❌SOLD❌ Gibson ES-345 Thinline Archtop Electric Tobacco Sunburst, 2003

The Gibson ES-345 appeared in 1958 with its sister models, the ES-335 and ES-355 as a groundbreaking solution to the problem posed by rapidly increasing guitar amplifier volumes. This design provides the tonal response of an archtop with the feedback resistance of a solidbody guitar by adding a solid center block. Lately, Gibson has revised the line again with ES-339 models, the same guitar but with a physically smaller body.

The three models, ES-335, 345 and 355 are built on the same principles but differ in trim and equipment. The ES-335 is fairly sparse, with a bound body and neck with rosewood fingerboard, unbound F-holes, two pickups, individual volume and tone controls, and depending on version a stop or trapeze tailpiece with tune-a-matic bridge. The Gibson ES-345 adds split-parallelogram position markers in Mother of Pearl, and more wiring options. On the ES-345, there are two output jacks allowing each pickup to go to a separate amplifier or channel strip, or both pickups to one amp. As well, there is a 6-position Varitone switch, using a mixture of capacitors, resistors and choke to provide selective frequency cuts (it is a passive circuit, and you can only subtract, not add to the frequencies). The ES-355 tops the line with multi-layer bound body, neck, headstock and F-holes, block position markers, and often a Bigsby or Maestro Vibrola tailpiece.

Here, we have a Gibson ES-345 in Tobacco Sunburst with gold plated hardware, in good original condition and dating to August 7th, 2003 at the Gibson Memphis plant. Wear is minor, with light tarnish or wear on some of the gold plating, and light marking to the finish in a few spots. Fret wear is minor.   The use of old-Kluson-style tuners with Keystone buttons is a nice touch,  reducing the weight at the headstock and working quite well.    The original Gibson hard shell case is included.