USED Epiphone inspired by Gibson Explorer Ebony 2025 Electric Guitar w/OHSC

Here’s a showroom-fresh 2025 Epiphone Inspired by Gibson 70s Explorer in Ebony, complete with its original case. The Explorer first appeared in 1958 alongside the Flying V, but like its futuristic sibling, it was too far ahead of the market and disappeared from Gibson’s catalog in the early 1960s. When it returned in the mid-’70s, the timing was perfect: the bold silhouette found its audience with extroverted hard rock players who wanted a guitar that looked as loud as it sounded.

As bizarre as the Explorer looks, it is not especially heavy at 7.8 pounds, and the lightning-bolt body balances better than you might expect. That said, this is definitely a guitar designed to be played standing up. One thing we’ve consistently found with Gibson’s modernistic designs is that they tend to sound cleaner and more articulate than a typical Les Paul. Our best guess is that the thinner body and SG-like neck/body joint give the guitar a more immediate, open response than the thicker Les Paul recipe.

The Inspired by Gibson Explorer uses Epiphone ProBucker 1 and 2 pickups, which measure about 7.8K and 8.5K DC resistance, respectively. They are built very much in the spirit of original PAF humbuckers, with vintage-style base plate materials, plastics, and rough-cast Alnico 2 magnets. We are fans of lower-output humbuckers, and these Alnico 2 ProBuckers have a loose vintage feel, a smooth top end, and a great response to gain pedals, with plenty of harmonics and sustain. With the huge amount of gain available from today’s pedals and amps, hot pickups are not always the best route to good cleans or classic-rock crunch unless your goal is uber-tight metal or hardcore.

The Explorer makes a visual statement, and this Inspired by Gibson Epiphone backs it up with excellent build quality and playability at a mainstream price. Better yet, it is not just a bizarrely shaped Les Paul; it has its own feel, balance, and voice. If the Explorer is calling your name, don’t fight it.

Pristine condition guitar with no nicks, chips, dings or playing wear. Includes original case and all case candy. All guitars receive a pro setup and inspection checklist.

This Epiphone Explorer features:

• Body Material: Mahogany, 7.8 pounds
• Body Finish: Gloss
• Fingerboard Material: Laurel
• Fingerboard Radius: 304.8mm / 12in
• Fret Count: 22
• Frets: Medium Jumbo
• Inlays: Dots
• Neck Material: Mahogany
• Nut Material: Graph Tech
• Nut Width: 43.0mm/1.69in
• Profile: SlimTaper
• Scale Length: 24.75in
• Bridge Pickup: ProBucker 2 - ~8.5K DC resistance
• Neck Pickup: ProBucker 1 - ~7.8K DC resistance
• Controls: 2 Volume, 1 Tone CTS Electronics
• Output Jack: 1/4"
• Pickup Selector: 3-way Epiphone Toggle
• Original Hardshell Case included
• Made in China