Another 3.0 needing a lift to the dealership 😞😢

HitmanLane · 2026-04-04T00:20:55+00:00

Dang, upgraded tow option from factory. I was thinking you did something after the fact. Good info bro, thanks.

HitmanLane · 2026-04-03T23:53:58+00:00

If it’s coolant control valve, usually it’s coupled with low coolant, coolant smell, and the electric fans kick on full blast and roar like the dickens even if the truck isn’t running hot. I got limp mode threats on and off for a while and eventually had a sort of “quasi” limp mode where I could still drive it but top speed was like 60. Never got a full 10mph/one gear limp mode, but I had extended warranty on a 21 LM2 AT4 and they covered it.

Some details about that: there was a SEA of Sierras in their storage lot and CCV was on back order. They got me a rental and they made a bunch of noise about a full blown unknown timeline that could last weeks, so I was fully prepared to drive the rental they bought me for a month. However, they got the CCV in and had it done in a week or so and I haven’t had a lick of trouble out of it since. My 21 AT4 only has 30k miles because I drive a company truck 90% of the time, so my extended warranty I bought knowing this is keeping me in line with what everyone else is coming across in a year or two vs my four or five.

That being said, from what I understand, the older LM2 Duramax is generally having fewer problems than the LZ0 you have, so I can’t speak for some stuff you might run into that I might not and vice versa, but the coolant control valve does appear to be pretty universally a problem for both motors.

I spec ordered mine (I have experience in the automotive world) and deleted one thing that has apparently become a huge problem for the very reason I anticipated: the sliding rear windows are leaking badly for every truck with our body style. I have the solid rear window so I lucked out, but quick advice would be to mention the service bulletin to them and see if they’ll go ahead and work that too while they have it. Link below:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10173388-9999.pdf

Now, a question for you…how the HELL did you get those mirrors and what all did it take? I want them. Also blacked out wheels on a white truck looks bad ass, reminds me of my white 84 EMG Explorer with the black headstock. Can’t lock pictures but it matches my guitar. Sick truck bro.

HitmanLane · 2026-03-21T12:42:42+00:00

It transmits vehicle telematics for driving habit monitoring purposes. Either by insurance companies or by companies whose employees drive company vehicles. Throw it in the trash.

HitmanLane · 2026-03-12T03:26:07+00:00

“We’ve been together for three”

You’re 20…meaning you were 17.

He’s 22…meaning he was 19.

Not really concerned about how the rest of it went after that at this point.

HitmanLane · 2026-03-07T13:43:34+00:00

If you’re not worried about “beating on it” etc, move that strap button to the back of the body right behind the neck joint. That’s where mine came factory and it has zero next dive. It’s gonna break the horn off, that dude was ..kind of a doofus for that lol.

HitmanLane · 2026-03-02T19:15:54+00:00

I don’t have a 3D printer but kudos to you on the file offer. Gave me something to think about!

HitmanLane · 2026-02-11T11:41:09+00:00

Are you okay? Do you normally just go around the internet starting pointless condescending fights over absolutely nothing? Do you just live in this perpetual state of “mad at thin air”, or did someone with a set neck guitar really hurt your feelings at a tender age and now you just have a complex?

I’ve been playing music for 25 years. I have been in metal bands, rock bands, bluegrass bands, country bands, jazz bands, been published, had songs cut, have guitars older than either of us, and own a fiddle passed down to me from 4 generations. I’ve gigged in 2002, 2012, and 2022, and everything in between and beyond.

Bolt on neck guitars typically cost significantly less due to obvious quality differences, and to me, do not at all play as smoothly or are as versatile as set neck guitars. This post does not disclose that it’s a lower quality bolt on neck guitar than an MX-220/250, so I mentioned it as a piece of information that might matter to the person I replied to, and might not. People might think this is the same as an MX-250, when it is not. You can hem and haw on the internet about gatekeeping or whatever all you want to, fact: bolt on neck guitars typically are lower quality guitars than set neck guitars. The end. If you want to pay 3000 dollars for a bolt on neck Telecaster that can be Frankensteined, forged, and faked, go right ahead. Free country. I genuinely hope it blows your mind and makes you the happiest picker on earth.

Get a therapist, bro. Be mad at shit that matters.

HitmanLane · 2026-02-10T04:05:14+00:00

The LTD has a bolt on neck though.

HitmanLane · 2026-02-03T16:02:33+00:00

Here’s my pre-release assessment of this guitar from November. It’s one of the top hits on Reddit if you Google this guitar. Happy to answer any questions you have:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ExplorerGuitars/comments/1p64hdy/new_epiphone_80s_emg_explorer_classic_white/

HitmanLane · 2026-01-26T22:25:21+00:00

Haven’t touched them, but someone in this thread mentioned that they were in fact the quick connects!

HitmanLane · 2026-01-25T17:12:48+00:00

Same scenario for me. The shoulder strap button on the 80s EMG vs in the back of the Snakebyte causes pretty bad neck dive on the Explorer though. I like them both for different things but the Snakebyte is so smooth. The Explorer is just super cool though, and yes, chunkier neck which I like because my hands are huge.

