difference between Reissue and Classic

[heybulldog]

Okey... so are they the same thing? I know I am not very familiar with product lines, but noticed there are reissue and classic models. I like both of them, but I was just wondering...

I think reissue is more popular than classic? Why is that?

 

[weirdotis]

I think reissue is more popular than classic? Why is that?

Probably because the Classics were discontinued in 2008.

I have one of each, and love them both.

 

[heybulldog]

Probably because the Classics were discontinued in 2008.

I have one of each, and love them both.

They were ? had no idea. how do you know? so out dated = me.

So discontinued means more collectible... ? anyway, why did they discontinue? what is the difference? I guess still re-issue is the ones to go for then when time comes? I think re issue is a lot more costly than the classic ?

why not ...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-Les-Paul...n-/260783047472?pt=Guitar&hash=item3cb7e18330

??? vs re issue? I guess all are re issue... (anything from 50s 60s model to re create)?

i know I know.. I really do not much about these things. Glad to be here tho. Thanks

 

[Kalamazuu]

I don't know a whole lot about reissues, or classics for that matter but the basics are:
Reissues are custom shop, classics aren't
Reissues are designed to be the same as a certain year, R7, R8,R9, R0, where I believe (correct me if I'm wrong) classics mainly just have the 60s neck and are loosely based on a 1960 burst.
I believe the classic is the equivalent of the traditional now, an older standard, but traditionals usually have a fat neck, possibly different pickups.

I'm no expert and please correct me it I am wrong.

 

[nicolasrivera]

Don't the Classics have chambered bodies?

 

[peter679]

Don't the Classics have chambered bodies?

Wow my 1960 Classic GT is heavy as hell! unreal...

-P

 

[nicolasrivera]

Okey... so are they the same thing? I know I am not very familiar with product lines, but noticed there are reissue and classic models. I like both of them, but I was just wondering...

I think reissue is more popular than classic? Why is that?

A reissue comes from the custom shop of Gibson, they have the best woods and most of the appointments you expect to see from the Les Pauls of the early years or the golden era.

Classics don't have this, thats why the price difference is huge too.

 

[52trapeze]

A reissue comes from the custom shop of Gibson, they have the best woods and most of the appointments you expect to see from the Les Pauls of the early years or the golden era.

Classics don't have this, thats why the price difference is huge too.

Nico pre 93 classics were the historic line. The premium plus i owned from the 90s was just as good as my historic.

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

If you are talking about 1991-mid 1993 Reissues and 1990-mid 1993 Classics, very little difference. Now HISTORIC reissues (mid 1993-present) are a completely different story.

 

[nicolasrivera]

Nico pre 93 classics were the historic line. The premium plus i owned from the 90s was just as good as my historic.

Yeah thanks man, i was thinking more of the recent date models.

 

[peter679]

If you are talking about 1991-mid 1993 Reissues and 1990-mid 1993 Classics, very little difference. Now HISTORIC reissues (mid 1993-present) are a completely different story.

1960 classic is from 1990 is it not the same quality? Not sure..

-P

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

Gibson has actually occasionally reassigned 1991-1993 1960 Flametop Reissues to be Classic Plus or Classic Premium Plus and visa versa at the factory. At one time the Classic was the top of the line (except for reissues) in the normal USA series. Until the hardware goes on (and in some cases the finishes are different too) they were the same guitar.


Kinda like taking a Historic and turning it into a signature model, they start out the same!

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

Here is a 1992 Les Paul 1960 Flametop RI (known as an R6 at the time, another story) that started life out as a Classic Plus. This was all done at the factory, the magic marker is all under the clear coat.

So again I say the 1991-mid 93 reissues are virtually the same guitar and are made side by side with the Classics of the period. In fact they share the same SN sequencing. So 2 1454 could be a Classic and 2 1455 could be a reissue.

When the 1990 Classics came out they actually had some features that were more historically correct than the 1983-1990 Reissues, so in 1991, the Reissues took on those improved features.

 

[joesnewmatch]

A reissue comes from the custom shop of Gibson, they have the best woods and most of the appointments you expect to see from the Les Pauls of the early years or the golden era.

Classics don't have this, thats why the price difference is huge too.

Except when this does NOT apply. I have a Custom Shop Classic. My particular model, which is kind of unique, is all mahogany, with binding, P-90s, ABR, and an insanely thin 60's neck profile. I've never removed the P-90s, nor have I x-rayed it, but it feels and sounds like it is totally solid/non-weight-relieved.

 

[SsH]

Classics have weight relieved (swiss cheese) bodies, short neck tenons, snot green inlays (97 or so on up), and very very slim necks. I will say though that they are far and away much nicer than todays trads and standards. They are a fantastic value for the money.

 

[rockstar232007]

As SB pointed out; Classics (all models) were the start of the official RI line. They are the Gibson USA equvilent of the R0. They share most of the same features minus the higher-quality woods, and the attention to detail.

As far as them being "discontinued"? They have actually been "recontinued" in the Taditional 1960 (basically a Classic w/a better finish and better pickups).

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

The start of the reissues happened way before the Classics.

 

[rockstar232007]

The start of the reissues happened way before the Classics.

I'm talking about the official Historic line.

The very early "RI"s (pre-historics) were basically regular-production guitars (remember, there was no official CS back then) with similar looks (tops, colors, etc) to the originals, but the details weren't there.

The Classic line actually had most of the details (ABR-1 bridge, smaller headstock, etc) that the pre-historics were lacking, so Gibson took the details from both and combined them to create the template for the early Historics.

 

[SKATTERBRANE]

They basically started from scratch with the Historic line. The Pre-Historics of 1991 was when they took on some of the details of the Classics.

The first Les Pauls with a Custom Shop decal was at least 1982. But the separate Custom shop building happened in 93-94.

 

[rockstar232007]

They basically started from scratch with the Historic line. The Pre-Historics of 1991 was when they took on some of the details of the Classics.

The first Les Pauls with a Custom Shop decal was at least 1982. But the separate Custom shop building happened in 93-94.

Not really 'from scratch", because as I said, the early '90s pre-historics were a combo of details/specs from both the very early RIs and the Classic. The official RIs (Historics) that we know today evolved from them, at least the idea anyway?

As for the "Custom Shop decal"? There was no in-house Custom Shop at Gibson until the early-mid '90s. When you see early models of Gibson guitars (not just LPs/pre-historic RIs) with CS decals, the decals were used to identify special/limited run guitars that differ (in colors, specs, etc) from the regular production guitars. They were still made by the same people as the rest of the line, but that's a whole different discussion.