Another Paddy...

Hi, I'm Stephen and I'm an alc- Sorry... wrong group ;)

You can call me Steve (I've been called worse), I'm originally from Dublin but moved to Co. Roscommon 9 years ago.

I found this place (and PBG) a few days ago and have been in awe of the incredible works of art being created by you all. I've played guitar for almost 30 years (nothing too serious, though) and love the idea of putting something of myself into a guitar - not just buying one off the rack.

I have a couple of questions and no doubt that'll turn into many more as time goes on but for now, I'll just say hi and go back to looking through the amazing pictures...

Welcome Stephen. I think we should run a betting book on how long before you order a kit and which one :D

Hi Steve, we love questions, welcome

Hi Steve welcome to the forum. Ask as many questions as you like. Any ideas on which kit you may start on ?

Welcome Steve.

Welcome to the forum Steve. Glad to have you with us

Thanks fellas. I've just spent the last three and a half hours reading both of Muzza's PRS build threads without closure... it's half four in the morning. I'm WIDE awake. One of my dogs is using me as a pillow, and I have to get up in a few hours. Meh, sleep is overrated anyway... :D

I'm a big fan of Explorers so my first kit will likely be an EX-1 - though I wonder if it'd be possible to get the headstock changed to the IC-1 shape?

Also - the FV-1G is nice an' all, but I'd prefer a more plain model - no binding, stop-tail piece, set-in neck, that kinda thing. Anyone ever brought that up in "New kit ideas"? I'm guessing the body could be ordered without the string-through holes but are/were there any plans to offer a set-in neck model?

Forgive me if I'm covering old topics here... I have a LOT of catching up to do :)

Hi Steve, the factory may be able to do a custom order EX-1 for you with an Iceman headstock shape. I've built a couple of explorers and I like the headstock shape. The necks won't be interchangeable as the EX-1 is a set neck and IC-1 a bolt on neck
Don't think anyone has requested a set neck for the FV-1G kit, also you may be able to order a custom order

Hi Steve. Welcome and good to have another EX fan along for the ride.

I have built EX-1 & EX-5 and also owned an Ibanez lawsuit era one way back in the 1980's. The EX-1 headstock is a bit lumpy/stumpy compared to my EX-5 which is more pointy as an Explorer should be. They come pre-shaped and therefore not much scope to modify if you feel brave enough to attempt such as there is barely any spare meat left at that end of the neck.

Welcome along Steve - hope you enjoy the ride!

Thanks Wokka. The more I think about it, the more questions I form. I'll sit down at some stage and write a spec list of what I'm looking for - get them all in one place - then send it in and you can see just how my brain works (...or doesn't, as the case may be...)

Wazz... What can I say? I spent a significant amount of today going through threads and quite a few of them were yours... You don't need me to tell you this but you do mighty fine work, man. I have a LOT to learn about PUPs - active/splits/*insert other buzzwords here* etc - so I'll be studying your builds in detail (with a pen, notepad and a dictionary beside me) ;)

13 years ago I bought a Gibson Explorer. It was gloss black with chrome hardware, standard PUPs and a mirror-finish scratchplate.

I owned it for about three days.

I thought it was my dream guitar but when I played it, it felt like a scaffolding plank with strings on it, so I brought it back to the shop and exchanged it for an ESP LTD EX351, which I LOVED immediately. Not the classic Ex shape, but way back in 1991 or so, I'd been given a guitar neck by a school-friend and then "designed" an Ex body shape to go with it. I never got close to building it but from what I can remember, it bore more of a resemblance to the ESP (JH4)model than the original Gibson shape.

Still... There's something about that shape that keeps drawing me back - but not to Gibson. If I could have my absolute favourite Explorer in my hands right now, it'd have to be a Ken Lawrence version (I always thought with an ebony top, but I'm not so sure about that any more).

It's been many years since I spoke with Ken about his version (I was quoted between 5 & 6k for a "Hetfield spec", and I simply couldn't/can't justify that expenditure for what I play), but I reckon with the right parts, a bit of care and a LOT of patience, I can turn out a halfway decent personal interpretation of what an Explorer is for me.

About 8 years ago I took up bow-making and have spent a lot of time since then justifying to my wife why I needed more staves, or blanks, or tools; and to be fair, she's not seen very much by way of return. So it was with no inconsiderable amount of trepidation when I mentioned "DIY guitar kit building".

She took it very well and mentioned how she prefers acoustic guitars (she plays a Taylor (518CE, I think)), and I was most surprised when she said she liked the ES-5V model, but would prefer a natural, warm colour, instead of solids, or even dark bursts...

So I think my first build will probably be an ES-5V of some kind. I'd also like to maybe build one for/with my daughter, though I don't know what model she'd choose. I'm thinking that if I build a guitar for her, she'll let me have my ESP back... :D

sounds good Steve, have a look at the ES-5V build diaries there are a few currently being built and Dedman just finished his and entered it in October GOTM

His is the very build I showed my wife as a hollow-body example and she loved it (as do I). I'm really intrigued by the bridge...

Hi HatchA, great story about your 3 day experience with a genuine Gibson Explorer. Sad story as it was this does not surprise me as names on headstocks do not guarantee anything.

My eldest son went shopping for a new axe about 8 years ago when he was still at Uni and therefore not a lot of money to spend. He tried out most things in the shop and I must have been a bad influence as he gravitated to the Explorers. His budget screamed Epiphone but his eyes were drawn to about 4 shiny Gibson's at the other end of the shop. He tried them all from Black to Cherry and eventually bought a White one as it felt and played the best, and also sounded the best too. What convinced him to buy it? The ebony fretboard as it is only on white whilst the rest are rosewood and this is a major contributing factor as to how it feels and plays.

As we were in the grip of the GFC at the time and the store was wanting to clear stock he got a $2700 Axe for about $1600 and it is clearly the best one I have seen and/or played. Mind you he was at home last weekend and saw my EX-1 for the first time and reckon it has a better action than his, and that was a huge compliment.

The moral to this story is you can create just about anything with just the right amount of passion, skill and enthusiasm. Maybe the EX will become a future build project for you and wish you all the best with doing the ES-5V.

Cheers, Waz.