❌SOLD❌ Gibson ES-345TD ‘Domenic Troiano’ Electric Thinline, Cherry, 1960

Here we have something very special – a Gibson ES-345TD in cherry, built during 1960 and used extensively by the late Domenic Troiano on countless sessions and performances with The Guess Who and Domenic Troiano Band.

Domenic Troiano was one of the best electric guitarists in Canada, working constantly from early days with bands like Robbie Lane and The Disciples, Ronnie Hawkins, The Rogues – which became Mandala and Bush, before forming his own band. Other members of Mandala, including Prakash John and Pentti Glan, went on to their own top level work with artists like Alice Cooper.

As a solo artist, Troiano found himself as a popular ‘Replacement’ guitarist, and worked with both The Guess Who after Randy Bachman’s departure, and with The James Gang after Joe Walsh left. He also was very busy working recording sessions, including material for movies and television shows. He backed up artists like Moe Koffman, Joe Cocker, James Cotton and Long John Baldry. At one point he worked with Donald Fagen and the late Walter Becker. They got along so well that Fagen and Becker were going to offer him a position in their new band ‘Steely Dan’, but Troiano was too heavily booked. He was also one of our early, regular customers here at The Twelfth Fret. Domenic Troiano died in 2005 from prostate cancer.

This Gibson ES-345TD was built during 1960 at the historic Parsons Street plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It has its original PAF pickups, and the Varitone has been disconnected. The bridge has been changed to a later ABR patent number bridge. It has been refretted, and it’s very likely it was refretted at The Twelfth Fret.

A gold Bigsby was added and the stop tailpiece holes filled. The Bigsby is back quite a long way from the bridge, which allows a fairly shallow angle, and that means that the arm movement is smooth.

The nitrocellulose lacquer finish is in good condition considering its age; there is natural and expected finish checking. Despite its history of use in live situations, it’s been well cared for.

This guitar was used by Domenic Troiano during his tenure with The Guess Who and The Domenic Troiano Band, and for both live and studio work throughout the 1970s. He also used it extensively for his television soundtrack work from the 1980’s until his death.

Aside from its historical significance, this guitar also plays very well, and sounds like an ES-345 with original PAF pickups!

The original brown Gibson hard shell case is included.

Read More About Domenic Troiano in our  – “In Memory Of” article.