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Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss
ESP E-II EX NT
VS
Playability
73
Sound
70
Build
69
Value
56
Score
71
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Playability
80
Sound
76
Build
74
Value
67
Score
77
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Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss vs E-II EX NT

Reasons to Get
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss over E-II EX NT

Release Year
2022 vs 2021
From a more recent year
Type of Frets
Medium Jumbo vs XL Jumbo
You'll feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Medium C vs Thin U
Comfortable neck that works for most people
Volume Knobs
2 vs 1
More volume control
Nut Width
1.688'' (42.9mm) vs 1.654'' (42mm)
Less likely to mute strings by accident and more space for fingerstyle
Paint Finish
Nitro vs Poly
Thin finish that creates aging marks faster
Pickups Power
Passive vs Active
Cleaner sound and no battery needed

Reasons to Get
ESP E-II EX NT over Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss

Frets Height
Taller vs Shorter
Easier to press down strings and bend them
Type of Frets
XL Jumbo vs Medium Jumbo
You won't feel the fretboard when pressing down the strings
Neck Profile
Thin U vs Medium C
Comfortable neck with more grip
Nut Material
Bone vs Corian
Good quality nut with rich tone
Locking Tuners
Yes vs None
Easier to change strings
Nut Width
1.654'' (42mm) vs 1.688'' (42.9mm)
Favors small hands, easier bar chords and other shapes
Strap Lock
Yes vs None
Protects your guitar from dropping by locking the strap
Paint Finish
Poly vs Nitro
Resistant paint that ages well
Pickups Power
Active vs Passive
More output
Value Score
67 vs 56
Better price/quality relationship

Other Key Differences
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss vs E-II EX NT

Bridge Pickup
498T Humbucker vs EMG 81
Different Bridge Pickup
Neck Pickup
490R Humbucker vs EMG 60
Different Neck Pickup
Nut Material
Corian vs Bone
Different Nut Material

Shared Features
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss vs E-II EX NT

Body Wood
Mahogany
Same Body Wood
Neck Wood
Mahogany
Same Neck Wood
Fretboard Wood
Ebony
Same Fretboard Wood
Headstock
6
Same Headstock
Strings
6
Same playing style
Body Type
Solid Body
Feedback free
Switch Positions
3
Same pickups versatility
Tone Knobs
1
Same tone control
Pickups
HH
High output without hum
Number of Frets
22
Same maximum octave
Bridge
Fixed
Good sustain and needs no set-up
Scale Length
24.75'' (628.7mm)
Same string tension and fret separation
Fretboard Radius
12'' (304.8mm)
Same fretboard comfortability
Neck Joint
Set
Neck is glued to the body

Common Strengths

  • From a High-Quality-Standards Country
  • Top Pickup Brand
  • Expensive Wood

Common Weaknesses

  • Neck-Through Build
  • Pickup Alter Switch/Knob
  • Weight Relief
  • Stays in Tune (Evertune)
  • High-Quality Frets
  • Compound Radius Fretboard
  • Luminescent Sidedots
  • 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • Active/Passive Preamp

Table of Contents

Price History Comparison

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss Prices

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Which One is Better Overall?

After going through our comparison algorithm, the results show that the ESP E-II EX NT is probably the better product overall with its final score of 77 compared to the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss's 71 score, although not by a lot.

The ESP E-II EX NT wins when it comes to sound, playability, build quality, value for the money. This means that it wins over the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss in every aspect.

If you got small hands, none of these instruments will make a big difference when it comes to comfortability.

Which One is Better for Beginners?

If you're looking for your first guitar to learn how to play, the ESP E-II EX NT is the better choice.

The ESP E-II EX NT meets 6 out of our 8 criteria items for beginner friendliness, while the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss meets only 4. This takes into account the type of frets, scale length, nut width, bridge type, fretboard radius, and neck profile to determine the easiest combination for new players.

New Player Friendliness

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Tall frets
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Narrow nut
  • Short scale
  • Locking tuners

New Player Friendliness

ESP E-II EX NT
  • Comfortable shape
  • Easy-to-use bridge
  • Locking tuners
  • Tall frets
  • Narrow nut
  • Comfortable neck
  • Comfortable fretboard
  • Short scale

Nevertheless, when it comes to choosing an instrument, you should pick the one more compatible with your personal style. Still, below we'll try you to give you our results as objectively as it's possible to help you decide.

