1964 Gibson ES-345 from CME

[gitman]

my own '63 ES-345 , had it since 1982... the wiring is new, Varitone disconnected and the bridge pickup is a Duncan Antiquity. This would be my island guitar 'cause it can pretty much cover all my playing/gigging needs. Awesome , absolutely timeless axe, and the tasty cosmetics with the double bound top, gold hardware and split block inlays make it the prettiest electric guitar for me !

[wmachine]

I'm not sure what to call that Marty, an "emotional impression"? as opposed to a report? Whatever it is, I thank you profusely. Though we generally look for an objective view, the very nature of music has a huge emotional element. The problem is that this emotional element deifies conventional definition and measure, so it is hard to incorporate it into an objective review.
Unless you are Marty. When you said "but first a little background", I thought "Great!" as I had a feeling the emotional side was about to be laid out, and you didn't disappoint.
If we make all of our music decisions (like in this case of "what to buy") without any emotional input, how can we really expect to be emotionally satisfied with the decision?
I picked this very guitar out of number of great options for a new Gibson ES-3X5 from CME, absolutely thrilled that I could buy one. It really exemplified the period for me. Back in the day, I wore out a 1966 Gibson guitar catalog lusting after those iconic instruments. Out of reach for me, but forever emblazoned in my mind.
So that all came into play now for me. Could I get a superb ES of another brand? Yes. Would I still buy a Gibson if they were junk? No. But herein is my emotional attachment, and why it has to be a Gibson. And one of the reasons for my extreme satisfaction now.

[floatingpickup]

Here's my report. But first a little background.

I worked after school and on Saturdays regularly since sixth grade. Prior to that it was less regular. Our family owned a party store, and it was something expected of me. The good news about working was that I had money.

I had a cherry ES-345 in eighth grade that looked mint to me. It probably was bought by a Gibson employee at a deep discount and sold to me.

Over the next four years I bought and sold many, maybe 12, 330s, 335s, 345s and 355s. Kids would get one, take a couple of lessons, then want to dump the guitar. I knew enough players that I could always sell or trade. There were also many guitars I played that my friends had. So I've had an extensive experience with Gibson electrics of the 60s and 70s.

The ES-345TDC 1964 VOS is a good example of that era. The weight is typical. The feel and quality is the same of one of their good specimens. The VOS treatment is a little strange, but it is fine.

The action and neck carve are excellent. The pickups are quality PAFish and rival the competition. I would not think of replacing them. The electronics are also excellent.

The cherry finish and maple figuring are exactly what they were back in the day. Beautiful.

The Maestro tailpiece is elegant. The vibrato works well and is simpler than the Bigsby. As an aside, I recently saw Mary Chapin Carpenter in concert. Her guitarist used a SG with the Maestro vibrato to superb effect on many songs.

This guitar very much takes me back to an earlier time. The world was complicated, but not like it seems today. There was a sense of hope for meaningful change. The Beatles were still together. Music was bought at a store, not streamed. There was time between daily activities to think, to daydream, to be bored and let the thoughts in that being bored delivered, and there was always face to face discussion, importantly with people who held different views than yourself.

This 345 is a fine instrument without the emotional link to the past. I additionally enjoy being transported back to a time when I awaited the next Cream, Jimi Hendrix, and Rolling Stones albums.

I've forgotten all of the events my 345 kept me company during. There were lots, some elating and some more than tragic.

In summary, I'm happy with this guitar. I'm glad I took the plunge. The 9 lbs. on my shoulder is well worth the heft.

Marty:
Your 345 is beautiful. Thanks for the detailed report. I have a 50th Anniversary ‘63 Reissue ES-335, made in Memphis with the VOS treatment. I also owned a few original 1960’s Gibson thinlines, so I have a good idea of what one should look, feel and sound like. I am very impressed with the Reissue, especially the color, which looks exactly as it should. The “aged” binding and slightly tarnished nickel hardware looks authentic too. The body shape is exactly like they were in the sixties and it weighs a lot less than a new standard 335. I wish I had kept one of the ones I owned in the past, but this is the next-best thing.
Keith

[tonedeaf]

Marty,

You're killing me with all the NGD's! I'm losing track and need to review the posts to make sure I haven't forgotten to congratulate you on one. I love it! Nice guitar.

