Gibson's ES-345 stood as the mid-tier offering in the company's line up of semi-hollow thinline electric Spanish guitars between the 335 and 355 model. Featuring Stereo wiring and a Varitone circuit, the ES-345 was effectively a dressed down version of the ES-355, while still offering more deluxe appointments than the less-expensive ES-335.

With its Cherry Red finish, gold-plated hardware, split parallelogram inlays and multi-ply binding, this 1968 Gibson ES-345TDC is quite the showstopper. It is a completely original guitar apart from four of the six bridge saddles and a missing saddle retention wire. The guitar is equipped with its original trapeze tailpiece as well as the often-modified factory Stereo wiring and Vartione circuit. Many ES-345s from this era have been and continue to be converted to mono wiring, making factory original examples like this '68 increasingly more difficult to come by. While the original Patent Sticker pickups have had their covers removed and reinstalled, the pickups are still out-of-phase in the middle position, which suggests that they have not been modified.

An excellent sounding guitar, this ES-345TDC puts out all of the harmonically rich tone that one hopes to achieve from a golden era Gibson electric. The bridge position offers full-bodied tones with excellent clarity and sparkle in the top end. The neck pickup delivers a warm and articulate response that is well balanced with the bridge humbucker.

Wear to the original finish is minimal and the original frets are largely unworn, showing only very light wear to the first several frets. The guitar plays cleanly throughout the fingerboard and the frets are a comfortable height. 

Scale length of 24-3/4", nut width of 1-9/16", First fret depth of 0.835 and a 12th fret depth of 0.965", pickup DC readings of 7.0K (N) and 7.1K (B), weight of 8lbs 10oz. 

With original hardshell case.