Classic thirtieth Anniversary V100 | Evaluation

Are you able to consider that Classic Guitars at the moment are 30 years outdated? Masterminded by one in every of guitar gear’s true MVPs, Trev Wilkinson and British distribution juggernaut JHS, the upstart guitar firm had been “disrupting” the business earlier than we had been calling folks “disruptors”. There at the moment are 30-year-old Classic guitars, which might make them “classic Classic Guitars guitars.” Nick Jennison tells us extra as he critiques Classic’s thirtieth Anniversary V100.



Whereas the listing of gamers related to iconic single-cut guitars reads like a who’s who of rock royalty, it is easy to see why the Les Paul-style silhouette by no means actually falls out of favour. There’s an unmistakable attract to a guitar that blends luxurious and muscle—one thing the Classic V100 thirtieth Anniversary captures with spectacular poise. Classic Guitars has been difficult the established order for 3 a long time now. That is no small feat, particularly in a world the place established names and classic pedigree typically overshadow something “inexpensive.”

After all, in the event you’re accustomed to the Classic story, the V100 Lemon Drop will want no introduction—a budget-friendly nod to the legendary “Greeny” that did extra than simply disrupt, it genuinely earned the respect of gamers who’d by no means beforehand seemed outdoors of Michigan for his or her burst repair. Now, Classic is marking thirty years with the V100 thirtieth Anniversary, and the result’s a guitar that appears, feels, and—crucially—sounds each bit the half.

What units the thirtieth Anniversary mannequin aside is its dedication to “the true factor.” We’re speaking a few two-piece mahogany physique, a full carved maple cap topped with a flame veneer, and a set-in mahogany neck. The fretboard is honest-to-goodness rosewood—no composites, no artificial shortcuts. Even at this worth level, these decisions matter, as a result of when you can all the time improve pickups or pots, you possibly can’t change the basic character of the wooden.

Specs-wise, it is every little thing you’d anticipate from a traditional LP-style singlecut: 24.75″ scale, 22 frets, and a 12″ radius that is inviting whether or not you are driving out massive blues bends or attacking crunchy riffs. The offset heel, typically reserved for pricier devices, offers surprisingly good entry to the higher frets—one thing that gigging gamers will discover right away.

The {hardware} bundle is all Wilkinson and all gold—loads of bling however extra importantly, loads of stability. CTS pots and a GraphTech NuBone nut spherical out a spec sheet that is extra harking back to boutique builds than finances fare. The actual stars, although, are the Wilkinson Platinum Collection humbuckers. These PAF-inspired pickups are the guts of the V100’s tone: suppose traditional midrange snarl with simply sufficient chew within the bridge and that stunning “glint” within the center place. Each neck and bridge positions are loaded with fats, punchy response however by no means get misplaced or muddy, retaining the kind of character you need in an incredible singlecut.

What about playability? The V100 thirtieth Anniversary provides what many would name an “old-school” really feel. The neck is substantial however by no means cumbersome, and the low fret profile is ideal for expressive vibrato and sustained bends. It isn’t constructed for the fashionable shred crowd, however for gamers who wish to dig in—be it gritty traditional rock, blues, or melodic arduous rock—it provides every little thing you want.

After which there’s the worth. In an period the place real singlecuts with comparable options can simply command costs north of £3,000, the V100 thirtieth Anniversary delivers its premium appears to be like, genuine really feel, and spectacular {hardware} for lower than a fifth of that value. There is no sense right here that you just’re paying for flash over substance; it is a workhorse that is prepared for the stage proper out of the field.

The Classic V100 thirtieth Anniversary is greater than only a commemorative launch. It is a reminder that you do not have to mortgage your future to personal an instrument with soul, character, and endurance. For gamers chasing traditional tones and timeless model—with out the boutique price ticket—this guitar stands as some of the compelling choices in in the present day’s market. If somebody handed you the V100 thirtieth Anniversary and informed you it value thrice as a lot, you’d consider it, proper up till you noticed the value tag.

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