Gibson ES-345 Reissue Guitar Review
The sweetest singing axe of the Memphis blues reborn!
The Gibson ES-345 Reissue is a super-versatile axe that pays homage to the original ES-345, which debuted in 1959 as an upgrade to the revolutionary ES-335 semi-hollowbody design. It features a plain laminated maple top, back, and rims with multi-ply binding on the top and single-ply binding on the back, along with gold hardware. The body dimensions are 16″ (W) x 19″ (L) x 1.75″ (D).
The neck of the ES-345 Reissue is made from one piece of mahogany and has a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearloid split parallelogram inlays. The neck has a 1960 Slim taper profile and a scale length of 24 3/4″ with a nut width of 1 11/16″. The headstock features a holly inlay and single-ply binding, and the peghead pitch is 17°.
The ES-345 Reissue is equipped with ’57 Classic humbucking pickups that are controlled by a 2 volume, 2 tone, and 3-way selector switch, along with a 6-position Varitone switch for added tonal versatility. The guitar also has stereo and mono jacks, and it comes with Brite Wire .010-.046 strings.
The ES-345 Reissue is available in several finishes, including Faded Cherry, Translucent Brown, Tri-Burst, and Vintage Sunburst. It comes with a black levant hardshell case with a classic navy velour interior, and the case features gold ‘Gibson Memphis’ and ‘BB King’ logos. The truss rod cover is engraved with “Mr. 335,” paying tribute to B.B. King, who famously played a Gibson ES-345 as his primary guitar.
Overall, the Gibson ES-345 Reissue is a versatile and high-quality guitar that pays homage to the original ES-345, known for its semi-hollowbody design, Varitone electronics, and association with B.B. King. It is suitable for a wide range of musical styles, from blues to jazz, rockabilly, country, and rock.
Features and Specs:
Body & Hardware:
- Plain laminated maple top, back, and rims
- Dimensions: 16″ (W) x 19″ (L) x 1.75″ (D)
- Multi-ply binding on top, single-ply binding on back
- Gold hardware
- Nashville TOM bridge, Stopbar tailpiece
- Knobs: black tophat with gold insert and nickel pointers
Neck & Headstock:
- 1-piece mahogany neck
- 22 fret Rosewood fingerboard, width at 12th fret 2.062″
- Peghead pitch: 17°
- Thickness at 1st fret: 0.800″
- Thickness at 12th fret: 0.875″
- Heel length: 0.500″
- Neck joint location: 19th fret
- Headstock inlay: Holly
- Pearloid split parallelogram inlays
- Single-ply binding
- 1960 Slim taper neck profile
- 24 3/4″ scale length; 1 11/16″ nut width
- Vintage tulip tuners
Electronics & Strings:
- ’57 Classic humbucking pickups
- 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way selector switch
- Brite Wire .010-.046 Strings
Finishes:
- Faded Cherry
- Translucent Brown
- Tri-Burst
- Vintage Sunburst
Case:
- Includes black levant case
- Exterior: Black smooth levant hardshell
- Interior: Classic Navy Velour
- Silkscreen: Gold ‘Gibson Memphis’ and ‘BB King’ logos
Other:
- “Mr. 335” engraved truss rod cover
