spitball Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Howdy folks, Thought I'd share my excitement about the 2011 ES-345 that I just bought from Sweetwater (with whom I am very satisfied). I was keeping my eye out for non-vintage models under $3K, and this demo model came up on a GBase search. This replaces the '67 ES-335 that I sold in harder financial times, just last year. Gratefully, this year has been better. I adore this guitar's voice. The Varitone is a pleasure, and I can find uniquely sweet sounds in all six VT positions, depending on the corresponding amp and pickups settings. I dare say, this is possibly close to having a genuine 1960 ES-345 at a much lower cost, and I appreciate the dual jacks that provide stereo and mono options. Bravo, Gibson! So, here she is, lounging in her new home. Can I get you anything, dear? Happily, -sb PS - Any other ES-345 owners (vintage or otherwise) care to post pics of their instrument? I'd love to see more 345 porn! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyl51 Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Love your guitar! The only really small thing that bugs me is why Gibson is not putting the all black tophat tone/volume knobs on these guitars.........jim at Tinker AFB Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Here's my 2000 built "Historic". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnappi Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 The 345 is a killer guitar. It can so most anything but you may want to consider a real good volume pedal, they come in real handy. Here's my 2002 with a cousin :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Always wanted an ES-345! It's on my "bucket list." But, for now, my Gibson "Lucille" does quite nicely. I got it, because at the time I bought it (2002), it was $400 dollars LESS, than a USA (non-custom shop) ES-335! I didn't understand that...but, I wasn't about to pass it up, for that price! Enjoy your 345...they are GREAT guitars, no doubt about it! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 Thanks, all... Charlie Brown, do you have any images of Lucille to share? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougg330 Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Sweet 345! I had a '66 345 that I sold in tough financial times, and regret it daily. I don't know why so many players detach the Varitone - it can add so many tones to your playing. You got a beauty - enjoy it, man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 Thanks, all... Charlie Brown, do you have any images of Lucille to share? Twist my Arm... (I added the Grover Imperial "stair-step" buttons, to the stock Grover tuners.) CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted February 11, 2013 Author Share Posted February 11, 2013 Thanks, CB!! That is elegant. Black almost always does it for me, especially with ES and Les Paul models. I'll bet Lucille and my ES-345 sounds basically the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 11, 2013 Share Posted February 11, 2013 Thanks, CB!! That is elegant. Black almost always does it for me, especially with ES and Les Paul models. I'll bet Lucille and my ES-345 sounds basically the same. Thanks, it's a honey! And, yeah...the sound is "basically" the same. The ES-345, and standard ES-355, to me... have a bit more "open" tone, due to the "f" holes. "Lucille," having no "f" holes, still sounds Warm, like most Semi's, but maybe a bit "tighter," tone wise. That's not "better or worse," it's just different. And, it doesn't feed back, as easily, as the other's...which of course, was BB's desire, all along. Still, I love the standard ES series, as well. So, you made an excellent choice! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 1967 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 Wow, clean looking ''67! I've read that Gibson humbuckers with gold covers were from an older design than their chrome covered counterparts up through about 1967. In other words, your pickups may be more desirable, older pickups than you'd find in, say, a '67 ES-335, like I had...not that they were bad, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 Wow, clean looking ''67! I've read that Gibson humbuckers with gold covers were from an older design than their chrome covered counterparts up through about 1967. In other words, your pickups may be more desirable, older pickups than you'd find in, say, a '67 ES-335, like I had...not that they were bad, either. Well, nowadays, there seems to be more emphasis on the technical make up on guitar parts and some being more desirous than others. For some reason a PU with a "PAF" sticker cost more that a sticker with a patent number (patent number was not for the pickup but for a type of bridge, LOL). I think a lot of the early to late sixties pickups were similar irregardless of labels. Most of the early musicians I know didn't really concern too much with guitar hardware and relied more on tweaking the knobs to please the "ear". Also, parts were limited compared to the myriad of PU's available today and the constant marketing of parts...obviously makes money for the after market manufacturers. ...I still don't know what a "PAF tone" should be. PAF or not, I tweak the guitars and amps ending up with the same tone in my "ear". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted February 14, 2013 Author Share Posted February 14, 2013 Amen; it is what it is. Before all this information overload via online forums,, few players got so caught up in this kind of minute detail. Sometime I think the best value of these forums is to share pictures and recordings. Most of the other talk is frivolous. I was kind of giving you a "feel good" remark about the gold covered pickups, but I'm glad you didn't really care. :) Trusting one's ear is much more important! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted February 14, 2013 Share Posted February 14, 2013 1967 What a beauty!! CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaicho8888 Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Amen; it is what it is. Before all this information overload via online forums,, few players got so caught up in this kind of minute detail. Sometime I think the best value of these forums is to share pictures and recordings. Most of the other talk is frivolous. I was kind of giving you a "feel good" remark about the gold covered pickups, but I'm glad you didn't really care. :) Trusting one's ear is much more important! Thanks, guys for the kind words... she's a beauty with years of worn down frets and minor nitro crackling. Yeah, Al Gore's internet invention does provide endless informative or myths for guitar hobbyist. I find the most interest in being able to see and copy players' riffs. My hat goes off to others who put together lessons for others to learn. Even with 50 years of playing, I've definitely learned and improved quickly with the help of the internet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spitball Posted February 23, 2013 Author Share Posted February 23, 2013 Guys and gals, sorry to bump this up, but I had to post a follow up to say that I am thrilled with the performance of this 345. I'm playing at home through an itty-bitty 5-Watt Fender champ and a Line 6 podxt amp emulator. The guitar is perfectly intonated (still out of the box without further adjustment by myself). The tone, balance, sustain and smoothness are the best humbucking experience I've had. Beautiful, rich clean and creamy distorted timbres. And so comfortable to play. My compliments to the chef!! I was thinking of posting this on the Les Paul Forum, but they generally seem to take it with a grain of salt when one boasts of any ES guitar made after '64. Here's the gang: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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