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss Overview

  • From Gibson Custom's 2022 Modern Collection series
  • Made in United States
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Solid Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: 498T Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: 490R Humbucker (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Stop Bar bridge
  • Medium C Set neck
  • 22 Medium Jumbo frets
  • Grover Kidney tuners
  • Compare Specs >

ESP E-II EX NT Overview

  • From ESP E-II's 2021 EX series
  • Made in Japan
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Mahogany body
  • Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: EMG 81 (Humbucker/Active)
  • Neck pickup: EMG 60 (Humbucker/Active)
  • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Gotoh TOM & Tailpiece bridge
  • Thin U Set neck
  • 22 XL Jumbo frets
  • Gotoh Locking tuners
  • Compare Specs >

Sound Quality Comparison

The wood used in an electric guitar or bass is not as important to determine the final tone. However, some people prefer specific wood types, so we'll take a look at those first. Then, we'll take a look at the electronics to determine the versatility and sound quality of each instrument.

Woods Used in Both

Mahogany wood pattern used for guitar building
Mahogany
Ebony wood pattern used for guitar building
Ebony

Mahogany is a fairly rare wood nowadays. It's used mostly for bodies due to its relatively lightweight. Gibson popularized it with their Les Paul guitars during their golden years, so this wood has a lot of good reputation behind it. The most expensive type comes from South America and it's still used by Gibson even today. Find out more about Mahogany.

Ebony is a high-end wood, so it is not cheap. It's only used for fretboards because it's also very heavy. It does an excellent job as a durable material while looking elegant. Find out more about Ebony.

Winner: Tie.

Pickup Configuration

Both pickup configurations are HH. Double Humbucker (HH) is the choice for people who want a fuller, more round sound with tons of mids and lows. Humbuckers also get rid of the hum noise that plague single-coil pickups. They can work out for almost any genre going from Djent to even Jazz.

Pickups Quality

Both come with very good pickups from at least one of the specialized brands in the market. With pickups like these, you probably won't need an upgrade anytime soon.

We found the same or similar pickups to the ESP E-II EX NT's online:

The Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss's pickups are Passive while the ESP E-II EX NT's are Active.

Passive pickups are what most guitars use. These have a normal output that works well for most genres. However, Active pickups are the preferred choice of heavy metal players because they offer extra output thanks to their 9v battery, which results in a heavier, more distorted sound. Bear in mind that achieving a completely clean tone with them won't be easy. So if you want to also use clean tones, you might want to avoid Active pickups.

Winner: Tie.

Versatility Comparison

Some instruments offer you more ways to explore your creativity than others. Below you'll find how both compare when it comes to versatility.

Switch Options

Both are equal when it comes to the pickup switching option.

Neither of them come with some kind of coil split or pickup mod option. This makes both lacking in terms of versatility.

They both share the following switching options:

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss and ESP E-II EX NT pickups switch and push knobs diagram
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss and ESP E-II EX NT's switch options

When evaluating versatility, we also take into consideration bridge and neck joint type, number of frets, switch options, amount of pickups and more.

Winner: Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss.

Final Sound Quality Scores

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss
Pickups 90
Sustain 70
Versatility 51
Tuning Stability 70
Sound 70
ESP E-II EX NT
Pickups 90
Sustain 90
Versatility 44
Tuning Stability 80
Sound 76

Build Quality Comparison

When it comes to build quality, we like to take into account everything used to build the instrument. This includes materials, hardware and the quality control expected depending on the country where it was built. Let's see how the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss compares to the ESP E-II EX NT.

Country of Origin

The manufacturing country can tell a lot about the build quality of an instrument. The Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss is built in United States while the ESP E-II EX NT is made in Japan.

The United States is considered one of the best electric guitar manufacturers in the world. A guitar made in this country is supposed to have world-class quality control. Nowadays, guitars made in other countries can beat some of the ones made in the US, but most of the time, this country offers the best you can get. Of course, that comes at a price.

Japan has a long history of high-quality guitar building. Little has changed in terms of their manufacturing and quality control over the years. Many guitars made in this country can be compared—and even beat—others made in the US.

Winner: Tie

Nut Material

If you want your guitar to stay in tune and sound good, you need a well cut nut. Nut quality can be inconsistent even when comparing two copies of the same model. The best way to make sure you're nut will be well done is by getting a nut made by an expert company like TUSQ or Micarta.

The Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss has a Corian nut. It used to be the go-to nut for Gibson, but it's slowly being replaced by Graph Tech (Tusq). It's a synthetic material made to be similar to Bone, but it doesn't have the same self-lubricating properties, and it's less resistant.

On the other hand, the ESP E-II EX NT comes with a Bone nut. It's a type of nut found in high-quality instruments. They sound similar to Ivory since they give a lot of sustain and a bright sound (at least when striking open strings). The only problem they can run into is that you may get a bone piece that simply doesn't sound as well as others because that's just how natural materials are.

Winner: ESP E-II EX NT.

Fret Material

Most fret wire is made of nickel silver. This material eventually wears down after a lot of use and most instruments end up needing a complete fret replacement. However, some expensive models come with stainless steel frets. This is what you should aim for if you can afford it.

Unfortunately, none of them come with stainless steel frets.

Winner: Tie.

Bridge

The perfect bridge for you will depend on your playstyle because they all have advantages and disadvantages. However, some bridges are more expensive—like Floyd Roses and Evertunes—and thus add more value to a guitar.

Both come with a similar bridge: Fixed. It's a simple bridge that is very beginner-friendly since it doesn't require any set-up. You can swap strings easily. It might also give more sustain since it doesn't have complex moving parts that make the strings lose vibration. However, it doesn't have the same versatility as a tremolo bridge.

Since we need to be objective, the most expensive type of bridge will be the winner of this section. In the end, this doesn't matter if you're not going to use the bridge for its original purpose, so choose the bridge that fits your playing style better.

Winner: Tie.

Tuners

The ESP E-II EX NT has the best tuners of the two because they are locking tuners. They'll help to keep your guitar in tune because they allow you to tune it without wrapping the strings around the posts. This avoids variations in the tuning due to the strings changing position at the post after a bend. They come at the disadvantage of being slightly heavier than regular tuners. Also, it makes it a lot easier to restring.

Winner: ESP E-II EX NT.

Neck Joint

Contrary to popular belief, the difference in sustain and tone that some neck joints give to a guitar is simply unperceivable—if they're all well built. However, some of them do have advantages over the others.

Both have a Set neck joint. This neck is tightly glued to the body. They give you the least versatility because you can't swap them for a neck that fits your hand better if you want to, unlike bolt-on necks. Some people think this gives more resonance and sustain, but there's no real difference if the bolt-on joint is well built.

Winner: Tie.

Here is the list of features that were considered when choosing the winner in the Features subcategory:

Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss
  • Made in United States
  • Expensive Wood
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • No High-Quality Nut
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Strap Lock
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II EX NT
  • Locking Tuners
  • Made in Japan
  • Expensive Wood
  • Bone Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Strap Lock
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Tremolo
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio

Final Build Quality Scores

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss
Quality of materials 56
Features 50
Quality Control 100
Build Quality 69
ESP E-II EX NT
Quality of materials 61
Features 65
Quality Control 95
Build Quality 74

Playability Comparison

Let's now compare their playability. Bear in mind that the instrument will feel different depending on your hand size and play style. That's why you should always test before buying. But if you can't or want a second opinion on it, we can still take a look at each of the important measurements of the instrument for you. This way, we can predict how easy a guitar might be to play, or how different it will feel compared to the other.

Remember that, even though the difference might seem small, every inch counts when it comes to feeling of the instrument in your hands. Any variation can completely change how comfortable a guitar feels in your hands.

Nut Width

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss Nut Width
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss Nut Width
ESP E-II EX NT Nut Width
ESP E-II EX NT Nut Width

The nut width will affect the separation between strings at the nut. In this comparison, the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss has the wider nut with 42.9mm (1.688'') vs 42mm (1.654''). This is a 0.9mm (0.034'') difference

This means that it will be more difficult to do bar chords on the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss, especially closer to the nut. However, it's also easier to play without muting strings accidently. This favors people with big hands.

Scale Length

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss and ESP E-II EX NT's Scale Length
Both have the same scale length

The scale length is one of the things that influences playability the most. This is the distance between the nut and the bridge and will affect everything from low action allowance, difficulty to perform bends, fret separation, and even tone.

In this case, both have a scale length of 24.75".

This is the scale length that Gibson uses for most of its Les Paul guitars. It's a smaller scale than the typical Stratocaster's 25.5''. Short scale lengths like this make it easier to bend the strings, which is pretty important if you have a fixed bridge. They also have a shorter fret separation, which makes it easier to change position fast at the fretboard.

