Best Neck-Through Explorer Style Guitars in 2024
Here you'll find the best Neck-Through Explorer style guitars. Many people believe a neck-through build delivers the best sustain because some of the vibrations from the neck aren't lost like with other neck joints. However, no one has been able to prove this. What we know is that a neck-through build is usually the most comfortable when playing the upper frets because there's nothing on your way at the neck-body joint.
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 SLS Evil Twin
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What our users think
- Tuning stability: Won't stay in tune (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: C (16 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (13 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (20 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (17 votes)
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
All Prices
3. Schecter E-1 SLS Elite
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: C (16 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (13 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (20 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (17 votes)
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 Luminescent Inlay
- No Tremolo
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Strap Lock
All Prices
4. Jackson USA Select Kelly KE2
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (4 votes)
- Pickups power: Hot (4 votes)
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
5. Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly Ash
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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 Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly Ash
Jackson Pro Series Signature Jeff Loomis Kelly Ash
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Luminescent Inlay
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
All Prices
6. Jackson Pro Series Signature Phil Demmel Demmelition Fury PD
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
- Pickups noise: Noiseless (9 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (5 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Signature Phil Demmel Demmelition Fury PD
Jackson Pro Series Signature Phil Demmel Demmelition Fury PD
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
All Prices
7. Jackson Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly
Jackson Pro Series Signature Brandon Ellis Kelly
- Expensive Wood
- Locking Nut
- Top Brand Pickups
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Strap Lock
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
All Prices
8. Jackson X Series Kelly KEX
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (8 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (6 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson X Series Kelly KEX
Jackson X Series Kelly KEX
- Locking Nut
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- 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
9. Jackson X Series Kelly KEXQ
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What our users think
- Neck access to high frets: Easy (1 vote)
- Tuning stability: Holds tune well (1 vote)
- Weight: Lightweight (1 vote)
- Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (8 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (6 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson X Series Kelly KEXQ
Jackson X Series Kelly KEXQ
- Locking Nut
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- 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
10. Jackson X Series Kelly KEXM
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What our users think
- Neck profile shape: D (30 votes)
- Neck speed (thickness): Fast (33 votes)
- Pickups noise: Slightly Noisy (8 votes)
- Pickups power: Clean (6 votes)
Strengths & Weaknesses
Jackson X Series Kelly KEXM
Jackson X Series Kelly KEXM
- Locking Nut
- Neck-Through Build
- Tremolo
- Compound Radius Fretboard
- Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
- No Locking Tuners
- Made in Indonesia
- No Expensive Woods
- No Top Brand Pickups
- No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
- No Weight Relief
- No Luminescent Inlay
- No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
- No Retainer Bar
- No Strap Lock