1959 is the greatest year in Gibson’s history. Specs, neck profile and bursts have a lot to do with that. But beauties like these give us other reasons to believe so. This is an original 1959 ES-345 TDSV in excellent condition, which has faded to an absolutely stunning bourbonburst.


Just look at it. It has aged beautifully, played with love, looking incredible.


It’s factory stoptail, never had a Bigsby on it. Has two sealed PAFs with decals on them. Gold ABR-1 nowire with foundry mark and original Kluson single-line double button gold tuners. Includes a dashing brown OHSC with pink interior, “Gibson” brand which was removed (you can see the outline of where it was) and replaced with the store’s own metal plate (“Forbes”). This is something dealers did quite often.


It is pretty much original except for a little bit of binding that was repaired on the bass side of the neck from the nut to the 9th fret (and if I didn’t tell you, it’d be hard to know), and a replaced volume pot.  The casings for all the pots were removed and are in the case pocket. As for the frets, it may have had a refret, but some of the nibs are still visible, so it’s either an ace job, or they were leveled. The tuner tips probable rotted as many 59 tuners did, so the tips have been replaced (not the tuners). There may have been other tuners at one point, but no extra holes were ever drilled, thank God.


It has not been converted to mono, so it’s still Stereo Varitone.


The finish is entirely original, no touchups, repairs, breaks, oversprays… nothing. Has a nice 59 neck and sounds gorgeous.


This is a great example of a golden-era ES guitar.



Details:

Model: ES-345TDSV
Color: Sunburst, faded to bourbonburst
Year: 1959
Body: Plain laminated maple top, back, and rims
Center: Solid maple center block
Neck: One-piece mahogany neck with extended tenon
Fretboard: 22-fret rosewood fingerboard
Headstock: Holly headstock veneer
Pickups: sealed PAF humbuckers (visible decals)
Neck profile: late 59 profile
Tailpiece: Lightweight aluminum stopbar
Bridge: gold ABR-1 nowire, foundry mark
Binding: double (top), back and neck: single-ply
Tuners: Kluson golden single line double ring tulip tuners (tips replaced)
Inlays: Split paralellogram
Controls: 2 volume knobs, 2 tone knobs, 3-way selector, Varitone switch
Scale: 24-3/4"
Width at nut: 1-11/16"
Includes: OHSC with Lifton badge
Modifications: repaired binding on bass side from nut to 9th fret, replaced volume pot, probable refret, tuner tips changed, other tuners fitted at one point but no extra holes.