What Does "Reissue" mean?

Doug

I'm curious about the term "Reissue":

1) is the meaning of the term arbitrary?

2) is it's use determined solely by the manufacturers?

3) are there any objective criteria for it's correct usage?

HNB

Doug said:
I'm curious about the term "Reissue":
1) is the meaning of the term arbitrary?
2) is it's use determined solely by the manufacturers?
3) are there any objective criteria for it's correct usage?

Reissue means it is built to the model it is based off of. Example: a '65 Reissue Mustang is built to have the same look and features as a 1965 Mustang. I don't understand questions 2 and 3, but it is basically a guitar based off of/copy of an older guitar.

Masta1m

HNB said:
Reissue means it is built to the model it is based off of. Example: a '65 Reissue Mustang is built to have the same look and features as a 1965 Mustang. I don't understand questions 2 and 3, but it is basically a guitar based off of/copy of an older guitar.

Although, something that always makes me laugh, Les Pauls made after '62 or so, are reissues.

HNB

Masta1m said:
Although, something that always makes me laugh, Les Pauls made after '62 or so, are reissues.

It is like AVRI Jazzmasters. They just keep copying an old body shape and such. 😀

Doug

Masta1m said:
Although, something that always makes me laugh, Les Pauls made after '62 or so, are reissues.

Thanks, HNB and Masta. That helps.

If I understand you correctly, there's a general understanding in the guitar community that a reissue is a discontinued model that is resurrected in an identical, or approximate, or improved version. But you do not seem to think the manufacturers determine for us what is to be called "a reissue"...? There's no officially sanctioned, objective criteria that you're aware of for what can be called a reissue...?

The guitar community seems to use the term more or less arbitrarily.

Any others care to weigh in on this?

Masta1m

Anything even remotely similar to the original shape and design. Fender calls the tweaked ones "modified" and Gibson; "NOS".

HNB

Doug said:
Thanks, HNB and Masta. That helps.
If I understand you correctly, there's a general understanding in the guitar community that a reissue is a discontinued model that is resurrected in an identical, or approximate, or improved version. But you do not seem to think the manufacturers determine for us what is to be called "a reissue"...? There's no officially sanctioned, objective criteria that you're aware of for what can be called a reissue...?
The guitar community seems to use the term more or less arbitrarily.
Any others care to weigh in on this?

The criteria for a reissue is usually the body shape, neck radius, fret type, tuner type, headstock shape, sometimes logo, sometimes color options, pickguard shape, and pickup style. (Vintage pickups and reissue aren't identicle and neither are pots, caps, and wiring.) Basically they look the same even though they aren't exact copys. 😀

Doug

HNB said:
The criteria for a reissue is usually the body shape, neck radius, fret type, tuner type, headstock shape, sometimes logo, sometimes color options, pickguard shape, and pickup style. (Vintage pickups and reissue aren't identicle and neither are pots, caps, and wiring.) Basically they look the same even though they aren't exact copys. 😀

Thanks, guys. You're confirming for me what I thought I understood. But I didn't want to just go on my assumptions.

None of this is a big deal. It only came up when someone claimed the Squier Duo-Sonic, based on the 1959 Fender Duo-Sonic, is not a reissue. 🤷 That got me wondering if "reissue" is a technical term with a precise definition sanctioned by some official group.

Doug

Posted this question on the Gibson forum and just now got the same answer...it's a casually used term in line with what you guys have said.