Epiphone’s Futura Explorer Custom supercharges the Explorer’s boldest traits, honoring the model’s heritage while reimagining it for modern performance. Introduced in the ’50s, the original Explorer made an instant statement with its futuristic, unconventional design. Epiphone started with that time-tested blueprint for this modern iteration, opting for a solid mahogany body and a set mahogany neck for a bright tone with plenty of sustain. From there, the model evolves for speed and comfort, adding a Modern C neck profile with a 10-inch to 14-inch compound-radius ebony fretboard. This enhancement is complemented by a range of modern appointments that aid tuning stability and playability, including stainless steel frets, Posi-Lok strap buttons, locking Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners, and a LockTone Tune-o-matic bridge and Stopbar tailpiece. A set of ProBucker Ignite humbucking pickups provides high-output clarity and heat, with push-pull controls for coil splitting and phase switching to shape your tone. Combining vintage design with a modern edge, Epiphone’s Futura Explorer Custom is an innovative guitar with the look and sound to match.

Epiphone Futura: the future is now

The Epiphone Futura series arrives freshly pulled from the depths of time — an iridescent iteration of legendary Gibson-inspired body styles, including the SG, Explorer, Flying V, ES-355, Les Paul, Firebird, and RD Custom. Built for captivating sound, pro-grade utility, and shimmer-laced showmanship, this lineup proves more than just a futuristic facelift on some classic silhouettes — it demonstrates forward-thinking on virtually every front. The Futura series’ powerful and versatile guitars also introduce Epiphone’s push-pull-equipped ProBucker Ignite pickups, which treat performers and recording artists alike to a wealth of modern tones. Thanks to sleek designs with stainless steel frets, dome knobs, comfortable modern neck profiles, and split-inlaid compound-radius fingerboards, every element of the Epiphone Futura series brings the future further into focus.

Vintage foundation, modern design

The Futura Explorer Custom’s forward-thinking design brings contemporary stability and performance to the model’s already futuristic look. The guitar’s solid mahogany body and set mahogany neck deliver ample warmth and sustain, complemented by the body’s ergonomic contouring. This relatively traditional approach is paired with an undeniably modern neck featuring a comfortable Modern C profile and a smooth-playing 10-inch to 14-inch compound-radius ebony fretboard. The thoughtful blend of past and present allows the guitar’s natural presence to shine while providing effortless playability that Music Experience guitarists find instantly comfortable in every position along the neck. Coated in a striking Chromashift finish, all the Futura Explorer Custom’s distinctive features are emphasized with a color-changing sparkle, complemented by a multi-ply body binding, split-block inlays, and chrome pickup housings.

ProBucker Ignite: fiery, articulate tone

The ProBucker Ignite humbuckers fuel the Futura Explorer Custom’s modern design, adding extra heat to the guitar’s tonal arsenal. Carrying the same philosophy that inspired the Futura lineup, the ProBucker Ignite pickups are a higher-output take on Epiphone’s PAF-style ProBucker. The additional power in these revoiced humbuckers lends them a punchier, aggressive tone that retains clarity as you increase the gain. This blazing tone is made even more versatile with push-pull Volume and Tone pots that offer the snappy articulation of coil splitting and the funky pop of phase switching, letting you tailor your tone no matter the style.

What Epiphone Says...

The new Futura Series guitars from Epiphone are designed for today’s guitarists who want a guitar that delivers professional performance and forward-thinking features. These Inspired by Gibson models deliver tone and style that’s perfect for gigging, recording, or content creation in the modern era. With bold, color-shifting finishes, all-new pickups, and versatile electronic features like coil splitting and phase switching, they have the look and sound that today’s players need to stand out from the crowd and make their own statement, both sonically and visually. Other high-performance features, including stainless steel frets, compound-radius fretboards, and ultra-comfortable neck profiles, make the Futura Series guitars truly innovative and a must-have addition for any guitar collection. The Gibson Explorer™ has one of the most radical, modern, and instantly recognizable profiles in the world of electric guitars. Designed and first released in the late 1950s, it was so modern that players took years to catch up, but once they did, it became a favorite among rock and metal players worldwide. Epiphone is excited to introduce the new Futura Explorer Custom, an extraordinary, modern take on a design that was way ahead of its time when Gibson first released it in 1958. The angular mahogany body has 7-ply binding on the top. It is equipped with a LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and a LockTone Stop Bar tailpiece for outstanding intonation and sustain, and Posi-Lok™ strap buttons keep your strap securely attached without extra hardware. The glued-in mahogany neck has an ultra-comfortable, fast-playing Modern C profile and is topped with a bound ebony fretboard with 22 stainless steel medium jumbo frets and attractive Super 400-style pearloid split block inlays. The fretboard also features a 10”-14” compound radius, making chording and string bends equally effortless. The bound Explorer headstock is equipped with locking Grover® Mini Rotomatic® tuners, a Graph Tech® nut, and an Epiphone logo inlaid in mother-of-pearl. Powering the Futura Explorer Custom are a pair of Epiphone’s new ProBucker™ Ignite humbucker™ pickups that can drive your amp hard when you want to, while retaining clarity. Push/pull volume and tone controls provide coil-splitting and phase options for even more tonal variety. The Futura Explorer Custom is available in two eye-catching Chromashift color-shifting finishes: Firestorm Shift and Dragonfly Shift, each designed to stand out on camera or on any stage. Whether you’re looking for an instrument with a modern aesthetic or a versatile instrument with plenty of sonic options, the Futura Explorer Custom is an outstanding choice. Grab one today and take your content creation, recordings, live performances, and personal expression to the next level. It comes packed in a premium gig bag, so it’s ready to join you wherever your muse leads you.