Epiphone IBG Futura Explorer Custom - firestorm shift

The EPIPHONE Inspired By Gibson Futura Explorer Custom (EIFEXCFSSNH) solid body electric guitar is a modern and versatile reinterpretation of the legendary Gibson Explorer from the late 1950s.

Released from Gibson’s workshops in 1958, its radical design for the time did not immediately win over guitarists, and only a few were produced in the first batch (hence their incredible value on the vintage market). It took about a decade for musicians to embrace it. Over the following decades, it achieved iconic status in the hands of rockers such as Billy Gibbons, The Edge, and, of course, James Hetfield. It was Hetfield who propelled the Explorer into the big leagues and made it a favorite among hard rock and metal guitarists.

With its impressive specs, the Futura Explorer Custom should appeal to fans of heavy sounds, from hard blues to more contemporary metal!

Its construction retains most of the original specifications, featuring a mahogany body and a set mahogany neck. In contrast, the fingerboard is made of ebony—a definite plus if you prefer well-defined distortion. The 22 frets are made of stainless steel, another sign of high quality.

It’s equipped with new Epiphone ProBucker™ Ignite humbuckers that produce heavy distortion without sacrificing clarity or nuance in clean and crunch tones. The two push/pull volume knobs allow you to switch each pickup from humbucking to single-coil mode. The push/pull tone knob also activates a second phase-reversal option. This offers a wide range of tonal options.

The Futura’s playability is absolutely remarkable, featuring a Modern C neck profile and a hybrid radius ranging from 10" to 14". It feels natural in your hands right away, and you’ll have no trouble playing even your most intense solos.

Finally, the attention to detail is evident—from the locking tuners and Graphtech nut to the finishes, featuring stunning “Split-Block Inlays,” as well as fretboard markers, multi-ply binding, and two stunning holographic finishes—Firestorm Shift and Dragonfly Shift—that will make you stand out on stage.