NGD, 1959 ES-345

[GuitarMikey]

Finally getting around to posting some decent photos of my NVGD. 1959 ES-345
Purchased from the daughter of the original owner and just happened to be a couple hours up the road from me.
Has all the first rack features including large neck, black varitone ring and short leg PAF.

Apparently he switched out all the hardware (except for the tuners) to nickel shortly after purchasing the guitar in 59.
The covers are gone, but I kind of dig it with the double whites showing!
It also had a bigsby for most of it's life as seen from the holes and the shadow. I opted for a stop tail setup on this one as I already have a 63 335 with the bigsby.

The guitar is very light. The pickups are HOT and sound killer. Just a joy to play.

Photos courtesy of my lovely wife. Enjoy!

 

[Ken Fortunato]

WOW!!! :bug

Nice score! Congrats!!! :salude

 

[slimdave]

Absolutely beautiful!! Congrats

 

[fakejake]

Wow, apart from the snakebite this looks C L E A N !!! :salude

 

[TomGuitar]

Wow. Great find. Enjoy it!

 

[F-Hole]

Great score!

I'd be interested to know the FON if you don't mind sharing.

 

[GuitarMikey]

Great score!

I'd be interested to know the FON if you don't mind sharing.

S8538 5

 

[AA00475Bassman]

Thanks for posting, out of the ES range I really like 355 , 345 guitars your 59 has lots of vibe love it !

 

[Michael Minnis]

Very cool! Congratulations!

 

[F-Hole]

S8538 5

Thanks.

My 335 is S8537 5.

They're cousins!

 

[GuitarMikey]

Brothers from another mother!

 

[Little Jake]

S8538 5

Thanks.

My 335 is S8537 5.

They're cousins!

All in the family: My two first-rack 345's are S8538_34 and S8537_14.

Nice Score, GuitarMikey! :hank

 

[GuitarMikey]

A few more photos of the back...

<a href="https://imgur.com/YIoR2Af"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/YIoR2Af.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="https://imgur.com/EbwUask"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/EbwUask.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

<a href="https://imgur.com/SmhcdD5"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/SmhcdD5.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

 

[F-Hole]

We need a "first rack" photo thread....:salude

I really dig Mikey's guitar, so much character.....and the holes on the top mean you won't be the first to ding it.....which is such a benefit.

 

[Unbound Dot Neck]

Yes, pls start a new ES picto thread,

My 335 fon is
T4890 29

A28061

:salude

 

[Tom Wittrock]

My 335 is S8537 5.

All in the family: My two first-rack 345's are S8538_34 and S8537_14.

Is there a typo in one of these posts?
Or did Gibson mix 335s and 345s in the same FON? :hmm

 

[Unbound Dot Neck]

Did Gibson mix 335s and 345s in the same FON?

TW. Always lookin to keep a thread legit

Touche ~
Excellent question,
:salude



Lets put together a list of 345/335 FON's from 58-59
I have added mine, above

 

[Little Jake]

My 335 is S8537 5.

My two first-rack 345's are S8538_34 and S8537_14.

Is there a typo in one of these posts?
Or did Gibson mix 335s and 345s in the same FON? :hmm

The two FON's I listed are correct; if John's is correct, too, then the aswer is: Yes, they mixed 335's and 345's in the same FON/rack. I bet Charlie Gelber has enough FON data on early ES's to provide a more insightful answer.

 

[Tom Wittrock]

Considering the numerous differences in build and parts on those two models, I would be surprised if they did mix batches like that.
However, it is worth finding out.

And collecting FONs [and making some of the data open] sounds like a good idea.
Now if Gibson would just share the records they have, history could be a little clearer. :ganz

 

[Unbound Dot Neck]

~ Calling 59 red dot ~

:jim