Gibson's Explorer was the most radical guitar the world have ever seen when it exploded on an unsuspecting public in 1958 as part of the new Modernist Series (alongside the Flying V). Players of the day just couldn't handle it, and very few late-'50s Explorers were produced. Fast-forward to the '80s, and the revived Gibson Explorer had established itself as the most iconic axe of the rock and metal scenes. Gibson USA takes the revolutionary spirit of this radical electric guitar and turbocharges it for the second decade of the 21st century in the new Explorer Tremolo. This new rendition of a legendary design carries high-output humbucking pickups and the most advanced vibrato tailpiece available, and wraps it all in Gibson's renowned playability, while retaining the deadly looks that made its namesake such an icon in the first place, enhanced by a stunning high-gloss nitrocellulose finish in Classic White.

As advanced as the Explorer with Floyd-Rose is, it still starts with Gibson's traditional cornerstone of select tonewoods and superior construction. A solid mahogany body provides the blend of warmth, depth and richness that has made it a favorite with players for more than half a century, while a solid quarter-sawn mahogany neck-glued in, of course-both enhances resonance and sustain. It offers a sweetly fast and comfortable feel, too, with a depth that starts at .800 inches at the 1st fret and rises gradually to .850 inches at the 12th. On top of this time-tested template,… read more the first major update comes in the hardware department: a Floyd-Rose vibrato unit partnered with a locking nut. Together, this system yields everything from deep divebombs to subtly tremulous wobbles, all with the highest tuning stability available. Floyd-Rose originated the high-performance "double-locking" vibrato, and the use of the real deal on the Explorer with Floyd-Rose takes this axe right over the top.

To power it all home, Gibson USA includes a pair of high-gain pickups from its Hot Ceramics range, a 496R in the neck position and a 500T in the bridge. The former offers rich, creamy tones with outstanding clarity, while the latter, one of Gibson's hottest humbucking pickups, provides everything from heavy crunch to wailing lead tones with endless sustain. In short, they constitute a pickup set that delivers in spades all the attack and aggression that modern metal players demand, while achieving sweet tonal nuances when desired. A control array of two independent volume knobs and a master tone, along with Gibson's traditional three-way toggle switch, provides plenty of sonic versatility without ever getting in the way. Add it up, and it's one of the most powerful and versatile performance tools available for today's heavy rocker, and a sweet looking ride on top of it all.

Each Explorer with Floyd-Rose includes a Gibson hardshell case with owner's manual, adjustment literature, and Gibson's Limited Lifetime Warranty and 24/7/365 Customer Service. read less