Gibson 80s V and Explorer

[GuitarBilly]

Pretty cool. I hope they do other colors as well, at least red and white would be cool







Gibson is throwing a huge money opportunity out of the window by not releasing the Explorer in white and tapping into the Metallica fans that would immediately buy it because of James' classic white Explorer.

Although I have a suspicion that Gibson is trying to work on a endorsement deal with Metallica. They already done a few Collector series with Kirk, bought Mesa, released these models.... Even the Megadeth deal.. it all points that they're going in that direction. So maybe that is why they didn't release the white one yet.

[NinjaRaf]

Yeah, the V is pretty sweet looking. I would consider buying one of these when they start popping up used. Blackout the hardware. Yeah.

[BroSlinger]

I was hoping the price would be more in the under $2k area considering there are no fancy inlays or binding.

[madrigal77]

No ebony board?

[GuitarBilly]

No ebony board?

The original black ones didn't have it either. The white ones did (and some limited edition colors).

[ZEEGLER]

I would be interested in the V, but the price is kinda ridiculous

[GuitarBilly]

I would be interested in the V, but the price is kinda ridiculous

I don't know man. I agree its expensive but what other brand is offering an USA made V for less?

ESP USA is 5k

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... st/reviews

Jackson USA is 4k

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Jackson/KV ... e=4WWMWXGP

Kiesel starts at 2k and the options add up real quick

https://www.kieselguitars.com/series/guitar/ultra-v

What else is there as far as US made goes? I can't think of any brand that charges less.


On the other hand, there are some good or great imports out there so maybe that's one option. Or maybe build your own since you have the skills.

But US made guitars - especially setneck/neckthrough - are expensive now. It's not a Gibson only thing.

As far as American setneck guitars go, the under $2k options are getting scarce.

Even US strats are getting up there in price.

Maybe this will be an import only business like many other products that are no longer viable to be made here.

I like to support the US/UK etc companies though.

[EndTime]

Price is def too high for me. Especially since this is just a fucking boring ass roll out of guitars they’ve had for 60 fucking years. Which is fine. I like em both. But why would I buy these specific models over a used one?

$1500-1700 tops imo. They rolled out the gothic series maybe 20 years ago, and at least those were kinda cool being all black. And they all were around $1000 or so. Then they rolled out this “government” whatver and that was around 1200-1400 4-5 years ago. Now standard black with rosewood board with standard appointments and $2500?? Nah.. Just not feeling that value at all

[GuitarBilly]

Price is def too high for me. Especially since this is just a fucking boring ass roll out of guitars they’ve had for 60 fucking years. Which is fine. I like em both. But why would I buy these specific models over a used one?

$1500-1700 tops imo. They rolled out the gothic series maybe 20 years ago, and at least those were kinda cool being all black. And they all were around $1000 or so. Then they rolled out this “government” whatver and that was around 1200-1400 4-5 years ago. Now standard black with rosewood board with standard appointments and $2500?? Nah.. Just not feeling that value at all

That's all fine but there is no American made V at that price point, by any company.

Even strats are getting up there. The cheapest US fender strat is $1450 and the mid line is 1800.

Very soon any option under $2k will be an import.

[RaceU4her]

those are my favorite V's but im not paying that much. i would take the epiphone version of each for $800 though

[spawnofthesith]

I would be interested in the V, but the price is kinda ridiculous

I don't know man. I agree its expensive but what other brand is offering an USA made V for less?

ESP USA is 5k

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... st/reviews

Jackson USA is 4k

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Jackson/KV ... e=4WWMWXGP

Kiesel starts at 2k and the options add up real quick

https://www.kieselguitars.com/series/guitar/ultra-v

What else is there as far as US made goes? I can't think of any brand that charges less.


On the other hand, there are some good or great imports out there so maybe that's one option. Or maybe build your own since you have the skills.

But US made guitars - especially setneck/neckthrough - are expensive now. It's not a Gibson only thing.

As far as American setneck guitars go, the under $2k options are getting scarce.

Even US strats are getting up there in price.

Maybe this will be an import only business like many other products that are no longer viable to be made here.

I like to support the US/UK etc companies though.

I’m not talking about here so much as other forums but people have their blinders on hard. I started a thread a while back on TGP pointing out how Gibson was literally the most affordable entry point to a USA made guitar, and people got big mad

Numerous indo and even Chinese guitars in the $1500 to over $2k range and no one seems to bat an eye. Any opportunity to shit on the classics I guess tho :idk

[GuitarBilly]

I’m not talking about here so much as other forums but people have their blinders on hard. I started a thread a while back on TGP pointing out how Gibson was literally the most affordable entry point to a USA made guitar, and people got big mad

Numerous indo and even Chinese guitars in the $1500 to over $2k range and no one seems to bat an eye. Any opportunity to shit on the classics I guess tho :idk

Yeah exactly.