Steve

Got me thinking -- do you actually know how many guitar you have purchased from CME?

[Marty Grass]

6 in the last year.

[stoneground]

A very minor detail regarding the Vintage Original Spec but I wonder why Gibson put double-ring Kluson tuners on this reissue when the originals had single rings.

[floatingpickup]

A very minor detail regarding the Vintage Original Spec but I wonder why Gibson put double-ring Kluson tuners on this reissue when the originals had single rings.

Kluson tuners on Gibson guitars had double rings in the early 1960’s. Here is a good article on Kluson tuners: Kluson Deluxe Tuners 1940s to 1960s used on Fender and Gibson Guitars - Vintage Guitars Info

Keith

[stoneground]

Kluson tuners on Gibson guitars had double rings in the early 1960’s. Here is a good article on Kluson tuners: Kluson Deluxe Tuners 1940s to 1960s used on Fender and Gibson Guitars - Vintage Guitars Info

Keith

Thanks for the link, Keith. I'm not disputing that the double ring Klusons were around from about 1960. However, I do remember reading that on the models such as the Hummingbird and ES345 Gibson persisted with the single ring, gold-plated version right into the mid sixties. My (UK) 1966 Gibson catalogue shows an ES345 with single ring Klusons for 300 guineas! An appalling amount of money equivalent to about £5500 or $7433 today. Seems as though Marty Grass had a bargain with the CME deal. Interestingly the same catalogue shows a 335 with double ring Klusons. Maybe Gibson were using up a lot of old stock gold plated Klusons in much the same way as they used up gold plated early Pat No. humbuckers on es345s up to 1965 and maybe beyond.

[electricfactory]

Wow, you guys and your 345's! I always thought theere was something kind of mysterious about that tone switch/ dial, maybe even a little sexy with that gold hardware too.
Congrats OP and all you 345 guys, am green with jealousy !

[floatingpickup]

Thanks for the link, Keith. I'm not disputing that the double ring Klusons were around from about 1960. However, I do remember reading that on the models such as the Hummingbird and ES345 Gibson persisted with the single ring, gold-plated version right into the mid sixties. My (UK) 1966 Gibson catalogue shows an ES345 with single ring Klusons for 300 guineas! An appalling amount of money equivalent to about £5500 or $7433 today. Seems as though Marty Grass had a bargain with the CME deal. Interestingly the same catalogue shows a 335 with double ring Klusons. Maybe Gibson were using up a lot of old stock gold plated Klusons in much the same way as they used up gold plated early Pat No. humbuckers on es345s up to 1965 and maybe beyond.

Stoneground:
That’s very interesting. I have a lot of old Gibson catalogues, so I just pulled out my 1966 catalogue to see if it is the same as yours. My catalogues were all from Canadian dealers. I was surprised to see the same thing you noticed...that the 345 picture in that catalogue had single ring tuners, while the 335 (right beside it) had double rings. I stand corrected. You are probably right, that they went through the nickel tuners, that were used on so many models, more quickly than the gold ones that were used on the 345. It appears as if 345’s had single rings for a longer period of time. This is new to me. Thanks for pointing it out.
Keith

[Woody Sound]

This guitar very much takes me back to an earlier time. The world was complicated, but not like it seems today. There was a sense of hope for meaningful change. The Beatles were still together. Music was bought at a store, not streamed. There was time between daily activities to think, to daydream, to be bored and let the thoughts in that being bored delivered, and there was always face to face discussion, importantly with people who held different views than yourself.

Very nice, I can definitely identify with that. You have me thinking back warmly about those times.

[2bornot2bop]

This guitar very much takes me back to an earlier time. The world was complicated, but not like it seems today. There was a sense of hope for meaningful change. The Beatles were still together. Music was bought at a store, not streamed. There was time between daily activities to think, to daydream, to be bored and let the thoughts in that being bored delivered, and there was always face to face discussion, importantly with people who held different views than yourself.

