ES-345 Memphis

Uncle Gary · Dec 31, 2017

I owned a Memphis made ES-355 mono which had a "CS" serial number.

wmachine · Jan 1, 2018

Uncle Gary said:
I owned a Memphis made ES-355 mono which had a "CS" serial number.

Thanks, but again, more info, please. What year? What does the COA say? Model #?

Uncle Gary · Jan 4, 2018

wmachine said:
Thanks, but again, more info, please. What year? What does the COA say? Model #?

It was a 2010 that I bought used. I traded it in 2014, so I have no other information.

reddeluxe · Jan 15, 2018

wmachine, I may be able to help. I own a 2015 Gibson VOS '64 ES 345. The COA black booklet my guitar came with only says Gibson Memphis on the front. My serial # is 52XXX (five digit format). As listed on the Gibson Gold Warranty booklet, the model designation is ES45F6415SCGH1. This is translated as: ES series, 345 model, Figured (top, back and sides are highly figured maple), (19)64 re-issue, (20)15 date of manufacture, Sixties Cherry finish, Gold hardware, Historic re-issue, 1st quality. Original golden era ES 3xx guitars would sometimes be stamped with a small "2" beneath the impressed serial number on the back of the headstock, denoting second quality, usually for a minor or sometimes imperceptible finish flaw and would be sold at a discount. Current Memphis production does not allow seconds to leave the factory, and if not repairable, are destroyed. This information on the model designation comes directly via the Memphis factory. The VOS finish and ageing treatment came specifically because this guitar was considered an Historic re-issue, with period correct details, like neck profile, rolled neck binding, darkened rosewood fretboard, aged position markers and plastics, correct bevel edges on pickguard and truss rod cover, correct cutaway ear shape, lightweight stoptail with correct long stud anchors and all gold hardware lightly chemically pre-aged. To add more, mine is from a special limited run of only 50 that were built without the Varitone circuit that year (but still has the center block cutout for the varitone chokes). I believe Gibson made an even smaller special private run of non varitone equipped 345s for Wildwood Guitars in Colorado the following year, but did not offer them as a factory model. Hope this helps.

reddeluxe · Jan 15, 2018

PS. I believe the Historic five digit serial number system from 2013 forward always has the first number corresponding to the last digit of the year of production, as in 5 for 2015, 4 for 2014, etc. The '59 Historic spec 345s have an "A" prefix number written on the orange interior label, with no serial stamped on the headstock, just like the originals. My guitar came with a very high quality reproduction period correct black case with gold/yellow lining, just like my original '62 335 had, not a brown custom shop case like the sunburst 2015 ES 345 in the upper previous post came with.

wmachine · Jan 15, 2018

Thanks, reddeluxe. Very helpful information. Gibson seems to be doing a poor job of defining what is a "Reissue" and "Historic" are. My 2016 '64 ES-345 is s/n 61xxx. So mine is quite inline with yours. I have found no other reference to the 5 digit s/n, so I'm wondering what they apply to.
I believe this is yours:
http://www.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/2015/Memphis/1964-ES-345TDC-No-Varitone.aspx
My model number is ES456416SCGM1.
It apparently was not ever listed on the Gibson site. It *appears* to be the same as yours except it does not have a figured top (I believe), but does have the Varitone and a Maestro.
I thought maybe the M in the model is for the Maestro.
Here is a stock pic, and an actual pic of mine:

elTkfG4T1zle6e1o-oXVP_nqnTGsF7EF-Hgwk_KdsDUn7_w0biuCTwYwdSLNKgX3OFUIITLYfBDdbW2YF4VWx7gFFvopwM7qK06J6ZhjmoMpua9k_QF0f1jbNeXM_sB3XLvwGeVopUJvEoJladcDqqB5YXnAe7lwZ-lrSAMqY9BtbDfoQG3DK2K3WNBhQFI1CffJeLwpMpQSoDiuqvc9f8xqU15De9fxVSb0SDRV-r4C7P5w-R9OJkRxtVzYmROqOtitNjFUvHRt3pN6QZ5u2qPHi4nnQhfCZNad7oJPXtkH0kihFFKj71L9suU-c77yz0LLt8TOx96dci0jh2OU4s2Q9SZ7nUreN6PocFMxvaSI9oT0iqSzzt69tF13VoJ2Jsld-P-kgT33cojB8FgHgOrIWhYTcxTrAGU58lzE1lRKOBtGOu4iHtmmhnHEqpLJAR_jQOqeBqVvrulGgnCZAoeE5MLGQpS3I8ZM-hhjRYWHg61Zhw9uB0Kx9TWSnl_Xp03XgY9StGOOQZhN-jrozEwzdKClcPEPstVFplNlC-dgTz6DQkCwpSBoJrP7ZAPOk5Rrhr7dYzlQTvEromIS0YwfmKrkxGMG5wSRKhjTaU6DAoYS8VPpMJzD-Lg0De_Dk0AJvbplPeqXcLoyUzDgwnuuHHINcKvr=s768-no

