Classic Antique VS Standard

[Stewie]

I am really at a cross roads here. I really love the 57 Classic/Classic plus, 60s neck and Heritage Cherry burst.

I am really stuck between a Classic Antique and the Standard with the BBuckers. I don't want to get into the Ceramic pickup issues that a lot of people have voiced on this forum. I like the covered pickup look and I am really looking for a plain top. What I am asking is people who have experienced both these guitars to chime in and give me the pros and cons so I can make my decision.

[Tim Plains]

I don't have a Classic Antique, but I LOVE my Standard.

 

Go to a few music stores, play a couple and then decide. You can't buy a guitar based on what forum people have to say.

[Stewie]

Tim: I have been around these forums long enough to know that I would not buy a guitar without trying it myself.

What I am trying to find out is what people have found positively and negatively about either guitar. There might be something that I have overlooked in my arriving at the choice between the two. I own a 68 SG, 1990 ES335, a 2008 Studio, and a 2006 Elitist LP Custom. I am looking for a Gibson LP Classic or Standard and I don't want the Ceramics.

The difference is about 3 hundred dollar Can. We don't get a lot of used Standards up here and it would be cheaper to buy new than try to bring one into the country with the duties and taxes.

[Tim Plains]

Stewie, that's not always true.

 

I live in Southern Ontario, not sure how far north you are. I bought an ES-335 from NY state - drove down, bought it, drove back. Even with all the duty I had to pay, it was still less than the sticker price at L & M.

[Stewie]

I am further South than you.

I have a relative in Maine, so I can pick one up and bring it back without duty. But I would like to be able to play it first.

I have purchased a few items from L&M in Burlington, actually even before they were L&M Remember Lakeshore music! Most of my purchases are local since the new prices have really made it worth while. Our local guys have come way down. I recently purchased a Studio in Fireburst for 1099, plus tax.

[ALIEN8]

first thing is first, once you cross borders, the gibson warranty is void, regardless of which way you go (ie buy a guitar in canada, and go home to the states, or vise versa... same with buying online...)

 

Second, my experience made me buy a custom classic, pretty much the same as an antique, just without a flame top. You really won't regret the '57 p/u combo, they are the best around IMO... I found the burstbuckers slightly thin and sterile in comparison, I could never really pinpoint why, they just didn't do it for me... Then I played the custom classic and it was and instantaneous YES.

[Zaphod B]

Seriously, the only differences between the Standard and the Classic Antique are the pickups and the cosmetic details.

 

The 57 Classic/Classic Plus pickup set in the Classic Antique is only slighter hotter than the BBs in the Standard, so there won't be much tonal difference.

 

I bought a Classic Antique simply because, all other things being close to equal, I liked the appearance better - particularly the bound headstock.

[T50]

I bought a Classic Antique simply because' date=' all other things being close to equal, I liked the appearance better - particularly the bound headstock. [/quote']

 

+1.

 

If you don't mind the slim neck, and you are to choose between Standard w/ 60 neck and Classic Antique,

I'd go with the CA if I were you. Beside the pickups, I just love the bound head stock! Damn, it looks good!

 

But if you want that classic appearance of a LP, I guess a Std. is the choice.

[Tim Plains]

first thing is first' date=' once you cross borders, the gibson warranty is void, regardless of which way you go (ie buy a guitar in canada, and go home to the states, or vise versa... same with buying online...)[/quote']

The warranty is not void. You’re misinformed. You have to take the guitar back to the country where it was purchased. I just went through this with my ES, so I know. The pickups weren’t positioned properly. I called Gibson, they said I had to take it to a luthier in the US and gave me his contact info. I was going down anyways, so dropped it off, showed the receipt and that was that…no problems.

[Stewie]

I have only purchased one guitar and had it sent to my relatives. It was an Elitist Custom that I got for 799 at MF. At the time the Canadian price was 1999 msrp. The street price was between 1400 and 1600 Can. PLus 15% tax.

There was no tax through MF and the dollar was about 17%. It cost me about 935 Can. I delared it at the border, and because my wife and I have a 1500 dollar deductible between us, after one week I didn't have to pay. Technically I would have had to pay because it was over my individual limit but they didn't charge me.

Now with the current dollar I can get a Standard for 2299, and a Classic antique for 1939 plus 13% tax..

I can also play the guitar and have a pro set up done for free. So I am basically getting the same guitar with the pickups I like. I am also getting the bound headstock. I guess my only issue is the 57s compared to the BBs.

Are the rest of the electronics the same? I have already asked about covering the PUs and I can get that done for about 30 dollars plus the cost of the covers.