In a rush? Here are the four main things you need to know about the Epiphone Explorer ’80s EMG:
- The Explorer 80s EMG is a tribute to the ’80s, modeled after the classic 1984 version known for massive hard-rock tones.
- It features a fast Mahogany neck with a 60s SlimTaper profile, Rosewood fretboard, LockTone bridge/tailpiece, and stable tuning hardware.
- Loaded with active EMG 60 (neck) and EMG 81 (bridge) pickups, plus a sleek no-pickguard look, it delivers razor-sharp 80s metal bite and comes with a premium gig bag.
- The Epiphone Explorer ’80s EMG here for $899.
Epiphone Explorer ’80s EMG
Few guitar shapes scream rock rebellion quite like the Explorer. First introduced in 1958, the model was initially met with hesitation, its bold, futuristic silhouette arriving decades ahead of its time. But as the years rolled on, guitarists began to realize what Gibson had created: a weapon of tone and attitude that would eventually become a staple of heavy music.
By the 1970s, rockers were embracing the Explorer’s powerful sound and striking design, but it was during the hard-rockin’ 1980s that the guitar truly came into its own. Adopted by some of the era’s greatest players, the Explorer became synonymous with arena-sized riffs and uncompromising style. Icons like The Edge, Billy Gibbons, and James Hetfield all wielded Explorers, cementing the model’s legendary status in the world of electric guitar.
Now, the Explorer 80s EMG arrives as a stunning tribute to that golden era, based on the popular 1984 model that helped define the decade’s massive tones.
Built for speed as much as sound, the Explorer 80s EMG features a fast-playing Mahogany neck carved into a comfortable 60s SlimTaper profile. Topping it off is a Rosewood fretboard with 22 Medium Jumbo frets and clean Pearloid dot inlays, keeping things classic and uncluttered.
At the headstock, Mini Die-Cast tuners pair with a Graph Tech nut to deliver dependable tuning stability, while the strings anchor at the other end with an Epiphone LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge and LockTone Stop Bar tailpiece for solid sustain and resonance.
The iconic Mahogany body is where the real bite comes in. Outfitted with active EMG pickups, the Explorer 80s EMG packs an EMG 60 in the neck position and an EMG 81 in the bridge, a combination beloved for delivering thick, fat-toned crunch, singing sustain, and the razor-edged clarity that defined so much of 1980s metal and hard rock.
Power comes courtesy of a 9V battery, with a conveniently placed compartment on the back of the guitar for quick access. The electronics are wired simply and effectively, with individual volume controls for each pickup and a master tone control, all topped with Knurled Metal control knobs that add to the guitar’s no-nonsense vibe.
Get the Epiphone Explorer ’80s EMG here for $899 and keep up with all our Epiphone coverage right here!
