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Heritage Design with ’70s Sonic Style





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As one of the leading forces of rock ’n’ roll’s evolution, each decade of Gibson’s aural offerings is renowned for its stylistic contributions that helped define the sounds of the era as artists were inventing them. With their ’70s Explorer, luthiers at Gibson sought to capture that magic with precisely tailored, time-tested tones, including a nitro finish, Orange Drop capacitors, 1970s tribute humbuckers, and an overall design that can be traced to the Explorer’s 1958 debut. The ’70s Explorer’s Masterful construction comprises premium tonewoods, a Slim Taper neck, a 22-fret range across its 24.75-inch scale, and a 12-inch radius on its rosewood fingerboard. It all equates to an instrument that Sweetwater’s guitarists agree is a superlative balance of speed and comfort, oozing with rock ’n’ roll panache that looks just as stellar as it sounds.





Time-tested tones, from the ground up





In keeping with its heritage-fueled 1970s design, luthiers at Gibson spared no effort in ensuring the ‘70s Explorer is primed for a prismatic output of hard-rocking sonics, and it all starts with the tonewoods. Its neck and body have been carefully carved from mahogany, known for its tonal similarities to the African Limba that then-President of Gibson, Ted McCarty, commissioned to be used in the original Explorer model (alongside the Flying V and Moderne), renamed to “korina.” Mahogany is the perfect tonal anchor: balanced throughout the spectrum with a distinctive midrange defined by its rich overtones and blossoming harmonics. A rosewood fingerboard imparts your sonic profile with a crystalline veneer that remains articulate yet smooth in every register without compromising note separation. Taken together, this tonewood dyad serves up formidable lows, punchy mids, and a treble range that cuts through the mix without being overbearing.





Serial 221330173


Serial 221330173


Era-honoring electronics meet modern flexibility





For some, tone might be in the fingers. Still, the combined influence of tonewoods and electronics is an undeniable foundation for a guitar’s sonic possibilities, and the ’70s Explorer is rife with vintage character. Bringing the sound to life are a pair of Gibson ’70s Tribute passive pickups, aptly named for their heightened output, scorching heat, extra winds, and Alnico 5 magnets. The result? A heavy-hitting pair optimized for overdrive, thanks to its increased signal level, with wax potting to cut off feedback that cooler pickups would experience at high volumes. This facet results in a punchy presence with just enough breathing room that won’t relent with dropped tunings or modern flavors of heavy composition. Its Treble variant is mounted in the bridge, while the Rhythm version is in the neck, attenuated by a streamlined arrangement of two volume knobs, one master tone control, and a 3-way toggle, all of which have been handwired with Orange Drop capacitors for era-accurate tones.





Carefully crafted to seize your sound





Like the body, the ’70s Explorer’s neck features a matching gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, but its era-honoring style is hardly superficial. The Set Neck design sees its 24.75-inch scale sculpted with a Slim Taper profile that ? when paired with the rosewood fingerboard’s 12-inch radius ? effectively merges speed and comfort while accommodating most playstyles. The full scope of its 22-fret range is readily accessible, thanks to the Explorer’s naturally futuristic design, ready for raucous riffs, searing solos, and any other flavor of sonic magic you could conjure. An aluminum Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and matching stopbar are complemented by a set of Grover Kidney Bean tuning machines, bookending the strings and guiding them through a 1.695-inch Graph Tech nut to ensure buzz-free tones that stay in tune.





Serial 221330173


Gibson ’70s Explorer Electric Guitar FeaturThe es:


1970s-style design pays homage to a crucial era of rock ’n’ roll history with the period-precise redux of the debut 1958 Explorer design, complete with a nitro lacquer finish


Mahogany neck and body serve up harmonic-rich tones with solid mids and balanced profile for a sturdy sonic anchor


Rosewood fingerboard blends crystalline articulation with aural presence to keep leads distinct without being too cutting


22 frets sprawl a 24.75-inch scale and 12-inch fingerboard radius to accommodate total tonal exploration


Slim Taper neck profile maximizes speed and comfort to accommodate virtually any playing style


‘70s Tribute humbuckers are outfitted with Alnico V magnets and extra winds for high-octane sonics that span the spectrum of ’70s fuzz to modern drop-tuned malice


Streamlined control scheme includes per-pickup volume controls, 1 master tone control, and a 3-way toggle handwired with Orange Drop capacitors for era-accurate sound


1.95-inch Graph Tech nut is joined by Grover tuning machines and a Nashville Tune-o-matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece for in-tune and buzz-free sonics