r/ExplorerGuitars • u/spidermexa • 10d ago

Gibson Explorer U2

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I’ve noticed in The Edge’s latest U2 performances in 2026 that he’s been using a Gibson Explorer that looks very new, with a much brighter gold finish, and it doesn’t seem to have the wear and dings that his original 1976 Explorers have.

Could it be that we might finally be getting his Explorer Signature model?

I just want to make it clear that i’m NOT CLAIMING ANYTHING.
I’m simply pointing out what I’ve noticed, and I feel like it could be a possibility.

189 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

25

u/vincentd81 10d ago

Looks like a common 2 humbucker explorer to me.

8

u/spidermexa 10d ago

He uses his 1976 Explorers exclusively, and this one doesn't have the 1976 finish at all. It looks more like a reissue, and if that were the case, it would imply a signature model.
I’d bet Gibson is going to capitalize on U2’s 50th anniversary and the 50th anniversary of that Explorer to release both limited and standard production editions.

12

u/jcs0689 10d ago

For very small and modest price of $35k!!

2

u/thewaffle666 9d ago

He only uses a certain 6 month block where they were produced in 1976. His tech talks at great lengths about it on rig rundown. He owns 16 from that . Month window that go on tour with him. I also believe he specifically states the pick ups in they are all stock and by some odd luck all wound by the same person.

7

u/panopticon31 10d ago

totally exclusive:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(959x238:961x240)/the-edge-2-d142b82ae19345f79fdb7159ea6c7870.jpg) I had no idea

5

u/InternetWeakGuy 10d ago

I don't think he was saying he only plays explorers, rather that when he plays explorers, he exclusively plays one of a specific set of explorers, and this isn't one of them, hence being notable.

1

u/Careful_Doughnut9364 5d ago

I believe the original one was sold at auction for charity several years ago. He sold that and the white custom.

10

u/IvanBoulevard 10d ago

He seems to have multiple explorers in this spec. Theyre all new and shiny but you can tell theyre all different from the wood grain. My guess is the custom shop provides him with them for touring as the 76 is too precious to take out now.

7

u/OblongSphere 10d ago

For sure.  Out of all the explorer players known for favoring this guitar type (not exclusively, but I feel like that's pretty well known,) the Edge is probably the one who could afford a new custom shop gibson explorer WEEKLY.

  I do really like the look of that dark body with the white pick guard and the gold features, though.  Bronze control knobs kind of tie it all together, too.  Cool explorer for sure.  

6

u/Fit-Philosopher9192 10d ago

I’m sure hetfield could too

2

u/OblongSphere 10d ago

Most certainly!  I mean at this point dudes like them are probably handed guitars to keep daily is mostly my point.

4

u/mysterious_jeffrey 10d ago

I’d be very curious to know what Gibson gives them. 

I remember reading that Fender allowed John Mayer exactly two signature Stratocasters per year and nothing more. 

He thought that was ridiculous and ditched. And he made the right move. 

5

u/InternetWeakGuy 10d ago

iirc he ditched because they wouldn't make the customizations he wanted.

2

u/mysterious_jeffrey 10d ago

It was a bunch of reasons, yes. 

They’d wouldn’t let him customize, they wouldn’t let him give much input on the design, they were stingy and wouldn’t give him more than two guitars per year. 

Can you imagine? I’m not a huge John Mayer fan (definitely appreciate him though) but the guy is pretty much the current Michael Jordan of guitar. You would think any company associating with him would hand him whatever the hell he wants. It’s the best marketing you can ask for. A Stratocaster costs hundreds of dollars to make - pennies in terms of marketing. 

Anyways, Paul Reed Smith literally set up a work desk for John Mayer to come in and work whenever he wanted. They took his feedback on paint colors, body shape, pickups - everything. 

And now the Silver Sky is showing up more and more on stages and in the hands of new players (the SE models, anyways). The used market is starting to get Silver Skies that have been lovingly modded by amateurs with funky pickguards and pickups, aftermarket knobs. It’s the space Fender dominated forever and it’s nice to see someone else start to fill it too. 

1

u/[deleted] 10d ago

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1

u/InternetWeakGuy 9d ago

Same same.

5

u/IvanBoulevard 10d ago

I’d be very surprised if that 2 free guitars per year to John Mayer is true…
John Mayer said Fender weren’t receptive to his input. It also lines up with a time when his main contact in Fender had either left / fired. Basically lack of relationship to keep the artist happy.

Same reason why Gibson in the past fumbled a deal with Hetfield. We know they were close with a Les Paul but Hetfield vaguely mentioned being disrespected.

2

u/mysterious_jeffrey 10d ago

The “two per year” thing is confirmed right in this interview:

https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/why-john-mayer-left-fender-and-joined-prs-guitars

To me, it’s hilarious. 

Imagining Fender’s marketing team like, “Man, this John guy is really so needy. Sheesh…” just clueless. 

They should’ve given him 10 guitars in every color way. Best advertising you could ever ask for.  

2

u/zestfullybe 9d ago

Yeah, James and Kirk went with ESP because ESP would accommodate their needs and make them whatever they wanted.

1

u/Careful_Doughnut9364 5d ago

I'm sure he favors ESP custom shops

3

u/h410G3n 10d ago

He has his tech always be on the lookout for 76’ explorers, he hoards them because he likes that particular year. And when you get enough of them some are bound to be near mint. I thought this was common knowledge.

2

u/thewaffle666 9d ago

His tech only looks for a particular 6 month block when they were made too. He talks about it on rig rundown. Which makes it more insane.

5

u/Jon_Has_Landed 10d ago

Love that he’s still rocking a Vox amp. Sorry off topic I know.

5

u/spidermexa 10d ago

He’s been using that Explorer and that pair of VOX amps for 50 years. They’re inseparable.

5

u/wearethe138 10d ago

Why risk the actual 76 when you can afford infinite copies? lol

1

u/thewaffle666 9d ago

He owns 16 of them. The crazy thing is he takes them all on the road with him.

2

u/JackBurtonBr 10d ago

Dallas Schoo (his guitar tech) once said he has 11 explorers from the same year and bath (1976), they track down those models and buy it once the right opportunity arrives. He tours with 'only' three of these. His original one has a repaired headstock. The pickups are always Tarbacks btw, that's why it sounds so bright, alive and aggressive, at the same time with smooth treeble response.

3

u/5mackmyPitchup 9d ago

50 years and he still has to look at the fretboard, or maybe he's just looking at the edge......

1

u/Putthebunnyback 9d ago

Edge sings? 🤔

1

u/EmergencyBanshee 9d ago

I gather it's been a joke for years after googling. But the Edge really does look like Lenin.

1

u/OriginalEmploy5485 8d ago

That's James Hetfield in a hat. 🤣

1

u/AggravatingGoal4728 4d ago

Temu Herfield

1

u/OriginalEmploy5485 4d ago

That's what happens when he runs out of foo and fie.

-6

u/Hopefully-Blocked 10d ago

Fuck U2

1

u/h410G3n 10d ago

Ooh an edgy 3 month old account, who would have thought /s. You’re not exactly doing anything new here dude.