1978 Gibson ES-345TDSV, Walnut
Killer late seventies Gibson ES-345TD previously owned by none other than Kiefer Sutherland. Beautiful deep Walnut finish contrasting perfectly with the naturally aged gold hardware. A great looking instrument that represents good value in the vintage market and a great playing and sounding late seventies ES with some cool Hollywood provenance.
Introduced in the 1959 alongside the ES-355TD the Gibson ES-345TD perched in the middle of the Gibson Thinline Semi-Hollow Electric Range. The ES-345 was released as the more tonally flexible sibling of the ES-335 thanks to the addition of a Varitone rotary tone switch and stereo wiring offering up a wide range of tones all with the cosmetic additions of a triple bound top, rosewood fingerboard with double parallelogram fingerboard inlays and gold plated hardware.
This guitar is in great condition throughout. The dark Walnut finish is in good condition with minimal wear or checking. Introduced in 1970 on the ES-345, Walnut became popular finish only being outsold by the traditional Sunburst during the 70’s. The rosewood fingerboard is punctuated with the traditional ES-345 split parallelogram position markers, frets are original with binding nibs still evident. The headstock has a pearl inlayed Gibson Logo and Crown appointment. The tuners are the correct Gibson branded Schaller, plated gold to match the rest of the hardware. The guitar is a factory Stereo model and like many ES-345’s has been converted to mono. The original PAT Stamp T-top pickups have lost some of the plating to the covers. The neck pickup measures 7.36k and the bridge a nicely balanced 7.23K. The Pots still remain inside their protective cans. The tailpiece its the correct type and the only tailpiece fitted to the guitar. The bridge is the correct Nashville version used from the mid-seventies. Hardware is all correct to the instrument with the Stereo Truss rod cover and Pickguard both sharing the shallow bevel, knobs are gold topped Witch hat type used from ’67 onwards.
One of only 107 Walnut ES-345 produced in 1977 this example is in nice overall condition. Under blacklight there is evidence of some localised finish work to the both f-holes, there ore no obvious signs of damage on internal inspection so it was likely completed for cosmetic purposes. The neck has the standard later 70’s slim C profile with a nut width of 40.15mm and a depth at the 1st fret of 20.38mm. The original frets have lost a little height and the guitar plays nicely. The guitar weighings in at a decent 8.8bs.