For most people, owning the “genuine article” is the only thing that will suffice. As a guitarist, and someone who appreciates “vintage” classical instruments, I can fully understand this point of view. I can’t think of a single guitarist who wouldn’t absolutely love to play a real 50’s Les Paul or Stratocaster. However, becoming the proud owner of a true vintage instrument has its drawbacks.

First of all, there is the price of the ticket. Increasing demand for vintage instruments has driven their prices through the roof and out of reach for most of us. Well-maintained, premium quality original instruments from the 1950s and 1960s can approach the cost of a new car or, in some cases, a small home.

Another problem older instruments face is their questionable reliability. Although built to withstand the test of time, an older instrument will almost always be more delicate and fragile than a later, more modern version. This may not be of great importance to a guitar collector, but if you plan on playing with a very valuable 50-year-old piece of guitar history, you may want to think again.

Fortunately, there is an alternative for those of us who love old instruments but find them too expensive or impractical for our purposes. I mean the latest vintage of old guitar replicas, or as they are better known, “reissues”.

Both Gibson and Fender maintain separate production facilities known as “Custom Shops,” where they produce replicas of our favorite classics with great skill and care. These guitars are made from the finest woods and are almost entirely hand-built using time-honored techniques. Electronic components are custom built to be as true and faithful to the original instrument as humanly possible.

The cost of these Custom Shop guitars is high compared to their production line variants, but they are still well below the cost of the real ones. They come complete with a full warranty, the durability of a new instrument, and a sparkling clean look. I own several reissued guitars from both Gibson and Fender, and I can honestly say that I am very impressed with the quality and painstaking level of detail these guitars possess. Using high-quality woods gives them a tone that is above the norm, and knowing that the pieces are readily available helps add some reassurance.

When all things are taken into account, buying a reissue guitar is, in most cases, the best alternative to owning the original. While nothing will replace the “vibe” and nostalgia associated with the real deal, the high cost and impracticality of an old instrument for everyday use make owning a reissue a very attractive alternative. Will a reissue ever sound like its 50-year-old counterpart? Probably not, but for us musicians who appreciate classical instruments, a Custom Shop reissue from the original manufacturer is very hard to beat.