marshall1987
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 30, 2005
- Messages
- 3,278
That '59 ES-345 is just about as nice as they get! What a beautiful instrument. I'll bet it plays and sounds fantastic. Congratulations. :salude
We should start a list of all these first racks with FON/SN. :salude
Should I include the "myserious" first rack black 335?
Already done that. I have perhaps 20-25 logged that I've owned or that have been sent by readers. That includes the "mysterious" black 335 that came out of an early 345 rack. I will post that section of my database on my site over the weekend. There are a number of variations among these "first rack" 345's. Some have the chokes wax potted, some don't. Many have zebras or double whites and a few have reverse zebras. All have the "short leg" PAF in the bridge. All have the small rout for the chokes. Most, but not all, have the humongous neck profile. Most are sunburst. No red ones. There are at least 2 black first racks, at least 3 blondes and an Argentine Grey. The quintessential "burst killer".We should start a list of all these first racks with FON/SN. :salude
Considering each rack is usually 35 guitars and there are three racks that have the "first rack" characteristics, there are over 100 of them out there somewhere.
They were usually the same guitar model within a rack. /QUOTE]
Thanks! I knew there had to be more to it than my simple approach. Appreciate the info as always!
I'm reviving this old thread, as I just came across it. I have a '59 es-345 with serial number is A29823, and FON is T7443. This is definitely an early one, as the build apparently started in '58, and it's an early serial number. Great sounding guitar with a fat neck and hot pickups. Question: I understand the tops are thinner on these, and wondering if people agree that this contributes to a more acoustic tone than the later 345's or 335's. I've always found my guitar to be more "hollow" sounding than many of the other old 335's I've played, many of which responded much like Les Pauls.
Rack numbers went to 9999 and then started again at (supposedly) 100. Rack S608 is well after the first racks S8537-39. I have S608-20 in my database which has SNHello !
Could someone do know from wich badge came my 345 stereo from 1959?
A310072
Fon :S608 3 (followed by an 1 ?)
Pictures of my PAF's are on my computer,not from an URL site.So,I cannot send pics
Many thanks
emilP