On the other hand, a shorter scale like this one will make fret buzz more likely, which can affect you if you want to use thicker string gauges.

Lastly, remember that you can also affect the tension of the strings by changing your string gauge. You can use a thicker gauge for more tension and a lighter one for less tension.

Neck Profile

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss Neck Profile
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss's neck profile
ESP E-II EX NT Neck Profile
ESP E-II EX NT's neck profile

No single neck shape is better than others. However, most people tend to prefer a thinner necks because it doesn't get in their way when playing fast and most hand sizes can adapt to it pretty well. However, some people still prefer thicker necks for a better grip, especially if they have big hands.

In this case, both have different neck shapes:

The Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss has a C type of neck. This is what you'll find in most modern guitars. Most people feel like the thickness of a C neck is simply the less intrusive one for playing fast, while at the same time allowing you to grab the neck easily for resting if you want to.

The ESP E-II EX NT, on the other hand, has a U neck. This is also referred to as ''baseball neck'' because of its shape. It's usually thick, which is why some people with big hands like it. However, they can also be thin, similar to a C shape, but with more shoulders for a better grip.

Fretboard Radius

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss Fingerboard Radius
Both Guitars Have The Same Fretboard Radius

Most guitar fretboards are not flat; they usually have a curve or arc across their width. A curved fretboard will make it easier to perform chords without muting strings, while a flatter one will make it easier to play single notes, which is good for bending and soloing in general. The best fretboards have a compound radius that varies across the fingerboard, but they're not common since they take a lot more work to build.

Both the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss and the ESP E-II EX NT have the same fretboard radius of 12". This is the radius used in most Gibson guitars. It gives you a good balance for playing chords without muting, but also good comfortability for playing single notes and bending.

Hand Size Comfortability

Everyone has a different hand size, and that's why it's recommended to try a guitar before buying, even if others tell you that it's comfortable to play. However, we can know whether a guitar favors small or large hands just by knowing its exact measurements.

After taking into account the scale length, nut width, neck profile and fretboard radius, we can conclude that both in this comparison favor small hands .

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss:
Big Hands
Small Hands
ESP E-II EX NT:
Big Hands
Small Hands

Fret Size

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss Frets Size
Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss's Frets Size
ESP E-II EX NT Frets Size
ESP E-II EX NT's Frets Size

The ESP E-II EX NT has XL Jumbo frets, which should be taller than the Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss's Medium Jumbo frets.

Some people prefer taller frets because they result in more sustain since the strings get pressed cleanly without interference from the fretboard. However, if they're too tall—like Jumbo frets—, you might change the pitch of the strings accidentally if you press too hard because you won't be touching the fretboard with your fingers. This is also why some guitarists with a heavy grip prefer smaller frets. They like to feel the fingerboard to avoid pressing down too hard and getting out of pitch.

Final Playability Scores

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss
Bending & Vibrato Ease 85
Chord Playability 65
Solo Playability 70
Playability 73
ESP E-II EX NT
Bending & Vibrato Ease 95
Chord Playability 75
Solo Playability 70
Playability 80

Specs Side-by-Side

Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss vs E-II EX NT
General Gibson Custom Explorer Custom w/ Ebony Fingerboard Gloss E-II EX NT
Brand: Gibson Custom ESP E-II
Year: 2022 2021
Configuration: HH HH
Strings: 6 6
Made in: United States Japan
Series: Modern Collection EX
Colors: Black White, Black
Left-Handed Version: No Yes
Body
Type: Solid Body Solid Body
Body Material: Solid Mahogany Mahogany
Bridge: Stop Bar Gotoh TOM & Tailpiece
Neck
Neck Joint: Set Set
Tuners: Grover Kidney Gotoh Locking
Fretboard: Ebony Ebony
Neck Material: Mahogany Mahogany
Decoration: Mother of Pearl Block Dots
Scale Size: 24.75" 24.75"
Shape: Medium C Thin U
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver 22 XL Jumbo Nickel Silver
Fretboard Radius: 12" 12"
Nut: Corian Bone
Nut Width: 42.9mm (1.688'') 42mm (1.654'')
Electronics
Bridge Pickup: 498T Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 81 (Humbucker / Active)
Middle Pickup:
Neck Pickup: 490R Humbucker (Humbucker / Passive) EMG 60 (Humbucker / Active)
Switch: 3 Way 3 Way
Knobs: Speed Dome
Pickup Mods: None None
Volume Controls: 2 1
Tone Controls: 1 1