[Pin]

First of all folks please forgive a "first post" about a guitar rather than an self-introduction. I'll do that soon! I also apologise if there is a post already up and running on this topic. I did a search and couldn't find it but, I must admit, I tend to be not much good at searches. Anyway, to the matter in hand:

I see that Epiphone are bringing out (is it already out in the States?) a new (old) version of the Gibson ES345 Stereo. Many years ago I had a Gibson 345 and I loved it. I sold it years and years ago and it'd be worth a fortune now. Mine had a trapeze tailpiece whilst most had a stop tailpiece. Definitely hadn't been modified and I always suspected mine was an early version but I'm not sure. I've since checked and mine was probably a 1965 when the trapeze came in - so not an early version. I had mine around 1968 - 1973.

The new range is in Cherry, White or Black - no sunburst I'm sorry to say and which was the colour of my old Gibson and which I always prefer in a guitar. But Cherry is nice too.

Apparently, from what I've seen, the Epiphone version has a modified jack arrangement over the Gibbo - two jacks - one sends out in momo or you use two leads to put the machine into stereo mode. This strikes me as a better arrangment than the old "split lead" nonsense that the original Gibson had. So you use one lead to one amp for mono or two leads to two amps for full stereo.

Otherwise, to look at the Epiphone is much the same but has a Bigsby style vibrato. The parallelogram markers are the same, the tone / volume pot arrangements are the same and, above all, the 6 position varitone switch is the same.

I can't wait to get my hands on one!

Here is a British music shop with details of the guitar (awaiting delivery):

http://www.andertons....-in-cherry.asp

I have no connection with the shop at all.

I am very excited at the prospect of regaining what I let go years ago and wanted to share my delight.

[Whitmore Willy]

Pin,
Welcome to the forum.
Your link tells me "server not found".
Would this be it?
http://www.andertons...m-in-cherry.asp

Willy

[Pin]

Whitmore Willy, on 25 September 2011 - 12:03 PM, said:

Pin,
Welcome to the forum.
Your link tells me "server not found".
Would this be it?
http://www.andertons...m-in-cherry.asp

Willy

Yes, Willy - that is the correct link.

[Whitmore Willy]

Pin,

Very nice looking guitar. I'd love to have one.
What kind of amp are you going to play it through?

Willy

[Pin]

Whitmore Willy, on 25 September 2011 - 12:20 PM, said:

Pin,

Very nice looking guitar. I'd love to have one.
What kind of amp are you going to play it through?

Willy

I show my age Willy - Roland Jazz Chorus 50watt!

I also have the use of my son's Fender 112SE (he still plays but no longers gigs) but really it is just too powerful for home use.

I suppose I could do with another approx 30 watt amp to get the benefit of the stereo mode.

[charlie brown]

My only real problem, if you can call it that, with Epi's new "ES-345"
designated model, is the spec's. It's more like a "Dot" with the 345
fret markers, and a varitone, and "crown" headstock inlay.

It doesn't have the mulit-ply binding, on the body top (single on the back),
which is standard on the Gibson version. The "stereo jacks" are on a plastic
plate, like the Epi version, of "Lucille." No big deal, but not ES-345 spec's.

I just wish, if Epiphone was going to introduce their own clones of Gibson models,
that they'd stick to the accurate spec's, save maybe the hour-glass Epi headstock.
Personally, I'd rather see ALL of Epiphone's "Gibson clone's" have the Gibson
open book headstock, as the older MIJ versions, did. But, that's just me! I
do, however, think they should be accurate, in all the other spec's. As nice
as these new guitars may be?

Why don't they re-introduce an Epiphone Icon...the Riviera, with correct spec's,
proper pickups, color schemes, and proper headstock inlay. The only one, like
that, is only availble, in Europe & Canada. Here, they seem to want to keep making
Gibson Clones, instead of (more) accurate representations, of their own great ES Style guitars.
The CS "John Lennon," "Elitist" and IB John Lennon Casino's, are the only versions,
that are "historically" accurate (mostly), save the poly finishes, on the Elitist and IBJL's.

Come ON, Epi...lovely as these new "Gibby" clones are, why not make a spec correct
Riviera, and Sheraton I & II, for the "good old USA?!" ;>) Or, just
reintroduce the "Elitist" versions, of those two models!

OK..."Rant" over! LOL

CB

[Supersonic]

charlie brown, on 27 September 2011 - 07:57 PM, said:

My only real problem, if you can call it that, with Epi's new "ES-345"
designated model, is the spec's. It's more like a "Dot" with the 345
fret markers, and a varitone, and "crown" headstock inlay.

It doesn't have the mulit-ply binding, on the body top (single on the back),
which is standard on the Gibson version. The "stereo jacks" are on a plastic
plate, like the Epi version, of "Lucille." No big deal, but not ES-345 spec's.

At least it has a bound fretbord (UNlike the Dot). I think it looks great. Sure there could be a few differences that would suit me better personally (I would rather the 345 have a stop tail and I wish the 355 had a Varitone too, and I wish the pickguards came ALREADY attached), but I'm not complaining (much, lol). The 345 and 355 are the coolest guitars they have come out with in a while IMO.

[charlie brown]

Supersonic101, on 27 September 2011 - 08:34 PM, said:

At least it has a bound fretbord (UNlike the Dot). I think it looks great. Sure there could be a few differences that would suit me better personally (I would rather the 345 have a stop tail and I wish the 355 had a Varitone too, and I wish the pickguards came ALREADY attached), but I'm not complaining (much, lol). The 345 and 355 are the coolest guitars they have come out with in a while IMO.

`

Well, I'm just being "pissy," about it, I guess? LOL It's just that it wouldn't take
that much more, to make them "right!" You know? ;>b

And, some "Dot's" DO have fingerboard binding. They're just harder to find.

CB

[Supersonic]

charlie brown, on 27 September 2011 - 08:49 PM, said:

`

Well, I'm just being "pissy," about it, I guess? LOL It's just that it wouldn't take
that much more, to make them "right!" You know? ;>b

No, I understand what you mean and I wish they were full on accurate too CB. I am just really glad they are releasing them, period. And they could have done a lot worse.

charlie brown, on 27 September 2011 - 08:49 PM, said:

And, some "Dot's" DO have fingerboard binding. They're just harder to find.

Yeah, I know about that limited run of them that they had in Canada with the binding and rectangle fretboard markers and man they are sweet. Those are the only ones I've ever seen with binding though, ever.

[charlie brown]

Yeah, I think they'll do well, and they are nice, no doubt.
I'm just one of those "the devil is in the details" guys, I guess.

CB

[Blueman335]

I'd like to see this 345 with a trapeze tailpiece instead of a big, heavy Bigsby.