Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $3,419
High-end/Boutique
$500
$1201+
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Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 5 merchants for "Gibson ES-345 Electric Guitar". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.
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Description
Discover the Gibson ES-345 Electric Guitar, an exquisite blend of classic style and modern innovation. This semi-hollowbody electric guitar is a masterpiece that echoes the iconic ES-335 while elevating its features for today's discerning musician. Crafted with a 3-ply maple-poplar body and reinforced with thermally engineered quarter-sawn Adirondack spruce bracing, the ES-345 offers a lightweight feel without sacrificing tonal depth. The handwired Calibrated T-Type humbucking pickups, paired with Orange Drop capacitors, provide a mature and expressive tone palette that ranges from warm and woody to bright and articulate.
Visually, the ES-345 is a feast for the eyes, showcasing rich Split Parallelogram fingerboard inlays and multi-ply cream body binding. The Rounded '50s-style C neck ensures a comfortable playing experience, whether you're a speed demon or a rhythm player. Its classic 4-knob control layout with a toggle switch keeps the operation familiar, while the Vintage Deluxe tuners and lightweight aluminum ABR-1 bridge ensure tuning stability and precise intonation. Topped with a nitrocellulose lacquer gloss finish, this guitar not only sounds incredible but looks stunning on stage.
Key Features:
- 3-ply maple/poplar body with thermally engineered Adirondack spruce bracing
- Handwired Calibrated T-Type humbuckers with Orange Drop capacitors
- Rounded '50s-style C mahogany neck
- Split Parallelogram fingerboard inlays
- ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and stopbar tailpiece
- Vintage Deluxe tuners and Black Top Hat knobs with Silver Reflectors
- Available in Sixties Cherry or Vintage Burst finish
- Includes a case
- Made in the USA
Product specs
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Left-/Right-handed | Right-handed |
| Body Type | Semi-hollowbody |
| Body Shape | ES-345 |
| Body Material | 3-ply Maple/Poplar |
| Body Finish | Gloss |
| Neck Material | Mahogany |
| Neck Shape | Rounded C |
| Neck Joint | Set Neck |
| Radius | 12" |
| Fingerboard Inlay | Pearloid Split Parallelogram |
| Number of Frets | 22, Medium Jumbo |
| Scale Length | 24.75" |
| Nut Width | 1.695" |
| Bridge/Tailpiece | Tune-O-Matic Bridge with Aluminum Stopbar |
| Tuners | Vintage Deluxe |
| Neck Pickup | Calibrated T-Type Humbucker |
| Bridge Pickup | Calibrated T-Type Humbucker |
| Controls | 2 x volume, 2 x tone |
| Switching | 3-way toggle pickup switch |
| Strings | Gibson, .010-.046 |
| Case/Gig Bag | Hardshell Case |
FAQs
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What is the neck profile of the Gibson ES-345 Electric Guitar?
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The Gibson ES-345 features a Rounded C neck profile, offering a comfortable grip that suits a variety of playing styles, making it ideal for both rhythm and lead guitarists.
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Gibson ES-345 pickups?
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The Gibson ES-345 is equipped with calibrated T-Type humbuckers, delivering a warm, rich tone with clarity and sustain, suitable for genres like blues, jazz, and rock.
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Is the Gibson ES-345 suitable for live performances?
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Yes, the Gibson ES-345's semi-hollowbody design provides a balanced tone with reduced feedback, making it a versatile choice for live performances across various music styles.
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What materials are used in the construction of the Gibson ES-345's body?
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The body of the Gibson ES-345 is made from 3-ply Maple/Poplar, contributing to its resonant, full-bodied sound characteristic of semi-hollowbody guitars.
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Does the Gibson ES-345 come with a case?
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Yes, the Gibson ES-345 comes with a hardshell case, ensuring protection and ease of transport for your instrument.
Videos
The Trogly's Guitar Show
The Marty McFly Back to the Future Guitar Model | 2022 Gibson Nashville ES-345 Review + Demo
Reviews
PROS
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Flawless construction with beautifully finished details
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Excellent playability, no fret buzz, perfect neck relief
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Lighter than similar models like the 2018 ES 335
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Offers a vintage tone with the Calibrated T-Type pickups
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Rich, wooden tone and awesome playability
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Varitone switch expands tonal possibilities
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Unique sixties cherry grain and split inlays
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Incredible neck, frets, and fretboard quality
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Comes with a very plush case
CONS
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Some guitars have minor cosmetic flaws
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High price point might deter some buyers
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Occasional issues with loose controls and rough fretboard
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Some players may prefer different pickups for a warmer tone
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson ES-345 Electric Guitar.
Features and functionality
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The ES-345 features hand-wired electronics with Orange Drop capacitors for enhanced tonal clarity.
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The 6-position Varitone switch offers true bypass and five settings to remove specific frequencies, creating diverse tonal options and EQ variations.
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The reissue includes dual parallelogram inlays and gold hardware, details that enhance its vintage aesthetic and appeal.
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The ES-345 from the Original Collection includes 3-ply binding on the top and split parallelogram inlays, differentiating it visually from the ES-335.
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Build quality
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The guitar includes new Calibrated T-Type humbucking pickups and Vintage Deluxe style tuners for improved tuning stability.
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Some owners appreciate unique finishes on the reissue models, noting that certain colors are rarely seen in other ES-345 variants.
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The ES-345 from Wildwood Guitars features "thermally engineered" Adirondack spruce bracing and a torrified center block, enhancing resonance and stability.
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Comparisons
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It shares similarities with the ES-335 but lacks the varitone feature, often seen as crucial for achieving thinner sounds with humbuckers.
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The ES-345's tonality and feel are often compared to the ES-137, with the Varitone feature being highlighted as underrated for jazz and rock.
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Owners note the ES-345 feels like an enhanced ES-335 with additional aesthetic touches, lacking the Varitone, which some find adds unnecessary weight.
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User experience
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The neck size and feel are praised for easy navigation, offering a unique and warm tonal range distinct from Fender models.
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Owners praise the '64 reissue for its comfortable neck, describing it as the most comfortable Gibson neck they have experienced.
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Without the Varitone circuit, the ES-345 is noted to weigh approximately 8.8 pounds, making it lighter than some Varitone-equipped models.
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A user reports that Wildwood Guitars' setup was "spot on," suggesting the retailer may offer superior initial setup services.
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5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 18 Ratings
Artist usage
Add artist
Jimi Hendrix used a 1960s Gibson ES-345, equipped with a Bigsby Vibrato, as documented on Groundguitar's "Jimi Hendrix's Guitars and Gear" page.
"1968 Gibson 345 Stereo converted to Mono. Used for a lot of Electronic’s 2nd and 3rd LP and Boomslang by The Healers," says Johnny Marr, on this page of his official website.
In this photo, Noel Gallagher can be seen playing his Gibson ES-345 electric guitar, in a red finish. It appears to have a VariTone switch as well. He spoke about this guitar in an interview:
Interviewer: "So the 355 is the basis of your sound right now? You have been playing a Gibson 345 on tour…"
Noel: "Yeah, the guitars I bring on tour are either 355s or 345s. Those are what I play."
The tour he's speaking of in this context is for the first album of Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds.
Gibson ES-345 is not seen as much as his infamous ES-355, but he did play it, as said in interview, for Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds' gigs. He played it for "Do The Damage" and a few other songs in this gig, done for Absolute Radio in Rivoli Ballroom, in 27th of March, 2015.
In this picture, you can see Keith cradling one of his favourite guitars; "Dwight", a 1964 Gibson ES-345.
"Ok.. so backstage at the RRHOF I took some time to totally geek out with Steve Howe's awesome guitars .. and I was handed this one! THE Gibson ES-345 he used to record Close to the Edge...replete with his own mods.....whaaat? so effin cool!... #SteveHowe #ClosetotheEdge #GibsonES345 #areyoukiddinme ? #vintageguitar #yes #rrhof #tbt"
In this video we can see BB King playing a Gibson ES-345. From Gibson.com: 'King has played ES-335s and ES-345s too'... Here the full web page: http://www.gibson.com/news-lifestyle/features/en-us/lucille-the-gibson-guitars-of-bb-king-0625-2012.aspx
“I smashed up two guitars at the end of the show, because one I was using had recently been repaired and broke as I came on stage, so I played another one I use for recording. At the end, I though, ‘What the hell,’ and smashed them both. The Gibson Stereo cost £200 and the amps, which were borrowed, will cost about £20 each to repair. I can’t put it down to tax because when I say I use 70 guitars a year, they don’t believe me.” - Pete Townshend about Gibson ES-345 he smashed.
For a brief period in early-mid 2001, Chris frequently performed with a cherry red Gibson ES-345, with the added Bigsby tremolo system. Likely an early contributor to Coldplay’s heavier, more electric sophomore sound, this ES-345 is among a few guitars, including a late 60s, post-CBS style Fender Jazzmaster in sunburst, that Chris flirted with before comfortably settling into the more common ES-330s, 12-string Rickenbacker 360s, and of course most enduringly, the Fender Telecaster Deluxes that make up the bulk of Coldplay’s electric rhythmic guitar section through to the present day.
The guitar can also be spotted throughout this 2001 performance of the band’s unreleased track “Idiot”: https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=68&v=kkHa1s1mjIA&feature=emb_title
Album Usage
The Gibson ES-345 Electric Guitar has been featured on the following albums:
Needles And Pins (Live On The Ed Sullivan Show, April 5, 1964)
The Searchers (2020)
Naru
ラックライフ (2018)
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds (2011)
Needles And Pins (Performed Live On The Ed Sullivan Show/1964)
The Searchers (2010)
Boomslang (2024 Deluxe Edition)
Johnny Marr + the Healers & Johnny Marr (2003)
Raise The Pressure
Electronic (1996)
Electronic
Electronic (1991)
Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me
The Cure (1987)
Stompin' At The Savoy
Rufus & Chaka Khan & Rufus (1983)
Rufus
Rufus & Rufus (1973)
Close to the Edge
Yes (1972)
In The Wake Of Poseidon
King Crimson (1970)
Friday on My Mind
The Easybeats (1966)
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson ES-345 Electric Guitar, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
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