For most people, owning the “genuine article” is the only thing that will suffice. As a guitarist and one who appreciates “old” classical instruments, I can perfectly understand this point of view. I can’t think of a single guitarist who wouldn’t love to play a 1950s Les Paul or Strat. However, becoming the proud owner of a true vintage instrument has its drawbacks.

First, there is the price of admission. The ever-increasing demand for vintage instruments has skyrocketed their prices and put them out of reach for most of us. Top quality and well cared for original instruments from the 1950’s and 1960’s can come close to the cost of a new car or in some cases a tiny house!

Another problem facing older instruments is their questionable reliability. Though they were built to stand the test of time, an early instrument will almost always prove more delicate and fragile than a later, more modern version. This may not be of great importance to a guitar collector, but if he’s planning to play with a very valuable piece of 50-year guitar history, he might want to think again.

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

Both Gibson and Fender maintain separate production facilities known as “Custom Shops”, where they produce replicas of our old favorites with great skill and care. These guitars are made from the finest woods and are built almost entirely by hand using traditional techniques. Electronic components are custom built to be as true 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 actual guitars. They come complete with a full warranty, the durability of a new instrument, and a sparkling clean look. I own several reissue guitars from both Gibson and Fender, and I can honestly say that I am very impressed with the quality and the painstaking level of detail that these guitars possess. The use of high-quality woods gives them a tone that’s above the norm, and knowing the pieces are readily available helps add some peace of mind.

When all things are considered, buying a reissue guitar is, in most cases, the closest thing to owning the original. Although nothing will replace the “vibrance” and nostalgia associated with the real deal, the high cost and impracticality of a vintage 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 players who appreciate vintage instruments, a Custom Shop reissue from the original manufacturer is very hard to beat.