1974 Gibson ES-345TDC
With its gold hardware, split parallelogram inlays, multi-layer binding, and revolutionary Varitone circuitry with stereo wiring, Gibson's ES-345 made waves upon its introduction in the summer of 1959 as a deluxe thinline semi-hollow. The model remained a mainstay in the company's line up of electric instruments through the 1960s and 1970s.
A beautiful example of a mid-'70s semi-hollow, this 1974 Gibson ES-345 boasts a wonderfully preserved Cherry Red finish that is nearly free of crazing in the lacquer. The nitrocellulose has darkened over the last five decades, and the original gold hardware has developed an attractive patina with much of the gold plating still present. A darker area of finish on the back of the guitar towards the neck heel seems to be a factory finish repair, likely completed before the guitar left Kalamazoo. This finish repair does not extend to the sides of the guitar, and there is no evidence of any structural repairs to the neck, neck heel, or body. All told it's a stunning instrument with just enough honest wear to give it an authentic vintage vibe.
Built in 1974, this ES-345 is among the last of Gibson's semi-hollows to feature Patent Sticker pickups, as the pickups were phased out in place of etched patent number pickups later that year. With its original stereo wiring and Varitone circuit still intact, this 345 offers a wide array of harmonically rich humbucker tones with a vast enough tonal palette to cover just about any musical setting. The pickups deliver an open, clear, and dynamic response that will surely rival that of most vintage PAF humbuckers.
With a fast and lean neck carve, this ES-345TD is an incredibly fun guitar to play. The original low frets play cleanly across the fingerboard. While some may prefer taller fretwire for modern playability, we have chosen to leave the decision to refret the guitar to the next owner.
Scale length of 24.75". First fret depth of 0.763", twelfth fret depth of 0.960"; nut width just shy of 1-9/16". Pickup DC readings of 7.1K in both neck and bridge positions. Weight of 7lbs 14oz.
With period case.
A beautiful example of a mid-'70s semi-hollow, this 1974 Gibson ES-345 boasts a wonderfully preserved Cherry Red finish that is nearly free of crazing in the lacquer. The nitrocellulose has darkened over the last five decades, and the original gold hardware has developed an attractive patina with much of the gold plating still present. A darker area of finish on the back of the guitar towards the neck heel seems to be a factory finish repair, likely completed before the guitar left Kalamazoo. This finish repair does not extend to the sides of the guitar, and there is no evidence of any structural repairs to the neck, neck heel, or body. All told it's a stunning instrument with just enough honest wear to give it an authentic vintage vibe.
Built in 1974, this ES-345 is among the last of Gibson's semi-hollows to feature Patent Sticker pickups, as the pickups were phased out in place of etched patent number pickups later that year. With its original stereo wiring and Varitone circuit still intact, this 345 offers a wide array of harmonically rich humbucker tones with a vast enough tonal palette to cover just about any musical setting. The pickups deliver an open, clear, and dynamic response that will surely rival that of most vintage PAF humbuckers.
With a fast and lean neck carve, this ES-345TD is an incredibly fun guitar to play. The original low frets play cleanly across the fingerboard. While some may prefer taller fretwire for modern playability, we have chosen to leave the decision to refret the guitar to the next owner.
Scale length of 24.75". First fret depth of 0.763", twelfth fret depth of 0.960"; nut width just shy of 1-9/16". Pickup DC readings of 7.1K in both neck and bridge positions. Weight of 7lbs 14oz.
With period case.