{"product_id":"skadi-epiphone-1984-explorer-ex-2015-alpine-white-emg-81-85","title":"Skadi! - Epiphone “1984” Explorer EX • 2015 • Alpine White • EMG 81\/85","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSome guitars are quite happy to blend quietly into the background.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkadi is an enormous Alpine White Explorer with active EMGs.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSo that isn’t going to happen.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkadi is a 2015 Epiphone “1984” Explorer EX, built around a gloriously uncomplicated combination of mahogany construction, a set neck, active EMG pickups and one of the least apologetic body shapes ever committed to timber.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe mahogany body is paired with a set mahogany SlimTaper neck, a comfortable 24.75-inch scale and a rosewood fingerboard carrying 22 frets and simple dot markers. It’s a wonderfully traditional foundation attached to a body that looks like somebody became distracted halfway through drawing a lightning bolt.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThings become considerably less restrained when we reach the electronics.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn active EMG 81 occupies the bridge position, paired with an EMG 85 at the neck. The 81 provides the tight, aggressive response that has made it a favourite for high-gain rhythm work, while the 85 offers a warmer and fuller neck voice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eControls are deliberately straightforward, with master volume and tone controls alongside a three-way pickup selector, while the 9V battery has its own dedicated compartment on the rear.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack LockTone Tune-O-Matic and stopbar hardware continues the monochrome theme, with Grover Mini-Rotomatic machine heads taking care of tuning duties.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd then there’s the headstock.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLong, black-faced, outlined in white and seemingly designed specifically to emerge from behind a wall of dry ice.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse carries Epiphone’s Limited Edition Custom Shop marking and serial number \u003ca href=\"tel:1506203984\"\u003e1506203984\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhite Explorer. Black hardware. Active EMGs. “1984”.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a fairly substantial elephant in the room wearing a sleeveless black shirt and downpicking extremely quickly.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis isn’t a signature guitar, but the influence behind this particular combination isn’t exactly difficult to spot. Fortunately, the result stands perfectly well on its own as a seriously capable rock and metal instrument.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRehabilitation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkadi has received a comprehensive workshop inspection and rehabilitation prior to adoption.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe has been thoroughly cleaned, her hardware and active electronics checked, and her fingerboard attended to. Her frets have been levelled, crowned and polished, the fret ends dressed, and the entire guitar professionally set up ready for her next keeper.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBecause respectable frets have once again failed to persuade Jordan to leave them alone.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkadi is in good used condition and presents extremely well overall, but she does carry some honest cosmetic battle scars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMost notably, there is a finish chip at one of the vulnerable Explorer body points, alongside a handful of smaller marks to the body and rear of the neck. These have been deliberately photographed in close-up so her next keeper knows exactly what they’re adopting.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Alpine White finish remains beautifully bright and glossy across the overwhelming majority of the guitar, and the contrasting black hardware and EMGs make this an exceptionally striking instrument from normal playing distance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe don’t hide a Stray’s scars.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey’re simply part of where they’ve been before they reached us.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecification\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eManufacturer:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Epiphone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eModel:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 1984 Explorer EX\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYear:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 2015\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinish:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Alpine White\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBody:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Mahogany\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNeck:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Set mahogany, SlimTaper profile\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFingerboard:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Rosewood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScale Length:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 24.75”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrets:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 22\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNeck Pickup:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e EMG 85 active humbucker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBridge Pickup:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e EMG 81 active humbucker\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eControls:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Master Volume, Master Tone, 3-way selector\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBridge:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e LockTone Tune-O-Matic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTailpiece:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e LockTone Stopbar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMachine Heads:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Grover Mini-Rotomatic\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHardware:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Black\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSerial Number:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003ca href=\"tel:1506203984\"\u003e1506203984\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Good used condition with photographed cosmetic wear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStatus:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Ready For Adoption\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAdoption Fee:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e £525\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWho is Skadi for?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you’re looking for something discreet to play quietly in the corner, we may have other Strays.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you want a set-neck Explorer with active EMGs, a comfortable 24.75-inch scale and enough visual presence to be detectable from low Earth orbit, Skadi might be considerably more appropriate.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShe is particularly at home with rock and metal, but the EMG 85 at the neck gives her more range than her appearance might initially suggest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBig, angular, loud and just inconvenient enough to remind you that nobody has ever bought an Explorer because they wanted something sensible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSkadi is ready for adoption for £525.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProfessionally rehabilitated, fully set up and waiting for somebody whose downpicking arm could probably use the exercise.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack clothing optional.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProbably inevitable.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRescue • Restore • Rehome\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"The Stray Chord","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58737498358024,"sku":null,"price":525.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1059\/2829\/4664\/files\/2D3BE09A-846F-4C5D-BB47-26E0476896EF.jpg?v=1789402718","url":"https:\/\/thestraychord.com\/products\/skadi-epiphone-1984-explorer-ex-2015-alpine-white-emg-81-85","provider":"The Stray Chord","version":"1.0","type":"link"}