C3POHara Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 Hey all I bought this Explorer about 20 years ago for $200 from someone because it wasn't "punk rock" enough. Anyways it's always kinda been in rough shape and I never cared but I'd like to figure out exactly what it is and what options I have for repairing it. The serial # is 82054520 which looks like an 84. The dials are offset and the switch is near the bridge. Anyways I'm not sure if this is the original paint or what, and if the black pickguard is legit or if it should be white? So I guess what i'd like to know is 1. Can this be repainted? The paint is in bad shape, so I'm not sure what it would take to restore it 2. What kind of tremolo arm should I purchase? I see a lot of options so I just want to make sure I get the right size 3.Similar question for the pickguard, I would kinda like to get a white one (assuming the paint stays black). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Is that a Gibson or an Epiphone? Truss rod cover is wrong... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C3POHara Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 50 minutes ago, Rabs said: Is that a Gibson or an Epiphone? Truss rod cover is wrong... Yeah I noticed that too. How else could I determine if its an Epiphone? There is no indication of that that I can see - the headstock says Gibson and the serial number is from 1984 and it says Made in the USA next to it. It's possible that truss rod cover was just replaced, i know that the back cover was replaced due to it cracking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 6 minutes ago, C3POHara said: Yeah I noticed that too. How else could I determine if its an Epiphone? There is no indication of that that I can see - the headstock says Gibson and the serial number is from 1984 and it says Made in the USA next to it. It's possible that truss rod cover was just replaced, i know that the back cover was replaced due to it cracking. Yeah, that could be the case. Its an old guitar.. Well you can check the back of the pickups and maybe the pots too..... Apart from that it looks a bit like the James Hetfield explorer but with a pickguard.... But that could also have been added.. When I look up pics of an 84 with a Floyd Rose, mostly its the James Hetfield one that comes up. You could email Gibson Customer service.. Send them the pics above plus the serial number (and a pic of the front and back of the headstock).. They may be able to let you know what that serial numbers exact model is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinch Posted December 5, 2021 Share Posted December 5, 2021 Um, zoom out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C3POHara Posted December 5, 2021 Author Share Posted December 5, 2021 1 hour ago, Pinch said: Um, zoom out? Yeah sorry, was trying to show damage and hardware. Attaching zoom out now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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