On the plus side, Epiphones, Schecters etc are better than ever.


But there won't be any new American V for under $2k anymore. By Gibson or anyone else. That ship has sailed.

[GuitarBilly]

those are my favorite V's but im not paying that much. i would take the epiphone version of each for $800 though

I like this one:

[RaceU4her]

those are my favorite V's but im not paying that much. i would take the epiphone version of each for $800 though

I like this one:

Would rock it. I wouldn’t be too down with an epi les Paul or SG but their explorers or V’s I’d have no problem playing, makes no sense lol

[FAKA!]

Something about these shots really make it look super plain for some reason... I'm with Endtime, I'd go used first any day.

[GuitarBilly]

The original 80s Vs and Explorers sell for $3k and up these days.. from time to time you can find one under 2k but with considerable wear.

For these particular models, buying new is cheaper

[GuitarBilly]

Would rock it. I wouldn’t be too down with an epi les Paul or SG but their explorers or V’s I’d have no problem playing, makes no sense lol

Probably because unlike the LP and SG, they actually use the correct Gibson headstock on the Epi Explorers and Vs.

That Prophecy is badass. I've considered buying one several times. Great looking guitar.

[fretless]

I played a couple Gibby V’s and explorers last week and every one of them was feather weight. Like SG light. Could V all night long.

[ZEEGLER]

I would be interested in the V, but the price is kinda ridiculous

I don't know man. I agree its expensive but what other brand is offering an USA made V for less?

ESP USA is 5k

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... st/reviews

Jackson USA is 4k

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Jackson/KV ... e=4WWMWXGP

Kiesel starts at 2k and the options add up real quick

https://www.kieselguitars.com/series/guitar/ultra-v

What else is there as far as US made goes? I can't think of any brand that charges less.


On the other hand, there are some good or great imports out there so maybe that's one option. Or maybe build your own since you have the skills.

But US made guitars - especially setneck/neckthrough - are expensive now. It's not a Gibson only thing.

As far as American setneck guitars go, the under $2k options are getting scarce.

Even US strats are getting up there in price.

Maybe this will be an import only business like many other products that are no longer viable to be made here.

I like to support the US/UK etc companies though.

I know man. It's just hard to get used to the current prices. 10 years ago I bought a brand new SGJ13 for $450. Add a gloss black nitro finish to that and you've got basically the same thing as far as parts, materials and labor goes. It's just a little tough to swallow a 400% price increase. Is it possible that the street price will be a bit lower? Either way, I'm gonna get one, or I dunno, maybe I'll build one.

[NinjaRaf]

Even the new LTD Hex-6 is $2k, and it's Korean made.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... lack-satin

I agree that this is too much for me to spend on a guitar like this. But like Bill said, this is the cheapest US made V you can find right now. Hell even the used stuff is creeping up little by little on certain things.

Prices on gear are starting to feel like when I was 12 years old looking at the AMS catalog with no job and growing up mostly poor, with no hope of ever buying these things lol.

Felt similarly about the Mark VII price at first, then Bill pointed out that Friedman and Soldano are charging these prices, and you get a lot less "stuff" built into the amp. I think Gibson is mostly just catching up with everyone else, and everyone else just seems to be skyrocketing their prices lately. It sucks for sure because I sure as shit don't wanna spend this on a basic spec'd V...but I do like the guitars.

Never got into the Epiphone Vs because they have those wider shoulders. No likey.

[GuitarBilly]

Thankfully with guitars, there are still people willing to pay premium prices to get products made here.

And IMHO I think it's worthy. Because they're great and hold value

I got my 3 pickup Les Paul in 2013, it's never going anywhere. Same with the '78 I bought a few years ago.

And if I decided to sell them at some point I'll probably get my whole money back, if not surpass it.

Those Gibson Government series EndTime mentioned that sold for 1400 (it was actually 10 years ago, not 5), you can't find any of them under $2k today.

Same with amps. Look what happened to prices of Mesa Marks, 800s etc.


The imports I've owned never stuck around and ended up selling for a loss.

So in a way, I spent/lost more on imports than on the higher end American stuff.

[Devin]

those are my favorite V's but im not paying that much. i would take the epiphone version of each for $800 though

I like this one:

Yeah if I was gonna get a V it'd probably be this one. Fuckin sexy af IMO

[rock flag and eagle]

I've always wanted a flying V 70's in classic white, but I do like that Explorer. Locally, you hardly see Explorers or V's come up used and when they do, they're the faded ones and people are asking over $1500 for them.

[GuitarBilly]

Yeah I used to see used Explorers and Vs for under 1k all the time. Those days are over unfortunately

[NinjaRaf]

Yeah, the Gothics these days are closer to $2k when I see them.

I think we just have to accept that prices are higher. It's a hard thing because we've been so used to things for so long, and now it seems in the last couple of years prices have skyrocketed way faster than we're used to.