Best Quilted Maple Top Explorer Style Guitars in 2024

Here you'll find the best Quilted Maple top Explorer style guitars. This wood has beautiful patterns only found in specific types of maple.

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. Schecter E-1 FR S Special Edition

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Schecter E-1 FR S Special Edition
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Playability 77
Sound 85
Build quality 78
Value for money 80
Overall Score 80

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)
Own it? Share your opinion
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  • 3 Prices - New from $1,068.50 >
  • 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
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • 3 Prices - New from $1,068.50 >
  • 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
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
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

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2. Dean Z Select Floyd Quilt Top

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Dean Z Select Floyd Quilt Top
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Playability 75
Sound 79
Build quality 63
Value for money 72
Overall Score 72

What our users think

  • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (1 vote)
Own it? Share your opinion
FIND IT ON:
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  • From Dean's 2019 Select series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilt Maple top
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Eastern Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan TB-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) bridge
  • V Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Show all Specs
  • From Dean's 2019 Select series
  • Made in Indonesia
  • 6 strings
  • 24.75"'' scale
  • 12" Fretboard Radius
  • Quilt Maple top
  • Eastern Mahogany body
  • 3 Piece Eastern Mahogany neck
  • Ebony fretboard
  • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan TB-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
  • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
  • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
  • 3-way Switch
  • Floyd Rose 1000 (Korean) bridge
  • V Set neck
  • 22 Jumbo frets
  • Grover tuners
  • See all specs and compare >
Strengths & Weaknesses
Dean Z Select Floyd Quilt Top
  • Expensive Wood
  • Locking Nut
  • Top Brand Pickups
  • Tremolo
  • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
  • No Locking Tuners
  • Made in Indonesia
  • No Neck-Through Build
  • No Push Knob or Extra Switch Option
  • No Weight Relief
  • No Luminescent Inlay
  • No Compound Radius Fretboard
  • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
  • No Retainer Bar
  • No Strap Lock

All Prices

    3. Jackson X Series Kelly KEXQ

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    Jackson X Series Kelly KEXQ
    FIND IT ON:
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    Playability 77
    Sound 71
    Build quality 65
    Value for money 76
    Overall Score 71

    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)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoReverb logoAmazon logoMusician's Friend logo
    • 6 Prices - New from $799.99 >
    • From Jackson's 2019 X series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Quilt Maple top
    • Poplar body
    • Maple neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
    • Speed Neck-Through neck
    • 24 Jumbo frets
    • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 6 Prices - New from $799.99 >
    • From Jackson's 2019 X series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 25.5"'' scale
    • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Quilt Maple top
    • Poplar body
    • Maple neck
    • Laurel fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Jackson High-Output Humbucking (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Dome knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Floyd Rose Special Double-Locking Tremolo (Recessed) bridge
    • Speed Neck-Through neck
    • 24 Jumbo frets
    • Jackson Sealed Die-Cast tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    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

    4. Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition

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    Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoReverb logo
    Playability 80
    Sound 79
    Build quality 67
    Value for money 80
    Overall Score 75

    What our users think

    • Weight: Slightly heavy (1 vote)
    • Neck profile shape: C (42 votes)
    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (37 votes)
    • Pickups noise: Noiseless (1 vote)
    • Pickups power: Slightly Hot (2 votes)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logoReverb logo
    • 3 Prices - New from $999 >
    • From Schecter's 2020 Custom series
    • Made in South Korea
    • 6 strings
    • 24.75"'' scale
    • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Quilted Maple top
    • Mahogany body
    • Mahogany 3-pc neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Sunset Strip (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
    • Thin C Set neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • 3 Prices - New from $999 >
    • From Schecter's 2020 Custom series
    • Made in South Korea
    • 6 strings
    • 24.75"'' scale
    • 12" to 16" Fretboard Radius
    • Quilted Maple top
    • Mahogany body
    • Mahogany 3-pc neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Schecter USA Sunset Strip (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Schecter USA Pasadena (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 1 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • TonePros T3BT TOM & T1Z Tailpiece bridge
    • Thin C Set neck
    • 22 XL Jumbo frets
    • Schecter Locking tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Schecter E-1 Custom Special Edition
    • Locking Tuners
    • Expensive Wood
    • Ivory Tusq Nut
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Coil Split Pickups
    • Compound Radius Fretboard
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • Made in South Korea
    • No Neck-Through Build
    • No Weight Relief
    • No Luminescent Inlay
    • No Tremolo
    • No 21:1 Tuner Ratio
    • No Strap Lock

    All Prices

    5. Dean Z Select Quilt Top

    Compare
    Dean Z Select Quilt Top
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logo
    Playability 77
    Sound 72
    Build quality 58
    Value for money 74
    Overall Score 69

    What our users think

    • Neck speed (thickness): Fast (1 vote)
    Own it? Share your opinion
    FIND IT ON:
    Sweetwater logo
    • From Dean's 2019 Select series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 24.75"'' scale
    • 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Quilt Maple top
    • Eastern Mahogany body
    • 3 Piece Eastern Mahogany neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Tune-O-Matic (With Z Plate) bridge
    • V Set neck
    • 22 Jumbo frets
    • Grover tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Show all Specs
    • From Dean's 2019 Select series
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 6 strings
    • 24.75"'' scale
    • 12" Fretboard Radius
    • Quilt Maple top
    • Eastern Mahogany body
    • 3 Piece Eastern Mahogany neck
    • Ebony fretboard
    • Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan SH-5 (Humbucker/Passive)
    • Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan APH-1N (Humbucker/Passive)
    • 2 volume and 1 tone Speed knobs
    • 3-way Switch
    • Tune-O-Matic (With Z Plate) bridge
    • V Set neck
    • 22 Jumbo frets
    • Grover tuners
    • See all specs and compare >
    Strengths & Weaknesses
    Dean Z Select Quilt Top
    • Expensive Wood
    • Top Brand Pickups
    • Cheap Fret Wire (NS)
    • No Locking Tuners
    • Made in Indonesia
    • 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

    All Prices

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