Q8SEnvpAO013LIGA-v5BRHcAJVwJmeKkZEN62kI44x_zcN3Jof_IMjfFUz3mSWvgzdalj7elbJFEEcIVv6ni1Vl_aJvXPF9IEprbQManLU1Xx0UofMlYacnGDjKH-J9imt5lEYp6aBfNsORpo_1o9Qj5bNXCeLnjkyJmEO72iPf64A9F3CnOpLwfuy6nh4XZ9w5MbnE8xhDGCuqa7BVTxUashrcYIwgkk5eZz8FTrz9y2WG-002Q-J4UiaKHSctpkYNisPzbwYRQiTMVq4L7nqcjtElQuRrX9QFQP5aaYAfYd1Y_GKCI36_q1AcY4lPoPeH09I48ga4Zaj5-I28XoZXsfRLsGq3LJCACmhOr4xxYGF9SjDWG1AaDGVpQsICNM49bXZm_oKbOg9W8tGrifHSVU2q76WFpDTbER_5nB6eoNcCDiGCSs6B6tiGzKGmp33SOV4vuIEkw96lG2PuYVxLvzkk0-Y2KYpjZPY0KsLfOEg3pjMbFo4VvIIKFMFxvQZ9tR9c3H8r2osXXoDFwDoM0J0iX-T3L_KZJbwkjSRmXb1soXxXofYqe4O5XFlEvBlXVzQ0UPmzAWEa_IaAqOBfBswunEW63-1CAhS2dU5vqV2NThKU5LAqazKKJgrq62WIM1yKFtMYeBa6ShY-rSr6iGH6SsTFQ=w1367-h768-no

I wrote to Gibson for specs, and am less that impressed with the response:

"[FONT=&quot]These limited Run ES-345s have something extra special that sets them apart: The Maestro Vibrato Tailpiece! When Gibson Memphis sets out to produce a 'once-in-a blue-moon' historic guitar they are capable of great things: a 1964 ES-345 in Sixties Cherry with 60s Slim Taper neck, Varitone Switch, Memphis Historic Spec Pickups using hand-matched 550K CTS Pots all topped off with the accomplished V0S finish, patina and aged Gold Hardware and Maestro Tremolo. The original anchors are mounted under a Custom Made' plate for refitting the guitar with a Stopbar.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]This guitar is the epitome of versatility. Vintage tone is at your command when you place your hands on this handsome time-honoured instrument.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Specifications[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Top: 3 ply Maple/Poplar/Maple[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Back: 3 ply Maple/Poplar/Maple[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Rim: 3 ply Maple/Poplar/Maple[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Binding: Historic Tan[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Fingerboard: Rosewood[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Inlay: Aged Celluloid Split Parallelogram[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Headstock: SP-2 Style Holly Head Veneer and Pearl Inlald Gibson Logo[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Scale: 24 1/2" scale length, 1.715" nut width[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Tuners: Gold Double Band, Single Line Tulip Button Klusons[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Bridge: Gold No Wire ABR[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Tailpiece: Gold Maestro[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Pickups: MHS Humbuckers[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Controls: Mono Varitone Circuit[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Knobs: Black Top Hat with Inserts and Chickcn Head[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Finish: Sixties Cherry[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Collateral: Gibson Memphis Certificate of Authenticity and Hard Shell Case" [/FONT]

<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w

unctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w

oNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w

ontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/> <w

ontFlipMirrorIndents/> <w:OverrideTableStyleHps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]-->
Note that as you can see, contrary to what they say, this model does not have "[FONT=&quot]The original anchors are mounted under a Custom Made' plate for refitting the guitar with a Stopbar."

