Year: 2025
Builder: Gibson
Series: Original
Model: ES-345
Color: Sixties Cherry
Hardware Finish: Nickel
Serial Number: 219250124
Body: Laminated Maple
Body Type: Semi-Hollowbody
Body Bracing: Adirondack Spruce
Body Centerblock: Maple
Body Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Binding: 3-Ply Cream
Cutaway: Double
Pickguard: 5-Ply Black
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece: Aluminum Stop Bar
Fretboard: Rosewood
Fretboard Binding: Cream
Fretboard Inlay: Acrylic Split Parallelograms
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Rounded "C"
Neck Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Nut: Graph Tech
Headstock: Gibson "Open Book"
Headstock Binding: None
Headstock Logo: Pearl Gibson Logo
Headstock Inlay: Pearl Crown
Tuners: Vintage Deluxe
Neck Pickup: Calibrated T-Type Rhythm HB
Bridge Pickup: Calibrated T-Type Lead HB
Pickup Switching: 3-Way
Control Knobs: Black Top Hat
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone
Case: Gibson deluxe hardshell case
Body Size/Shape: ES-335
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1.695"
Body Width: 16"
Body Depth: 1.75"
Strings: D'Addario Chromes ECG25 (.012-.052)
When I decided to finally acquire my dream electric guitar—a Gibson semi-hollow—I had a really hard time trying to decide between the iconic ES-335 and its slightly fancier cousin, the ES-345. The current 345 is basically the same guitar but with upgraded binding and split parallelogram inlays similar to what you usually see on the hollowbody ES-175.
I originally settled on the 335 because it's
the classic guitar model that all other semi-hollows tend to emulate—there's a reason there's a "335-style" category of guitars. While not as fancy as the 345, the dot inlays on a 335 are also timeless—at one time the model was actually referred to as an ES-335 Dot, and for many years the Epiphone version of the guitar was simply called the Epiphone Dot.
But the nicer appointments on the ES-345 were also really appealing, and I kept wavering back and forth trying to decide which model to get. I couldn't go wrong either way, but I still found it really difficult to choose. Every time I'd think my decision was made, a little voice in my head made counter-arguments for why I might like the other one better.
So I eventually ended up doing to the only "reasonable" thing, and buying both of them! I had to sacrifice a couple other guitars from the collection in order to add the ES-345, but it was worth it. The 335 is my favorite style of guitar, and owning two classic Gibson versions was worth parting with a couple other guitars I wouldn't love as much.
As for why I'd want two guitars that are so similar—the only differences are cosmetic, especially since I got both guitars in the Sixties Cherry finish—part of the appeal is a result of many years of performing in bands and as a solo acoustic artist. I always liked to have a similar/identical guitar to use as a backup (or, in the case of the acoustics, to leave in dedicated alternate tunings). I no longer perform, so that's not really a legitimate reason these days—but I did it for so long that it still feels natural to have two guitars this similar.
