1996 AFG Reissues

[krick]

I pulled out all four of my 1996 AFG Reissues today for a group shot. This is one of my favorite models and I find it interesting how much the AFG finish varied.

From left to right: 1. 2006 NAMM Display guitar with Oct. 2005 Serial Number. 2. From the first production batch with Feb. 2006 Serial Number. 3. From the first mid-2006 batch with May 2006 Serial Number. 4. From the last production batch with Aug. 2008 Serial Number.

[libratune]

Kevin,

Great collection, beautiful photo!

[leftybass]

Those are great..!!!

[JakeK]

Great collection, beautiful photo!

I'll second that!

I always preferred the 1996 to it's sibling the 325C64. The f-hole makes it less Beatle-ly.

Kevin, IIRC, you have a 325V63 in fireglo with a f-hole, too, correct?

[deaconblues]

The 1996 reissues are special guitars. I really enjoyed owning mine for the brief time that I had it.

I'll take #2!

[libratune]

Okay, we've been here before, but Kevin's lineup provides a new opportunity.

Which 1996 in Kevin's lineup has the Fireglo shade that most closely resembles this infamous 1996?

And why is John wearing a double-breasted suit?

[DavyR]

I own model 1996 AFG 08 32466. Boy, they did vary in paint jobs! It doesn't look like any of your four. It's almost a dark fireglo with a slight touch of amber in the middle. The back is darker with almost no amber. Lighting and photography can affect color. Case in point, it's in my Avatar to the right but that pic shows too much amber, which it does NOT have to the naked eye. Second most beautiful RIC I've seen. I'll try to get a pic from my camera posted here somehow. (Sorry for all the edits of this post. I think I got it right now! LOL!)

[krick]

Great collection, beautiful photo!

I'll second that!

I always preferred the 1996 to it's sibling the 325C64. The f-hole makes it less Beatle-ly.

Kevin, IIRC, you have a 325V63 in fireglo with a factory f-hole, too, correct?

Thanks guys.

Jake, I think the 1996 was reissued mainly because of it's Beatles connection as shown in the photo Ron posted above and yes I do have a Fireglo 325V63 with f-hole from 1996.

There are some pics here: viewtopic.php?p=215914#p215914

[redamber]

Great photo, Kevin.

For what its worth, the colour of my own 1996 RM 325, manufactured in week 32 of 2008 and shown previously on the Forum, seems to fall somewhere between your third and fourth examples. The small final batch manufactured in 2008 does seem to be closer to a true Amber Fireglo colour - but IMHO they are all fantastic!

[deaconblues]

My former 1996...May 2006 s/n.

[tcsmit29]

These are all beautiful guitars! I have a question that may cause me to look stupid. Are their any differences between the 1996 reissues and a 325v63 in fireglo with an f- hole? Other than the designation? I can't tell the difference.

[DavyR]

Great photo, Kevin.

For what its worth, the colour of my own 1996 RM 325, manufactured in week 32 of 2008 and shown previously on the Forum, seems to fall somewhere between your third and fourth examples. The small final batch manufactured in 2008 does seem to be closer to a true Amber Fireglo colour - but IMHO they are all fantastic!

325 1996 resize.JPG

This is pretty much how mine looks. Makes sense since mine was made the same week, week 32 of 2008. Notice, very little amber.

[libratune]

Here's one from the 2008 run:

[deaconblues]

There IS a difference between the 1996 reissue and the originals.

Note the smaller size of the upper "lobe" of the f-hole on this original:

[krick]

These are all beautiful guitars! I have a question that may cause me to look stupid. Are their any differences between the 1996 reissues and a 325v63 in fireglo with an f- hole? Other than the designation? I can't tell the difference.

The biggest visual difference is in the shape and placement of the f-hole. The 1996 AFG is about a half-pound lighter than the 325V63 which I believe is due to the differences of the internal body bracing. Also, the 1996 AFG model has dual truss rods where the V Series model only has one. The 1996 AFG uses a vintage style roller bridge while the V63 has a standard RIC bridge. Other minor differences I noticed were the headstock shape, pickguard shape/placement, TRC shape, and the Fireglo finish shading.