Marcus King USA ES-345

[jb_abides]

$4k MSRP/MAP

They discontinued/sold out of his Custom Shop model, and are introducing a USA version without the Varitone, leaving off the sideways pull arm.

They've put CustomBuckers in, instead of the usual USA T-Types.

His name is on the 'Custom Made' plate.

https://www.gibson.com/en-US/p/Electric-Guitar/Marcus-King-ES-345/Sixties-Cherry

Marcus King ES-345​

3-ply maple/poplar/maple body, mahogany neck with Rounded profile, Indian rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and acrylic parallelogram inlays, gold hardware, Custombucker pickups, fixed Vibrola tailpiece, hardshell case

The Marcus King ES-345 joins the Gibson Artist model lineup​

Marcus King is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist with the soul of American roots music flowing through his DNA. Hailing from South Carolina, his spine-tingling vocals and emotive guitar playing were influenced from an early age by his blues guitarist father, Marvin King, and his grandfather, a country musician. Now, before reaching the age of 30, Marcus is partnering with Gibson on a second remarkable signature model, based on the instrument that was handed down from his grandfather to his father, and finally to him as he took his family's musical legacy to stages worldwide. Originally released as a Custom Shop model, the new Marcus King ES-345 is inspired by his main guitar, a 1962 ES-345 that was handed down to him by his family. This modern version captures the look and vibe of his original, with only the features that Marcus finds essential, including mono wiring, a pair of Custombucker humbucker™ pickups, a fixed Vibrola™ tailpiece for improved tuning stability, and a stud anchor cover customized specifically for Marcus King. All of the standard ES-345 features that you’d expect are also present, including the 3-ply maple/poplar/maple body, solid maple center block for improved sustain and feedback resistance, and gold hardware, including an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and Grover® Rotomatic® tuners with kidney buttons. The mahogany neck features a Rounded profile that averages .875” at the first fret and .975” at the 12th fret. The Indian rosewood fretboard is adorned with acrylic split parallelogram inlays and equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets. A Graph Tech® nut adds to the tuning stability, and the guitar is finished in classic Sixties Cherry. A Gibson hardshell case is included to keep the Marcus King ES-345 safe when it is stored or in transport.

Key Features​

• 3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple Body
• Solid Maple Center Block
• Custombucker Pickups
• Fixed Vibrola Tailpiece
• Grover Rotomatic Tuners
• Gold hardware
• Hardshell Case

[This seems to be a new trend: slightly modify a USA guitar into an Artist guitar that's not a replica but something of a player for them e.g. the Warren Haynes]

 

[Tollywood]

I had never heard of him, so I watched the Gibson video, then read his Wikipedia page. Then I went to his website to discover that a Marcus King shirt will cost you $50. I did not buy one.

 

[ToneHenge]

He has a good voice. I have briefly held the custom shop version of this guitar. There is an interview somewhere where he says the vibrato unit was disabled. It was heavy.

 

[jb_abides]

I had never heard of him, so I watched the Gibson video, then read his Wikipedia page. Then I went to his website to discover that a Marcus King shirt will cost you $50. I did not buy one.

Soulful jazzy blues infused rock (more than classic rock) is his thing.

For a solo jam, check out ~5 minutes in to this, thru to the outro

Someone else's rundown of top songs: personally, I am not big on 'top' pick lists, but this is a suitable introduction.

Top 10 Marcus King Songs - Blues Rock Review

Still in his 20s, Marcus King is one of the top young artists in the blues rock genre. King was

bluesrockreview.com

 

[Tollywood]

Soulful jazzy blues infused rock (more than classic rock) is his thing.

For a solo jam, check out ~5 minutes in to this, thru to the outro

Someone else's rundown of top songs: personally, I am not big on 'top' pick lists, but this is a suitable introduction.

That was quite good. I enjoyed the horns and his voice. The guitar solo was one of those when I watch and listen to it I can’t hold down the corners of my mouth. It made me happy in an inspired and impressed kind of way.

I might have to rethink that t shirt. $50 is starting to seem like a bargain. But only if it’s soft and not old school stiff.