Yes, and Marvin was just about to write an ageless album that would relate to both yesterday and today

[stoneground]

Stoneground:
That’s very interesting. I have a lot of old Gibson catalogues, so I just pulled out my 1966 catalogue to see if it is the same as yours. My catalogues were all from Canadian dealers. I was surprised to see the same thing you noticed...that the 345 picture in that catalogue had single ring tuners, while the 335 (right beside it) had double rings. I stand corrected. You are probably right, that they went through the nickel tuners, that were used on so many models, more quickly than the gold ones that were used on the 345. It appears as if 345’s had single rings for a longer period of time. This is new to me. Thanks for pointing it out.
Keith

Keith, just out of curiosity, how much was an ES345 in Canada in 1966? I know that in the UK we had to pay a lot more owing to import duties etc.

Like Pilotony said earlier in this thread, this is the guitar I think of as setting the standard of playability down the years. I have attached a picture of my early 1965 ES345 which I bought in 1980 for £400. It seemed a huge amount of money to me at the time but it has been well worth it. The picture shows double ring nickel Klusons so the guitar had already lost its original gold single ring ones in just 15 years. This guitar has been played a lot in the last 35 years and this year I replaced them with a set of single ring nickel ones. I chose nickel since the gold plate has almost completely worn off the rest of the guitar and a shiny new gold set would have looked out of place. The guitar Pilotony showed has done well to survive over 50 years with its original Klusons and gold plate intact.

[floatingpickup]

Keith, just out of curiosity, how much was an ES345 in Canada in 1966? I know that in the UK we had to pay a lot more owing to import duties etc.

Like Pilotony said earlier in this thread, this is the guitar I think of as setting the standard of playability down the years. I have attached a picture of my early 1965 ES345 which I bought in 1980 for £400. It seemed a huge amount of money to me at the time but it has been well worth it. The picture shows double ring nickel Klusons so the guitar had already lost its original gold single ring ones in just 15 years. This guitar has been played a lot in the last 35 years and this year I replaced them with a set of single ring nickel ones. I chose nickel since the gold plate has almost completely worn off the rest of the guitar and a shiny new gold set would have looked out of place. The guitar Pilotony showed has done well to survive over 50 years with its original Klusons and gold plate intact.

Stoneground:
You have very nice guitar. Unfortunately, there isn’t a price list in my old 1966 catalogue so I’m not sure what they would have cost here. We had a similar situation in Canada though, with import duties pushing our prices way up. I bought a used 1967 335 in Toronto when it was about a year old. I can’t remember exactly what I paid for it, but I think it was around $600-700 used. The funny thing was that the Kalamazoo factory was only a five hour drive from here, yet Gibson’s were a lot more expensive here than in the USA at that time. I grew up in a family of guitar players and we did buy a couple guitars in Kalamazoo (an L5 and a Byrdland) in about 1970, but we still had to pay the import duties when we crossed back into Canada, eroding most of the savings. It has been much better since The Canada-US Free Trade agreement, but Trump wants to cancel that now. At the present time, the currency market is a big factor too. Our Canadian dollar has been weak for a while now, currently trading at about 80 cents US. That makes American guitars cost about 25% more than when our dollar was at par with the US dollar. I believe you have a similar situation in the UK these days, in addition to your import duties.
Keith

[rio]

I really dig no flames. Sure it looks cool but I prefer them not to look flashy for some reason and I like the way your guitar looks a lot. Very classy.


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[Chi Musi Exchange David]

Hey Marty, congrats on the 345! That guitar is killer AND we sold out of them super fast.......I'm jealous! Enjoy and stay in touch!

David A- Chicago Music Exchange

[wmachine]

Hey Marty, congrats on the 345! That guitar is killer AND we sold out of them super fast.......I'm jealous! Enjoy and stay in touch!

David A- Chicago Music Exchange

I know! Alex C helped me be part of that those quick sales. They are especially sweet!

[sgosnell]

When I was growing up, music stores were far away, and our music, if not live, was either played on a turntable or, mostly, streamed. We had this device called a radio, and we streamed whatever was available at the time. I mostly had to wait until nightime to listen to much of it, because the AM signals didn't come in from the far distant stations until then. My radio was often still on when I woke up in the morning, but receiving only random noise. Streaming was much less reliable back then, and the choices were more limited, but it existed.