Gibson Holy Explorer

A wholesome offering from Gibson. Here's the full release...looks interesting

The first of the 2009 Limited Run Series guitars from Gibson USA — the Holy Explorer — is prime example of Gibson´s imaginative spirit. While the traditional features from the original Explorer design of the late 1950s are all still there — the modernistic mahogany body, traditional “drooping” headstock and hybrid neck profile - the carefully carved openings in the body give the Holy Explorer a new, more intense look and character.



This new design serves more than just the guitar´s radical appearance, making it one of Gibson´s lightest production guitars to date. The neck on the Holy Explorer retains the traditional characteristics of the original Explorer neck - 24¾-inch scale, 22 frets, rosewood fingerboard and figured acrylic dot inlays - and upholds its reputation as one of the world´s fastest guitar necks by delivering the same access to the guitar´s higher register of notes.

The Holy Explorer also sports a single volume control perfectly positioned for swells, and two of Gibson´s hottest humbucker pickups — a 496R in the neck and a 500T in the bridge. Combined, these two ceramic humbuckers deliver one of the most powerful, crunching tones available on any Gibson, making the Holy Explorer suitable for a wide variety of musical styles.

Other Holy Explorer features include six in-line mini Grover tuners, which deliver smooth tuning action and accuracy, Gibson´s traditional stop bar tailpiece and Tune-o-matic bridge, and a customized Limited Run Series certificate of authenticity and Gibson USA hardshell case with a white silkscreened logo.

The new Holy Explorer is limited to just 350 guitars.


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Simon Bradley is a guitar and especially rock guitar expert who worked for Guitarist magazine and has in the past contributed to world-leading music and guitar titles like MusicRadar (obviously), Guitarist, Guitar World and Louder. What he doesn't know about Brian May's playing and, especially, the Red Special, isn't worth knowing.