Incredible collector grade condition Gibson ES-345 TDC from 1968. With a Cherry finish, Gold hardware, split parallelogram inlays and Varitone circuit all combine to equal one of the most iconic Gibson guitars from the sixties. Not only does the guitar look fantastic, it sounds great with a set of strong late sixties Humbuckers and versatile Stereo and Varitone circuit intact.

Introduced in the 1959 alongside the ES-355TD the Gibson ES-345TD perched in the middle of the Gibson Thinline Semi-Hollow Electric Range. The ES-345 was released as the more tonally flexible sibling of the ES-335 thanks to the addition of a Varitone rotary tone switch and stereo wiring offering up a wide range of tones all with the cosmetic additions of a triple bound top, rosewood fingerboard with double parallelogram fingerboard inlays and gold plated hardware.

This guitar is in excellent, original condition throughout, the original Cherry Red finish is still vibrant with very little checking to the mirror polished lacquer. The dark rosewood fingerboard is punctuated with split parallelogram position markers, frets are original with binding nibs still evident. The headstock has a pearl inlayed Gibson Logo and Crown appointment. The rear of the headstock has a 6 digit serial number that matches the ‘Union-Made’ label visible throughout the guitars F hole. The Original tuners are double-line/single ring Kluson Deluxe, gold plated like the rest of the hardware and in great condition. 

The guitar is a factory Stereo model and unlike many ES-345’s has not been converted. The original PAT Sticker pickups are clean and tidy solder joints free of tampering. The neck pickup measures 7.09k and the bridge a nicely balanced 7.02. The Pots remain inside their protective cans and all solder looks clean and tidy. The tailpiece its the correct type and the only tailpiece fitted to the guitar. The bridge is the correct PAT. No version used from the mid-sixties. Hardware is all correct to the instrument with the Stereo Truss rod cover and Pickguard both sharing the shallow bevel, knobs are gold topped Witch hat type used from ’67 onwards.

One of only 378 cherry ES-345 produced in 1968 this example is in fantastic condition, the neck has the shape has the standard later 60’s slim C profile with a nut width of 39.94mm and a depth at the 1st fret of 22.4mm increasing to 25.8mm. The original frets have lost a little height and the guitar plays nicely. 

Weighing in at a decent 3.94kg the guitar comes with a correct gold lined Black case and would be the perfect instrument for the player or collector alike.