Explorer (1958-59, 1975-79) / Explorer I (1981-82) / Explorer 83 (1983) / Explorer (1984-89) / Explorer Reissue (1990) / Explorer 76 (1991-2003) / X-Plorer (2003-current)
Angular solidbody, six-on-a-side tuners
• Body & Hardware: Korina (African limba wood) body (mahogany from 1975, some Korina 1976, alder 1982-84, mahogany from 1985), elongated upper treble bout and lower bass bout, Tune-o- matic bridge, stop tailpiece, optional vibrato 1981-89, white pickguard (no pickguard 1984-89).
• Neck: unbound rosewood fingerboard (ebony optional 1983-86, ebony 1987-88, rosewood 1989, ebony or rosewood from 1990), dot inlays, scimitar-shape peghead curves to treble side (a few early with forked peghead), pearl logo (decal 1981-89).
• Pickups & Controls: 2 humbucking pickups, 3 knobs in straight line, selector switch on treble horn (knobs in triangular configuration, switch near knobs 1984-89, in straight line from 1990