[/FONT][FONT=&quot]I can understand why a Gibson Custom would have a COA. But what purpose is a Memphis COA? Like where else would it have been made?[/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]

reddeluxe · Jan 16, 2018

Yes, wmachine, the model you listed in your above post is the exact 345 variant that I have. For all practical purposes, our two guitars are identically spec'ed, with the exception of the "standard" grain pattern of the wood that is found on 95% of ALL the ES thinline series guitars (including the Freddie King re-issue and the regular 330, 335, 345, and 355 models) and the Maestro tailpiece. All the electronic components are the same (MHS pickups, matched potentiometer and capacitor sets, vintage as opposed to modern wiring) and the no wire bridge (which is technically a mistake, as most vintage no wire bridges disappeared around mid to late 1962). The only other variable would be the profile of the neck shape. Mine is patterned after a true '64 neck taper, which starts like the typical modern slim taper style, but becomes much thicker, quicker, at around the 7th or 8th fret and grows very full up into the heel. The nut width is the standard 1 11/16" and the neck shape feels very good in my hand. Yours may be identical, or it may be considerably thinner overall, like the typical standard producton "sixties" taper on current 335s. I have the identical guitar case. Although most Bigsby equipped 3xx ES guitars up through early 1965 had the stud anchors installed beneath a "Custom Made" plaque, most of the vintage Maestro equipped models I have seen, were not equipped with the anchors...I'm guessing because the Maestro trem was a custom option that had to be ordered from the factory, not added on to the production stoptail like the Bigsby could be. The reason is that the Maestro mounts in a different way to the top of the guitar and couldn't be retrofitted by the dealer as easily as the Bigsby could be. I hope you enjoy your guitar as much as I do mine. I do believe the M in your model designation is in reference to the Maestro trem, as it is identical in all other specs, including the Varitone, to the regular 2016 '64 VOS ES 345.

wmachine · Jan 16, 2018

reddeluxe said:
Yes, wmachine, the model you listed in your above post is the exact 345 variant that I have. For all practical purposes, our two guitars are identically spec'ed, with the exception of the "standard" grain pattern of the wood that is found on 95% of ALL the ES thinline series guitars (including the Freddie King re-issue and the regular 330, 335, 345, and 355 models) and the Maestro tailpiece. All the electronic components are the same (MHS pickups, matched potentiometer and capacitor sets, vintage as opposed to modern wiring) and the no wire bridge (which is technically a mistake, as most vintage no wire bridges disappeared around mid to late 1962). The only other variable would be the profile of the neck shape. Mine is patterned after a true '64 neck taper, which starts like the typical modern slim taper style, but becomes much thicker, quicker, at around the 7th or 8th fret and grows very full up into the heel. The nut width is the standard 1 11/16" and the neck shape feels very good in my hand. Yours may be identical, or it may be considerably thinner overall, like the typical standard producton "sixties" taper on current 335s. I have the identical guitar case. Although most Bigsby equipped 3xx ES guitars up through early 1965 had the stud anchors installed beneath a "Custom Made" plaque, most of the vintage Maestro equipped models I have seen, were not equipped with the anchors...I'm guessing because the Maestro trem was a custom option that hade to be ordered from the factory, not added on to the production stoptail like the Bigsby could be. The reason is that the Maestro mounts in a different way to the top of the guitar and couldn't be retrofitted by the dealer as easily as the Bigsby could be. I hope you enjoy your guitar as much as I do mine. I do believe the M in your model designation is in reference to the Maesstro trem, as it is identical in all other specs, including the Varitone, to the regular 2016 '64 VOS ES 345.

