Pre-Owned 1967 Gibson ES-345TDC, Cherry
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Pre-Owned 1967 Gibson ES-345TDC, Cherry 
The ES-345 was first introduced in 1958 alongside the ES-335 and ES-355. Both the ES-345 and ES-355 where marketed as upscale versions of the ES-335 but sharing the same blueprint. All three have the same construction; laminate maple top, sides and back, maple centre block and a mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard.
What sets the ES-345 apart from the ES-335 is several cosmetic and electrical differences. Aesthetically the ES-345 has gold hardware, small crown headstock inlay and double parallelogram fingerboard inlay. Electrically it has the addition of the Varitone switch and stereo wiring. The Varitone switch is a six way switch that enabled players to add various combinations of inductors and capacitors to change the resonate frequency and add “colour” (i.e. tone) to the sound. As such it allowed players to switch to predefined frequency scoops, preserving the highs and lows. B.B. King is one famous user of the Varitone switch and referred to it as “the Magic Switch”. The stereo wiring is still intact.
Through the years, the ES-345 went through several changes with the most notably being in 1965 when the Stop Bar Tailpiece was replaced by a Trapeze Tailpiece. Eventually the ES-345 was discontinued in 1982.
For sale here is a 1968 ES-345TD finished in cherry. As can be seen from the above pictures the cherry has faded on the top creating a nice patina.
The guitar has been dated between 1967-1968. The serial number dates the guitar between 1967-1968. Unfortunately, the potentiometers cannot be dated due to them being in faraday cages. Other appointments date the guitar to this year such as the gold ring around the Varitone switch, introduced in 1960 and the trapeze tailpiece which was introduced in 1965.
Overall the guitar is in very good condition for it's age with only a few marks, such as on the back of the neck and the back of the body.
The guitar comes with original case.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Pre-Owned 1967 Gibson ES-345TDC in Cherry |
| Top | Laminate Maple |
| Back and Sides | Laminate Maple |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Centre Block | Yes; Maple |
| Fingerboard Wood | Bound Rosewood with Double Parallelogram Inlay |
| Frets | 22 |
| Scale Length | 24 3/4" |
| Bridge | Tune-o-Matic with Trapeze Tailpiece |
| Machineheads | Deluxe Gibson |
| Scratchplate | 3-Ply Black |
| Electronics | 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone, 3 Way Selector Switch, Varitone Switch, Stereo Wiring. |
| Pickups | 2 x Gibson Humbuckers |
| Case | Original Hardshell Case |
Important Notice to International Customers Outside of the European Union.
Due to the CITIES Regulation of Rosewood, a CITES Certificate must be added to your basket with the purchase of this guitar.
For more information on CITES please see the listing for the CITES Certificate or alternatively contact us before purchasing.
More detailed photos available on request sales@mansons.co.uk
