Best Explorer Style Guitars With Black Hardware in 2023
Here are the top Explorer style guitars with Black hardware.
Out of the more than 2000 guitars in our database, these are the best scoring ones. 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.
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1. Jackson USA Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly
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Player Feedback
- Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (24 votes)
- From Jackson's 2019 Artist Signature series
- Made in United States
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
- Sandblasted Ash top
- Ash body
- Quartersawn Maple neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Blackouts (Humbucker/Active)
- Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Jeff Loomis Signature Blackouts (Humbucker/Active)
- 1 volume and 0 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Floyd Rose 1500 Series Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
- Speed Neck-Through neck
- 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Sperzel Die-Cast tuners
- Compare Specs >
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
- Tremolo
- Luminescent Inlay
- 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
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2. Schecter E-1 FR S Special Edition
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Player Feedback
- Neck access to high frets: Very Easy (1 vote)
- Fret edges: Smooth (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Won't get out of tune (1 vote)
- Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (29 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (25 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (2 votes)
- From Schecter's 2016 Special Edition series
- Made in South Korea
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
- Quilted Maple top
- Mahogany body
- Mahogany 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Sustainiac (Humbucker/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Floyd Rose 1500 Series bridge
- Thin C Set neck
- 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Grover Rotomatic 18:1 tuners
- Compare Specs >
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
- Tremolo
- Luminescent Inlay
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in South Korea
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
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3. Schecter E-1 SLS Evil Twin
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Player Feedback
- Tuning stability: Won't stay in tune (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (11 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (9 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (12 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (9 votes)
- From Schecter's 2018 SLS Elite series
- Made in South Korea
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
- Swamp Ash body
- Maple/Walnut/Padauk Multi-ply w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
- Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
- Ultra Thin C Neck-Through neck
- 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Schecter Locking tuners
- Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter E-1 SLS Evil Twin
Schecter E-1 SLS Evil Twin
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Compensated Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Made in South Korea
- No Weight Relief
- No Tremolo
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
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4. Schecter E-1 SLS Elite
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Player Feedback
- Neck profile shape: C (11 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (9 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (12 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (9 votes)
- From Schecter's 2018 SLS Elite series
- Made in South Korea
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
- Flamed Maple top
- Swamp Ash body
- Maple/Walnut/Padauk Multi-ply w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
- Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
- Ultra Thin C Neck-Through neck
- 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Schecter Locking tuners
- Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter E-1 SLS Elite
Schecter E-1 SLS Elite
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Compensated Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Made in South Korea
- No Weight Relief
- No Tremolo
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
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5. Schecter E-1 Apocalypse Red Reign
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Player Feedback
- Neck profile shape: C (29 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (25 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (2 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (2 votes)
- From Schecter's 2022 Apocalypse series
- Made in South Korea
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
- Swamp Ash body
- Maple/Padauk Multi-ply w/Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Schecter USA Apocalypse-VI (Humbucker/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
- Thin C Set neck
- 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Schecter Locking tuners
- Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter E-1 Apocalypse Red Reign
Schecter E-1 Apocalypse Red Reign
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Black Tusq XL Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Luminescent Inlay
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Made in South Korea
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Tremolo
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
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6. Solar E1.6 Priestess
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Player Feedback
- Neck profile shape: C (10 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Balanced (5 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (6 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (6 votes)
- From Solar's 2020 Artist series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 13.78" Fretboard Radius
- Alder body
- Maple neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Duncan Solar/Bridge (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Duncan Solar (Humbucker/Passive)
- 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Floyd Rose 1000 bridge
- Solar C Shape Set neck
- 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Solar 18:1 Locking Type tuners
- Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Solar E1.6 Priestess
Solar E1.6 Priestess
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Coil Split Pickups
- Tremolo
- Luminescent Inlay
- 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
7. Jackson USA Select Kelly KE2
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Player Feedback
- Neck profile shape: D (23 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (24 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (3 votes)
- From Jackson's 2020 USA Select series
- Made in United States
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
- Alder body
- Quartersawn Maple neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan JB TB-4 (Humbucker/Passive)
- Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Jazz SH-2 (Humbucker/Passive)
- 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Floyd Rose Original Double-Locking Tremolo bridge
- Speed Neck-Through neck
- 24 Jumbo frets
- Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
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Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson USA Select Kelly KE2
Jackson USA Select Kelly KE2
- Made in United States
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
8. Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
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Player Feedback
- Neck profile shape: C (11 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (9 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (12 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (9 votes)
- From Schecter's 2020 Artist series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 14" Fretboard Radius
- Mahogany body
- Maple 3-pc w/ Carbon Fiber Reinforcement Rods neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Ceramic (Humbucker/Active)
- Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern Alnico (Humbucker/Active)
- 2 volume and 0 tone Speed knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Floyd Rose 1500 Series bridge
- Ultra Thin C Set neck
- 24 XL Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Schecter Locking tuners
- Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
Schecter Balsac E-1 FR
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Locking Tuners
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Tremolo
- Luminescent Inlay
- 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
9. Dean Zero Select Floyd Fluence
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Player Feedback
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
- From Dean's 2021 Select series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Flame Maple top
- Eastern Mahogany body
- 3 Piece Maple neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
- Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
- 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) bridge
- Slim C Set neck
- 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Mini Grover 18:1 tuners
- Compare Specs >
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
10. Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
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Player Feedback
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (3 votes)
- Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
- From Dean's 2021 Select series
- Made in Indonesia
- 6 strings
- 25.5"'' scale
- 12" Fretboard Radius
- Flame Maple top
- Eastern Mahogany body
- 3 Piece Maple neck
- Ebony fretboard
- Bridge pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
- Neck pickup: Fishman Fluence Modern (Humbucker/Active)
- 2 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
- 3-way Switch
- Evertune bridge
- Slim C Set neck
- 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets
- Mini Grover 18:1 tuners
- Compare Specs >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
Dean Zero Select Evertune Fluence
- Stainless Steel Frets
- Expensive Wood
- NuBone Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Multi-Voicing Pickups
- Stays in Tune (Evertune)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Neck-Through Build
- No Weight Relief
- No Tremolo
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No Compound Radius Fretboard
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock