Gibson 1959 ES345 Varitone Bigsby Heavy Aged Ebony

The 1959 ES 345 Reissue Heavy Aged Ebony offers the rare opportunity to experience a historically significant semi-hollowbody model with the character of a beloved vintage original. This model is part of Gibson’s Limited Edition Collection, inspired by decades of Made-to-Measure customization and the expertise and creativity of the craftsmen at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville. It is a reproduction of one of the rarest factory versions from Gibson’s early Golden Age: a 1959 ES 345 in Ebony featuring a factory-installed Bigsby Vibrato. As such, this version combines the elegant appearance, complex sound, and versatility that made the ES 345 a favorite instrument among discerning guitarists.

The body is constructed using the classic maple-poplar-maple combination, with multi-layer binding along the top and back. A solid maple center block increases sustain and reduces susceptibility to feedback, allowing the guitar to sound powerful and controlled both clean and with overdrive. The Heavy Aged nitrocellulose lacquer was developed and applied by the Murphy Lab and convincingly mimics decades of use, featuring characteristic lacquer cracks and subtle signs of wear, among other things. The mahogany neck features the beloved Authentic 1959 profile and is attached to the body with a long neck tenon. The rosewood fingerboard features aged cellulose split-parallelogram inlays, 22 medium jumbo frets, single-ply binding, and a 24.75-inch scale length. The mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and crown inlays on the headstock complete the classic look.

Two Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups deliver the open response, warm midtones, and dynamics characteristic of the PAF sound from the late fifties. Combined with a three-way switch, two volume and two tone controls, and a mono Varitone circuit, this offers a wide tonal palette, ranging from warm jazz tones to pronounced blues and rock. The gold hardware, black plastic parts, and ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge complement the Ebony finish beautifully, while the Bigsby Vibrato offers additional expressive possibilities. Kluson Deluxe tuning machines, nickel pickup covers, and the included Lifton reissue hardshell case complete the package. This 1959 ES 345 Reissue is therefore both a special collector's item and a highly versatile instrument that convincingly translates the construction and appearance of a rare vintage model into the present day.

This instrument has been carefully inspected for originality, condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.