 

[jb_abides]

I'd sooner spring for 4 CDs than $50 for a T. And don't forget exorbitant shipping usually on top of that.

 

[jb_abides]

Watch Marcus King discuss healing through guitar and the story behind his new signature Gibson Marcus King ES-345™ guitar.

Can a guitar be more than an instrument, something that heals, grounds, and connects generations?

In this special episode of the Artist Greenroom on the Gibson Gear Guide, Marcus King opens up like never before. Watch as he talks about his love of music, tells stories about the guitars that were handed down to him, and how music helped him heal from childhood trauma, and watch as he reveals the inspiration behind his new Gibson Marcus King ES-345 guitar.

This isn’t just a guitar release or another gear guide; it’s an incredibly emotional journey through Marcus’s influences, his love of the guitar, the wisdom of grandfathers and mentors, and the undeniable truth that music can truly be a huge positive in our lives. Watch as Marcus gives us a blues guitar lesson like no other, teaches us how he learned the guitar through his grandfather’s homemade tablature, which gets us outside the blues box, and why tone always starts in the hands, not the gear.

You’ll also hear about how artists like B.B. King, Albert King, Aretha Franklin, and even hip-hop lyricists like Method Man and Eminem shaped his sound, how learning jazz theory on guitar helped him to put names to the sounds he already knew, why keeping it simple issometimes the best way to improvise, and how “wrong” notes can be the most powerful way to make a signature sound!

In addition, Marcus talks about how his family’s legacy shaped every spec of the Marcus King ES-345 pictured here in a beautiful Sixties Cherry finish and learn more about the guitar which features a 3-ply maple/poplar/maple body, mahogany neck with Rounded profile, Indian rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and acrylic parallelogram inlays, gold hardware, Custombucker pickups, fixed Vibrola™ tailpiece, and comes with a hardshell case.

This is an incredible episode of Artist Greenroom as Marcus King brings the heart, the history, and the heritage of Gibson into one unforgettable episode.

Chapters:
0:00 – Marcus King on Music and Healing
2:34 – Family Legacy and the First Guitar Memories
5:34 – How Marcus Learned Guitar
7:17 – Music as a Grounding & Healing Influence
10:12 – Breaking Out Of The Blues Box, Playing What You Feel
12:45 – Hip Hop Influences and Eminem
16:15 – Blues Guitar Lesson with Marcus King
18:25 – Why the Gibson ES-345™ Matters to Marcus
20:07 – The Bridge and Story of "Big Red"
20:55 – The NEW Marcus King Gibson ES-345
23:02 – Upcoming Tours and New Album Preview
24:39 – Advice for Guitar Players
26:27 – Outro Jam with Marcus and Dinesh

 

[Tollywood]

I was goofing on the shirts for $50 until I became an overnight fan. So, I bought a killer black Marcus King Band shirt to wear on stage at a bike night show I have August 7 at Halligan’s in Auburn, MA - if any of you are local, please stop by. We play 80s rock but I’m wearing the shirt anyway. The band is called All She Wrote.

My wife will be relieved. I keep saying that I want a puffy pirate shirt with ruffles and that I will wear it unbuttoned one or two buttons more than normal, but she replies, no, please don’t do that.

 

[corpse]

I have handled Marcus’ guitar at Banker’s shop in Dalonaga GA. It had tons of fretware- Marcus wouldn’t let him refret it. Or the ‘68 BB.
I don’t know how he played it. I guess he has since he was a kid.

 

[jb_abides]

 

[Tollywood]

My shirt arrived and I would definitely classify it as high quality. The silk screen letters have almost a fuzzy texture, like sewn on felt would get. I’ll try to get a picture of me wearing it on stage Aug 7. No gigs until Aug 7, then three in August. We try to get one per month, so three is a lot. I’d like one per week, but it’s not up to me.

 

[garywright]

let your singer wear it

 

[Tollywood]

let your singer wear it

She's tiny. My shirt would fit her like a dress.

 

[garywright]

no problem with that plus you could view it easier than looking down toward your chest

 

[jb_abides]

Not the 335 but still ... a nice Tele and Les Paul

 

[jb_abides]

Kessel and Lester TOANZ here!