Lots of good info here, thanks. I know in 2014 they made this ES-345 variant that did have the stud anchors and "custom plate" cover. This pic is from an old Reverb ad. And it does have a 5 digit s/n 4xxxx.

kzAPeNHotb8-PXMLyDpiq5lNXsEXsYc2FsGaf-MDxq70IQ1H_JZUt8RcztoTUASwnwXhfh3oga8eOfCdG6bZ26O68TxXloLgBt4x0ZCxvkDhvS_crxGemO9ZGNsxyFXnag6nTOMO2Sghm73VVsHJkOTWsAHwgMpH2u9RdQcU7JzSew9pVTE95I-SmLo9AWX939A9srlxnwSeTixK5odR32QJJnp1bEAcy32eNvupcyYobwUAbLbPWWsQfBRfQNgbYvfdDw28GWX-1g9rp7o0D5nKcOATapb2t9Zze20d3WgBNWeq2efrtBeCl4xPxaz5cRWWt1okpghqs9CT4vM8v-tNRZamq6v7g6FWEm2LqmulCy_yT39r26LKWpJAcuTTkWnH6qEqlP7ctw21_LoxFYkONsbyh5hDNWiFLkK_V5E_gAk10U5Et1rmNb_bTVmLYNw2K4v_IOm7KSbAnhG9ZCK48kgGimAq6otLGZByw1nyx618vlKrKlKV9rTE1Rm8gk7C4hsyA1jAXvfDDePy2pbqDfjOrsJQs5SJmnQNWHe2uewJsOSmitmk_D2y9jBLhKe5cuxzZZytq-5gtyByR-7L2CJaRVj5AErJFoUn1iTOAa-z0G6yMrsVvQB4pBFMttlPwVNiL-tNMNgtAGFjail6fVVFUbao=w620-h465-no

An idea what else the 5 digit s/ns go with? As you can see here, they go back as far as at least 2014. I can find no reference to them at all.

reddeluxe · Jan 16, 2018

Just a guess, but there are relatively few ES 345 guitars made in comparison to total 335 production. On the re-issue (or Historic, or whatever they are called), I think Gibson is simply mimicking their original numbering system from the early sixties. Up to early 1961, all the ES models had an "A" prefix and no serial # satamped on the back of the headstock (number was written on the label). Afterwards, Gibson went with the stamped headstock numbers, with no letter prefix. I would be curious about the serial numbers on the current 1963 re-issue ES 335 Gibson is producing, to see if they follow the same format.

wmachine · Jan 16, 2018

reddeluxe said:
...... I would be curious about the serial numbers on the current 1963 re-issue ES 335 Gibson is producing, to see if they follow the same format.

Apparently so. Ebay is our friend. I quickly found a 2016 '63 reissue ES-335 VOS Bigsby that had a 6xxxx serial number and was only about 269 units away from my 345.
Since the recent regular ES-335s don't follow that format, it may be safe to assume that the 5 digit numbering was exclusively used for the reissues. Except for the '59s apparently.

reddeluxe · Jan 17, 2018

wmachine, the "A" prefix serial numbers on the label, without a stamped headstock number for 1959 ES 345 re-issues, is just a nod to Mike Voltz's and crew doggedly trying to make the re-issues more faithfully accurate to the originals, slowly year by year. Same with the 5 digit numbers. The complex nature of business culture at Gibson makes even small changes incredibly difficult to implement and justify to top level management (HJ). Still, the Memphis plant keeps inching closer and closer....I think the runs of 345 re-issues are some of the best modern Gibson instruments made, and are on par and compare well with the originals, even if they are not quite 100% ....they are very close.

wmachine · Jan 17, 2018

reddeluxe said:
wmachine, the "A" prefix serial numbers on the label, without a stamped headstock number for 1959 ES 345 re-issues, is just a nod to Mike Voltz's and crew doggedly trying to make the re-issues more faithfully accurate to the originals, slowly year by year. Same with the 5 digit numbers. The complex nature of business culture at Gibson makes even small changes incredibly difficult to implement and justify to top level management (HJ). Still, the Memphis plant keeps inching closer and closer....I think the runs of 345 re-issues are some of the best modern Gibson instruments made, and are on par and compare well with the originals, even if they are not quite 100% ....they are very close.

Glad to hear that. Taking advantage of the CME Memphis blowout, I was going to "just" get a 335. But when I saw the relatively small upcharge to go with a reissue, I quickly narrowed my choices to a reissue. I decided on the the 345 I've shown above, and not looked back. The buzz I heard when checking out reissues reflect what you say about the quality of recent Memphis production.

Question: There seems to be a consensus the the reissues are "on another level" re build and quality. Is there anywhere this is documented? There are the spec differences like VOS, glue type, etc. But I've heard things like more choice wood selection. Anywhere else anything about the reissues that any of this is substantiated?

