Gibson Mod Shop Explorer

I love guitars. I’m constantly looking online just to see what’s available on the used market. I’m not always in a buying mood, but I do like to window shop! Even more so over the last few months when I discovered the Gibson Mod Shop. Gibson is one of the biggest names in guitars, and has been since the 50’s (along with Fender), and they now offer some of their iconic guitars via their ‘Mod Shop’. Mod Shop guitars are usually custom one offs with a new finish option, different pickups, wiring, tuners, etc. It may be over the top modification, but it can also be a subtle one. Whatever it is, it’s always cool to check them out. You have to be fast though, because only a handful become available each week, and they sell fast. This is the case with my latest purchase. A 1970’s Gibson Explorer in ‘Rainbow Green’.

Rainbow Green?

Looks white doesn’t it? It is! The Rainbow Green part comes from the accent colors. So my knobs, pickguard, and paint job are all rainbow green, while the rest of the guitar is in classic white.  Gibson made 6 of each color of the rainbow, so there are 6 in green, 6 in yellow, blue, red, purple, and orange. So these guitars are somewhat rare, and in my mind, a bit of a collectors item. That’s what I told myself at least to justify this new purchase!  Mine is the 3rd of 6 in the rainbow green finish.

My First Explorer

I have a couple of other Gibsons (SG’s) and I’ve never wanted an Explorer really, but once I saw it, I thought “If it’s still around by the end of the day I will buy it.” There were a couple other rainbow greens that were available the day I bought mine, but they were going fast. I walked by dog around the block, there was this one still available when I got back, so I got it. An impulse buy for sure, but I’m very excited to have this in my small collection. Whenever I get in the mood to play some early Metallica, I will strap this one on and Jump in the Fire.