In 1958 there was introduced Gibson Explorer series, a solid body electric guitar with futuristic design. In 1963 it was discontinued because the audience was not ready to such a radical design. However, in 1976 Gibson reissued this series and in 1970-1980 it was at the peak of its popularity became one of the most popular electric guitars among hard rock and heavy metal guitarists. Gibson Explorer is remarkable for its fat and punchy sound. But if you’re looking for a more cost savvy alternative please note that several less expensive variations of Gibson Explorer are available at Epiphone.