1968 Gibson ES-345TD
Gibson ES-345 was an upgraded version of the massively popular 335 and featured Stereo Varitone circuitry, gold hardware, and double parallelogram inlays. There are about four 335s out there for every one 345, making it a significantly harder model to pin down.
This 1968 example is a great-playing guitar with somewhat recent frets, bone nut, and an upgraded TonePros bridge. The work was done here a few years ago, although the refret wasn’t the guitar’s first and the inlays are quite thin in places. The Stereo Varitone circuitry and wire harness was removed intact (without modification) and an entirely new mono wire harness was installed with the guitar’s original pickups. Apart from an out-of-phase middle-switch-position the guitar now plays like any other 335. Reversing the magnet on the bridge pickup would correct the phasing, or just enjoy the B.B. King or Peter Green tonal options this wiring provides. All original parts (wire harness, bridge, nut) are included with the guitar.
Cherry finish with medium fade, Gold hardware with a fair bit of the plating worn off, original trapeze tailpiece and Kluson double-line tuners. Good neck angle, 6105 Medium Jumbo frets with moderate playwear, aged bone nut. No neck or body repairs. 1-9/16” nut width, small neck carve with a fast feel. Weighs in at 7.6lbs.
A wonderful playing guitar with excellent sounding original Patent # pickups.
With original hardshell case
This 1968 example is a great-playing guitar with somewhat recent frets, bone nut, and an upgraded TonePros bridge. The work was done here a few years ago, although the refret wasn’t the guitar’s first and the inlays are quite thin in places. The Stereo Varitone circuitry and wire harness was removed intact (without modification) and an entirely new mono wire harness was installed with the guitar’s original pickups. Apart from an out-of-phase middle-switch-position the guitar now plays like any other 335. Reversing the magnet on the bridge pickup would correct the phasing, or just enjoy the B.B. King or Peter Green tonal options this wiring provides. All original parts (wire harness, bridge, nut) are included with the guitar.
Cherry finish with medium fade, Gold hardware with a fair bit of the plating worn off, original trapeze tailpiece and Kluson double-line tuners. Good neck angle, 6105 Medium Jumbo frets with moderate playwear, aged bone nut. No neck or body repairs. 1-9/16” nut width, small neck carve with a fast feel. Weighs in at 7.6lbs.
A wonderful playing guitar with excellent sounding original Patent # pickups.
With original hardshell case