z and explorer body styles NOT the same!!!

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 11:02 am

hello all.... after extensive reasearch, i have found why dean's z body style is more appealing than the explorers, in addition to the dean's lack of a pickguard and yummy trans colors, i have observed that the upper "boner" part of the z is blunter, and i believe, shorter, than that of the explorer,

here look for yourself,

http://www.gibson.com/products/gibson/xfactor/Explorer76.html

then the dean
http://www.deanguitars.com/timecapsule/inventoryZ.html

i also believe, on the dea, that the line cutof thing on the bottom, is a less radical slope, and is slightly more horizontal than the gibby's......

thank you for your time, and, have a nice day

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 1:35 pm

bump

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 2:50 pm

interesting observations...might you be able to hypothesize as to why the Dean might be better suited for X style of music architecture-wise than the Gibson.

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 2:53 pm

umm.. cuz the dean looks purtyer?
and when there is much jumping around on stage with the dean there is less chance of disemboweling someone?

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 2742 Location: Denver

Anonymous wrote:

umm.. cuz the dean looks purtyer?
and when there is much jumping around on stage with the dean there is less chance of disemboweling someone?

After being ont the giving and receiving end of pointy headstocks in the eye live, I'll take my chances holding the Dean. Smile

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

ozz, any differences between the Z body and the Explorer are minimal and unintentional. i can see your reasoning and you are not entirely "wrong", but dean z never intentionallly altered the Z from the original Explorer shape - no explanation available, you'll just have to trust me on this one.

Posted: Fri Dec 26, 2003 10:57 pm

i knew that dave.. its just, well i was really bored today and had bnothing better to do....

Guest

I think they're different because if Mr. Z. made the Z body the exact same shape as the Gibson, there would be a lawsuit over the shape. it happend with ESP and thier JH-2 (james hetfield).

i might be wrong though..

I GOT A NEW AMP!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

Nick M. wrote:

I think they're different because if Mr. Z. made the Z body the exact same shape as the Gibson, there would be a lawsuit over the shape...

Good point, Nicko, but a lawsuit would really only be instigated over a guitar that was an exact copy of an existing guitar. The body shape alone usually isn't enough to make legal action worthwhile. Dean Z built guitars that had features not available on Gibsons. Ibanez, on the other hand, made many different models of existing Gibson and Fender guitars - just about every model they both made - and they were sued for producing those guitars. Check ebay and you might be able to find a few examples.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2368063172&category=33043

Here's a link to a Ventura guitar that resulted in a lawsuit from Gibson.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2367750967&category=33040

Back in the early 70's, both Ventura and Alvarez made "copy" guitars exclusively, just like Ibanez. Ventura fell by the wayside, while Ibanez and Alvarez both went on to build their own designs and became very successful. My 85 yr. old grandmother just got an Alvarez acoustic (no, really!!) and I have to say it's a killer guitar.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4797 Location: BEERMUDA

I put my Z against a GIBSON gothic explorer and they were ALMOST identical but the point roundings on the gibson were somewhat sharper and the radius of the fronthorn thus was smaller!

But the dimensions of the guitars were let's say identical, maybe some mm's here and there...

Cool that you come up with it I just took the test myself last week!

Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2003 12:02 pm

tanx space!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 7639 Location: Florida

spacebeer wrote:

maybe some mm's here and there...

remember to take out all the brown ones Cool

I know what you're talking about - can't pass up a chance to pick on some group's demands Twisted Evil

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 303

I covered this once in a newsletter. Dean Z used two of the best examples available for his original measurement for the Z and the V. While the ML is a cross between the two, it is not simply half of one together with half of the other. There were some adjustments made to make it more aesthetically appealing. (like them big words?)

Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 127

Now I know why my Z is soooooo much better than that stupid old Explorer I used to own! Very Happy

Thanks Doc!!

Jack