Also: Re the flame in yours, how does it compare to the pics of the one on the Gibson site I linked to? That one has pleasingly subtle flames still showing the rest of the beautiful woodgrain. And even shows some flames on the back making the whole thing nicely uniform. Of relative interest, the other ES I got from the CME sale is a Cherry Lucille. Absolutely a knock-out. The Ebony is the only one spec'd on the Gibson site and it says it has a plain top, naturally. I can't find specs for the Cherry, and though it is transparent (like the '60s Cherry), you can't see any detail in any of the "stock Gibson" photos where they have been sold. I need to take some quality photos of mine (and I'll probably do a new thread then), but the top (and back to a lesser degree) is definitely figured. Much more on the subtle side, but absolutely beautiful.

reddeluxe · Jan 18, 2018

The flame on my non varitone 345 is almost identical to the one on the 2015 Gibson product page you linked to. I would say it is definitely more on the subtle side, but different degrees of light and the angle of the light source can affect the contrast and "3 D" aspect. In bright exterior sunlight or intense white artificial light, the contrast is much more visible. It has matching front, back, and rims figure and it seems a lot of care was taken to have the same amounts and depth of the flame on all surfaces....very cohesive and classy looking, just like the Gibson site photo. It still has natural grain pattern as well as the horizontal stripe pattern....not too dense or overwhelming. One reason for the "F" (figured wood) in the product number abbreviation on my guitar. I don't believe the standard '64 re-issue WITH the Varitone will have this flame feature, except by accident. Hence no "F" in the product description on yours. By contrast the Freddie King re-issue has almost none, just like most of the originals, and Gibson was very studious in trying to get wood grain patterns similar to his original 345.

wmachine · Jan 18, 2018

reddeluxe said:
The flame on my non varitone 345 is almost identical to the one on the 2015 Gibson product page you linked to. I would say it is definitely more on the subtle side, but different degrees of light and the angle of the light source can affect the contrast and "3 D" aspect. In bright exterior sunlight or intense white artificial light, the contrast is much more visible. It has matching front, back, and rims figure and it seems a lot of care was taken to have the same amounts and depth of the flame on all surfaces....very cohesive and classy looking, just like the Gibson site photo. It still has natural grain pattern as well as the horizontal stripe pattern....not too dense or overwhelming. One reason for the "F" (figured wood) in the product number abbreviation on my guitar. I don't believe the standard '64 re-issue WITH the Varitone will have this flame feature, except by accident. Hence no "F" in the product description on yours. By contrast the Freddie King re-issue has almost none, just like most of the originals, and Gibson was very studious in trying to get wood grain patterns similar to his original 345.

Thanks again. Still trying to understand as much as I can about these.
Hate to keep pestering you but can you comment on the following:
Question: There seems to be a consensus the the reissues are "on another level" re build and quality. Is there anywhere this is documented? There are the spec differences like VOS, glue type, etc. But I've heard things like more choice wood selection, better quality construction. Is there anything out there that substantiates this?

reddeluxe · Jan 18, 2018

wmachine, IMHO Gibson Memphis is generally striving very hard to raise the quality of ALL its products, and I have seen some very high quality models across the spectrum from that factory. Do the reissue/Historics get a little more TLC than the regular production models? Probably so, because they are built with a more discriminating customer in mind, who is willing to pay more for vintage type features, performance, cosmetics and style....and those instruments are priced accordingly higher. More like a flagship or "halo" instrument; but having said that, they are still built on the same assembly line, by the same people as the rest of the production guitars. Don't think anyone @ Gibson would admit to having extra care spent on those instruments, outside their upgraded/ vintage specs, though in reality it is probably true. It would be hard to find any confirmation of that. Also, as with all guitars, the quality always varies somewhat to a degree from instrument to instrument, and there will be better and worse examples of any particular model. The re-issues seem to be very, very consistent, though. I think you will be very happy with yours.

ES-345 Memphis

Uncle Gary

Active member

wmachine

Active member

Uncle Gary

Active member

reddeluxe

Member

reddeluxe

Member

wmachine

Active member

reddeluxe

Member

wmachine

Active member

reddeluxe

Member

wmachine

Active member

reddeluxe

Member

wmachine

Active member

reddeluxe

Member

wmachine

Active member

reddeluxe

Member