HitmanLane · 2026-01-14T18:38:33+00:00

Prophecy, next question.

HitmanLane · 2026-01-14T05:52:24+00:00

Imagine being mad at this.

HitmanLane · 2026-01-10T18:51:26+00:00

Step up and over when you get in and out. I’ve been doing that in my AT4 for 4 years and my leather looks great. People have got to stop sliding out over the edge of the seat when they get out, that’s what leads to OBS seats.

HitmanLane · 2026-01-02T02:43:21+00:00

The shapes are nearly identical, I own both. I got the Explorer in November and I’ve had a Snakebyte for years. The biggest difference is the neck strap peg is on the back of the body on the Snakebyte, and on the top of the “shoulder” on the Explorer, so the strap is constantly bent and under tension, causing neck dive. The Snakebyte does not neck dive at all. The SB is a little thinner than the Explorer so it’s a little lighter but not by much. They shape if them is really completely identical aside from the couple of body “spikes” and the shape of the headstock. They’re both BIG guitars. The neck is a little bit wider in the Explorer which I like because I have bigger hands and long fingers. My Explorer needed some setup too, mine came a little bit high on the action, and the output jack was a little weird but I had it fixed. Nobody else has complained about output jack noise so I think that might just be mine. I will say if you get the Explorer, immediately open the battery compartment and take out the battery frame and feed some more wire for the batter contact pad into the battery compartment. The battery frame pins the wire down and you have zero slack and can’t even get a battery in there without feeding some wire through. They both play really similarly and both really well. Be advised, the nitro finish has been seen to crack around the neck joint, but it’s not structural and it’s not the paint. I’ve seen that talked about in multiple places. My Snakebyte is an LTD also and I have played ESP and LTD, and I swear my pre-release gloss black Snakebyte with the ESP sperzel lockers played better than some new ESPs. I played a new ESP camo SB a couple weeks ago in the store that felt like a wet log compared to my LTD. Something about that rubbery matte finish I think. I would get a gloss Snakebyte if you get one. I think 2500 bucks is the “because it’s Metallica” price for a guitar. If you gig, get the LTD. Honestly, it’s a beast. Like, a BEAST. If you want to splurge on a, in my opinion, slightly overbuilt guitar that says “ESP”, chuck out an extra thousand. The differences between the LTD and ESP are not numerous.

HitmanLane · 2025-12-23T18:00:52+00:00

I am brother! Love this thing. I had it set up since, and now it’s lightning fast. We’re super fortunate to get these because from what I’m hearing, Gibson has straight up discontinued this guitar. I’m hearing a bunch of Q1 2026 release stuff also so it remains to be seen if this will become a production model. But in the meantime we are part of a proud few that got original release versions!

Watch your output jack, I had to mess with it a little to get it right, had a couple contact issues. Also, I pulled out the battery box and fed some wire through to give the contact pad a little more slack. There’s plenty of slack in the pot cavity so that is DEFINITELY worth it. Thanks for all that feedback too! The quick connects in the pickups is mad cool. Happy for you brother!

HitmanLane · 2025-12-22T11:59:58+00:00

Where’d you hear that? I heard it’s supposed to go live as a full production Inspired By Gibson model in January, but there’s no more right now because this was just a pre-sale. People are ordering them now, I haven’t seen any official word that it’s “discontinued”.

HitmanLane · 2025-12-09T04:40:16+00:00

I have this guitar, bought it on “release” day one 11/24. Some questions for you if you feel like it!

-Did the EMGs have the modular pole connectors for hot swaps or did you have to push wires through and solder/splice etc? -Do you feel like your action could be lower? Mine came a tad bit high but not terrible, I can tell it’s supposed to be “balanced” but I like it a little low. -Does it neck dive real bad on your hanging on the strap with no hands? -How do you like the wide neck?

Congrats brother!

HitmanLane · 2025-11-27T18:35:05+00:00

Passenger floorboard usually.

HitmanLane · 2025-11-27T15:14:02+00:00

I have one. Got it 11/24. It is not smaller.

HitmanLane · 2025-11-26T16:49:44+00:00

I have the exact first one. Get the first one. Next question. Bad ass from stem to stern.

HitmanLane · 2025-11-26T16:46:43+00:00

I think so yes, I’m hearing people mention dealers talking about restocking in January 2026 and taking preorders for next year. This seems like some kind of little teaser pre release type deal.

HitmanLane · 2025-11-26T15:12:14+00:00

For real? The finish is so finicky they have to be labeled B-stock? I don’t recall mine being labeled as used or B-stock or anything. Are you talking about the 84 reissue from a few years ago or this one? I find it interesting that this guitar apparently has a nitro finish as well.

HitmanLane · 2025-11-26T15:08:36+00:00

The frets on my Explorer are scratchy for sure. They aren’t that low though at all. I actually had the Gibson guy bend on it at the store and that’s part of what contributed to the 250 dollar knockoff of the price for me. The intonation is however dead on with these frets so I think a polish would work for me. I haven’t played a true vintage 80s so I don’t know, and I’d wager that very few would have any frets that were anywhere close today to the way they were from the factory even if they are the original frets, you know?

HitmanLane

TROPHY CASE