Rare, special order Factory Left-handed ES-345 A deep cherry red finish with gold hardware split parallelogram inlays and Varitone circuit all combine to equal one of the most iconic Gibson guitars from the fifties and sixties. Not only does the guitar look fantastic, it sounds great with a set of original mid-sixties Humbuckers and versatile Stereo and Varitone circuit.
Introduced in 1959 alongside the ES-355TD the Gibson ES-345TD perched in the middle of the Gibson Thinline Semi-Hollow Electric Range. The ES-345 was released as the more tonally flexible sibling of the ES-335 thanks to the addition of a Varitone rotary tone switch and stereo wiring offering up a wide range of tones all with the cosmetic additions of a triple bound top, rosewood fingerboard with double parallelogram fingerboard inlays and gold plated hardware.
The guitars finish is in excellent, original condition throughout, the original Cherry Red is still vibrant with very little checking to the lacquer. The dark rosewood fingerboard is punctuated with split parallelogram position marker. The headstock has the Gibson Logo and Crown appointment inlayed in Pearl. The rear of the headstock has a 6 digit serial number that matches the ‘Union-Made’ label visible throughout the guitars F hole. The tuners are double-line/single ring Kluson Deluxe, gold plated like the rest of the hardware and in great condition. The guitar is a factory Stereo model and unlike many ES-345’s has not been converted to mono or had the Varitone disconnected. The PAT Sticker pickups are clean and tidy, the neck pickup sicker is absent and the solder is a little scruffy but everything looks okay. The neck pickup measures 7.91K and the bridge a nicely balanced 8.04K. The Pots remain inside their protective cans and all solder looks clean and tidy. The trapeze tailpiece is the correct type and the only tailpiece fitted to the guitar. The ABR-1 has the correct foundry stamp. The Stereo Truss rod cover and Pickguard both sharing the Wide bevel used in 65, The knobs are the black bonnet type used on cherry ES-345’s until mid 1960. The guitar has a new nut fitted and benefits from a re-fret with period appropriate wire.
One of only 216 Cherry ES-345 produced in 1965 this guitar is an incredibly rare factory Lefty. The transitional neck has a typical tapered C profile with a nut width of 42.12mm wide and the neck has a depth at the first fret of 20.74 increasing to 25.1 at the 12th fret. Weighing in at a decent 8.56Lbs or 3.91Kg The guitar comes with a correct gold lined Black case and would be the perfect instrument for the player or collector alike.
Introduced in 1959 alongside the ES-355TD the Gibson ES-345TD perched in the middle of the Gibson Thinline Semi-Hollow Electric Range. The ES-345 was released as the more tonally flexible sibling of the ES-335 thanks to the addition of a Varitone rotary tone switch and stereo wiring offering up a wide range of tones all with the cosmetic additions of a triple bound top, rosewood fingerboard with double parallelogram fingerboard inlays and gold plated hardware.
The guitars finish is in excellent, original condition throughout, the original Cherry Red is still vibrant with very little checking to the lacquer. The dark rosewood fingerboard is punctuated with split parallelogram position marker. The headstock has the Gibson Logo and Crown appointment inlayed in Pearl. The rear of the headstock has a 6 digit serial number that matches the ‘Union-Made’ label visible throughout the guitars F hole. The tuners are double-line/single ring Kluson Deluxe, gold plated like the rest of the hardware and in great condition. The guitar is a factory Stereo model and unlike many ES-345’s has not been converted to mono or had the Varitone disconnected. The PAT Sticker pickups are clean and tidy, the neck pickup sicker is absent and the solder is a little scruffy but everything looks okay. The neck pickup measures 7.91K and the bridge a nicely balanced 8.04K. The Pots remain inside their protective cans and all solder looks clean and tidy. The trapeze tailpiece is the correct type and the only tailpiece fitted to the guitar. The ABR-1 has the correct foundry stamp. The Stereo Truss rod cover and Pickguard both sharing the Wide bevel used in 65, The knobs are the black bonnet type used on cherry ES-345’s until mid 1960. The guitar has a new nut fitted and benefits from a re-fret with period appropriate wire.
One of only 216 Cherry ES-345 produced in 1965 this guitar is an incredibly rare factory Lefty. The transitional neck has a typical tapered C profile with a nut width of 42.12mm wide and the neck has a depth at the first fret of 20.74 increasing to 25.1 at the 12th fret. Weighing in at a decent 8.56Lbs or 3.91Kg The guitar comes with a correct gold lined Black case and would be the perfect instrument for the player or collector alike.