day one too.
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Looking good mate! I've always wanted an explorer but never thought I'd be able to pull the look off properly!
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Nice to see that it has come back to life and will rock again!
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Rockin! Good to see it restored back to life. This thread prompted me to reach for my Explorer again - I've already had a couple of jolly evenings getting to know it again.
_tom_ have you ever played one for any length of time? You know, more than just fingering it, playing a chord and giving it back? I wanted one for YEARS AND YEARS but held back because of the "I'd look like a plonker" aspect. When I tried one for a bit, I found it was really comfortable and I could get some good stuff out of it - if you find that out, you're too busy playing it and probably DON'T look like a plonker, no matter what height, shape, etc you are or what sort of music you're playing. When you're not so sure, thinking you *might* look like a plonker, you probably do! (no matter what height, shape etc you are or what sort of music you're playing).
The only issue I have with it now is the amount of guitar sticking out either end - just try not to throw any stadium-gig shapes if you're stood in a living room with lamp-stands, TVs, bookshelves, and wotnot! (Oh, and go careful going through doorways!!)
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The only other issue with an Explorer is getting it in a gig bag! When you don't take your car, having a gig bag friendly set up is a must. I always found them really comfy to play and I never worry about how I look with one - the Edge has used one for years and he doesn't look like a plonker (other than the beanie).
It looks great Craig. Here' a shot of mine.
(http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af302/philking/Guitars/Guitars002.jpg)
I've got a Warpig & MQ in it.
(http://i1018.photobucket.com/albums/af302/philking/Guitars/Guitars003.jpg)
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The only other issue with an Explorer is getting it in a gig bag! When you don't take your car, having a gig bag friendly set up is a must.
I have the Epiphone hard case for my Explorer and that thing is very big. Not too practical for the car or on the train. It is lucky that I have a station wagon
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Yeah! - that side of things doesn't tend to cross my mind, I don't go out with my guitars much! But I did nearly die getting my Explorer back from the shops in it's case... (It was actually worse than getting an 88-key Yamaha stage piano home!!)
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Nothing could be worse than the hard case for the BC Rich Warlock bass I used to own ... people would always asked me if it was a keyboard. Here's a photo of one like it in the factory case. Mine was not this hideous colour, it was a slightly less hideous purple.
(http://www.mygear.com/img/item_pictures/large/30635.jpg)
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Cheers for all the posts guys :grin:
Got gigs on the 18th, 20th and 26th so it'll be getting a bit more use!
I've also managed to find a gig bag for it as it's hard case, a 30 year old bass case, is almost a wardrobe!
I have found shaped hardcases for it for about £120 so I might go for 1 of those at somepoint. Especially as it has a pitched headstock and it's had 3 headstock breaks in it's time so I don't want to risk anymore! :laugh:
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I don't know if the Epi hardcase is longer than a shaped hardcase ... the interior is shaped to fit the Explorer shape. Explorers are just long guitars. I've been playing mine a lot lately as I am working on a new project that needs a darker sounding guitar, but I haven't gotten to the point of putting it in the car again for a jam session.
This is the case that I have:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Epiphone-Explorer-Hard-Shell-Electric-Guitar-Case-OK4-Right-Left-Hand-Gibson-/261731737170
This is shaped case by SKB.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKB-1SKB-63-Explorer-Firebird-Type-Hard-Guitar-Case-/391078649230
I have to say that I don't trust that type of case with the metal lip. Heard too many stories about the lip being damaged and then being unable to close the case properly. There is also this TSA version:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKB-SKB-63-Guitar-Case-for-Explorer/261958640804
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I don't know if the Epi hardcase is longer than a shaped hardcase ... the interior is shaped to fit the Explorer shape. Explorers are just long guitars. I've been playing mine a lot lately as I am working on a new project that needs a darker sounding guitar, but I haven't gotten to the point of putting it in the car again for a jam session.
This is the case that I have:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Epiphone-Explorer-Hard-Shell-Electric-Guitar-Case-OK4-Right-Left-Hand-Gibson-/261731737170
This is shaped case by SKB.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKB-1SKB-63-Explorer-Firebird-Type-Hard-Guitar-Case-/391078649230
I have to say that I don't trust that type of case with the metal lip. Heard too many stories about the lip being damaged and then being unable to close the case properly. There is also this TSA version:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SKB-SKB-63-Guitar-Case-for-Explorer/261958640804
That middle 1 that you posted is the 1 I found online for about £129.
I'll admit though: I can't see the difference between the middle 1 (which you don't trust) and the bottom 1. What's the difference between the 2? :laugh:
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I can't see the bottom one clearly, but I don't trust the aluminium lip that they put around the edge. It distorts fairly easily and when it does the case becomes difficult to close. If the bottom type has the same lip I wouldn't trust it either. I think it is the same type as this one though, which doesn't have a lip like that in these photos and seems sturdy:
http://www.everythingsg.com/threads/new-gator-case-day.27568/
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I can't see the bottom one clearly, but I don't trust the aluminium lip that they put around the edge. It distorts fairly easily and when it does the case becomes difficult to close. If the bottom type has the same lip I wouldn't trust it either. I think it is the same type as this one though, which doesn't have a lip like that in these photos and seems sturdy:
http://www.everythingsg.com/threads/new-gator-case-day.27568/
Thanks for the info. It's not something I've ever really thought about tbh as I've usually just used whatever came with the guitar :grin: