Best Explorer Shape Guitars in 2024
Here you'll find the best Explorer shape guitars.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
After comparing the 2000+ guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones with these characteristics. You can use our filters to the left to narrow down these results, or click on "Compare" to get a deep comparison between them. Our automated scoring system takes into account the ratings from ours users who own the guitar, and dozens of parameters to determine the build quality, playability, pickups quality, value for money, and more.
There are affiliate links on this page that may earn us a commission if you purchase after clicking. We are members of the Amazon Associates Program, and many others. However, we compare each guitar against each other under the same parameters, so this doesn't influence our scoring.
1. Jackson USA Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly
Jackson USA Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- No Locking Tuners
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
2. Schecter E-1 FR S Special Edition
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (2 votes)
- Fret edges: Smooth (2 votes)
- Tuning stability: Won't get out of tune (2 votes)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (2 votes)
- Neck profile shape: C (42 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (37 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (3 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter E-1 FR S Special Edition
Schecter E-1 FR S Special Edition
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Sustainer Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Retainer Bar
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
3. ESP Snakebyte Camo
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What our users think
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (1 vote)
- Pickups power: Hot (1 vote)
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP Snakebyte Camo
ESP Snakebyte Camo
- 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
All Prices
4. Solar E1.6FRLB
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (12 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (7 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (9 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Solar E1.6FRLB
Solar E1.6FRLB
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
5. ESP E-II EX NT
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: Baseball / U (3 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP E-II EX NT
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
All Prices
6. Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence
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What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence
Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Tremolo
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
7. Harley Benton EX-76 Classic
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What our users think
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (3 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic
Harley Benton EX-76 Classic
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- Made in Indonesia
- 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
All Prices
8. Epiphone Prophecy Extura
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (4 votes)
- Fret edges: Smooth (4 votes)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (3 votes)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (3 votes)
- Neck profile shape: Asymmetrical (14 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (9 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (3 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Epiphone Prophecy Extura
Epiphone Prophecy Extura
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- NuBone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split, Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- Made in China
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
9. Gibson 80s Explorer
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (8 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (6 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Gibson 80s Explorer
Gibson 80s Explorer
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Ivory Tusq Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Tri-Sound Pickups
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
10. ESP LTD EX Black Metal
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
ESP LTD EX Black Metal
ESP LTD EX Black Metal
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Top Brand Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Made in Indonesia
- No High-Quality Nut
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Tremolo
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock