Epiphone Explorer 80s EMG

Is this the ultimate unofficial guitar tribute for Metallica fans?

- MATT MCCRACKEN

THE IMAGE OF James Hetfield donning his all-white Explorer, carved with the words "So what," is an iconic one in metal history - and the 1984 model was largely used to record Metallica's second album, Ride the Lightning, that same year.

It was a favorite of Hetfield's until he got his ESP endorsement in 1987. Despite this, there's never actually been an official Gibson Explorer made bearing Papa Het's moniker, and that remains the case with this Epiphone Explorer 80s EMG. Some might feel this is a Hetfield Explorer in all but name; however, Hetfield is not a Gibson signature artist like his bandmate Kirk Hammett. This is more of a firm nod fans will very much appreciate, ourselves included. It features a rosewood fingerboard and all-mahogany body and neck construction with the usual set neck, and a SlimTaper ‘60s neck profile. Mini die-cast tuners adorn a hockey stick-style headstock with a LockTone tune-o-matic bridge with LockTone stop bar at the opposing end.