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The 7th 1959 ES-345 Cherry

treyrab

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
57
Another 1959 ES-345 Cherry Red!

Hi Everyone - I wanted to share a "new" vintage guitar with you all. I believe this is now the 7th cherry-red 1959 ES-345 (feel free to correct if my counting is off). I happened to be in a lucky scenario traveling to NYC for work last week when I connected with the family who owned the guitar. They decided it was the right time to sell the guitar after being under the bed for 40 years since pap's passing. So meet: Lucky. According to the old Gibson logs, it was shipped in October 1959 (though likely constructed earlier since it has a fat neck and the FON is the same rack as the "first 1959 cherry red"....Charlie can chime in here with more info. It has a nice watermelon color that has faded slightly (I tried to capture where the original cherry color was under the guard, pickup rings, bridge and stoptail...really cool to see). Cheers everyone! - Trey

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El Gringo

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 8, 2015
Messages
5,657
I just love it and congrats and such a treasure and in such great shape .
 

wmachine

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Messages
303
Big congrats! I have a 2016 '64 ES345 Reissue, and yours is pretty much what it was aspiring to reissue!

IBjJidrdWV_6u1WhN-tB4AeRNesgh-H6zY12620evlprSBh7MUn3OKK--EWFBkjTNfHAn50biuGdi77eUinewdJbUAXuGPBXqy5Ym5dpsPmhHxAmpyGWj7MiAK8IcORq9BDd3GGAHHnl84RZrGKJ95fwrS9fXaywxc38XlCepJHRHz1DvXyUxIUgOARm6OUqAt6PfMeHx720WcAbNCSBG1cgsukmhEQbDIqVAU31Yrw-PnI5Awa2u2gz94aNIBxPOkvmKBAO1e6DDxo_OqQBvvTY6EVpMI97f4UFcxi3jYRcFmD64gJtwiT1d7g4Fko_Oh-7U0HuByS44grBtSlUmk2gWGDFoQuS_8NXnzbfYqVUECdN5ZEuiRH1GbEGI7L5xmYCXRjtmlCm3x2zgfoMioLT0GLbpX0n3GOJHeCbcPjVvxUbUYNZnJWyPSaFPcbdjSfePowqR1-aByJl4Iu7nDIewribExMtYS3UJ1BTGl2sQ-yyzvNIWmwEV607C43rvbj35WP_4FJmfaIcgKjP0dDwQAr4djmH9XQvAL6rlwzjNNuF5YcrxehdzCAX0LULOhxpOCu3gamJY3H_y9V0Ds-EdCUQvvqItywEcYoTKMbWd5JK3ouUvrn82QUR7tH0fAD47jHNm_ekBRilOwlWYvzV9ZtRlJT3=w1363-h766-no
 

jhmp

New member
Joined
Mar 24, 2011
Messages
717
That is quite the time capsule. YOU are the lucky one. WOW!!
 

Little Jake

Member
Joined
May 15, 2004
Messages
196
Congratulations -- that guitar is in incredibly fine shape! I'll bet it sounds killer, too.

I think yours is the eighth or maybe ninth red '59 345. Here's the list I have (not including this new one):

A29937
A30993
A31022
A31038
A31084? (A factory black refin that may have been originally red)
A31411
A31412
A31413

Care to share the serial number and FON of yours?
 

treyrab

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
57
Congratulations -- that guitar is in incredibly fine shape! I'll bet it sounds killer, too.

I think yours is the eighth or maybe ninth red '59 345. Here's the list I have (not including this new one):

A29937
A30993
A31022
A31038
A31084? (A factory black refin that may have been originally red)
A31411
A31412
A31413

Care to share the serial number and FON of yours?


Cool! I thought, when speaking to Charlie last week, that this was the 7th that he knew of (usually he's on top of these things), but I may have misunderstood him!

This is A31536. Written in the ledger as "Cherry Red" (I know some aren't designated as that). It has a later SN, but was manufactured earlier as it was in the same rack as A30993 on your list above.

Do you have any info on A29937? Charlie thought that A30993 was the first 59 345 in this color...
 
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Little Jake

Member
Joined
May 15, 2004
Messages
196
Cool! I thought, when speaking to Charlie last week, that this was the 7th that he knew of (usually he's on top of these things), but I may have misunderstood him!

This is A31536. Written in the ledger as "Cherry Red" (I know some aren't designated as that). It has a later SN, but was manufactured earlier as it was in the same rack as A30993 on your list above.

Do you have any info on A29937? Charlie thought that A30993 was the first 59 345 in this color...

Charlie is definitely the expert, and has probably handled most if not all of these red '59 345s at some point. As noted, A31084 is now refinished black and may not belong on the list. I have seen pics of all the others except A29937, which is listed in the Gibson ledger (page 155) as an ES-345T with cherry finish. This may be the one that Charlie's not counting--it apparently hasn't been in recent circulation.
 

RAB

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
2,122
Congratulations -- that guitar is in incredibly fine shape! I'll bet it sounds killer, too.

I think yours is the eighth or maybe ninth red '59 345. Here's the list I have (not including this new one):

A29937
A30993
A31022
A31038
A31084? (A factory black refin that may have been originally red)
A31411
A31412
A31413


Care to share the serial number and FON of yours?

A31411 was mine for quite awhile...picked it up in Hayward, CA for $400...circa late 70’s...
 

OKGuitar

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
938
Great score. One of the nicest I've seen. I've owned two of them A30993 and A31038. A30993 was in about the same condition and is the earliest to surface. I wasn't aware of A29937 and I don't have that ledger page. It's often indicative to see what other guitars are in nearby serial numbers-note that there are three in a row (A31411-13). There are errors in the ledger (and errors on the labels as well) but there is no reason why A29937 wouldn't be a red 345. The 6 (now 7) that I know of doesn't include the refinished one. A30993 is the earliest to surface and is perhaps the best 345 I've ever played. Still stereo, too.
 

CDaughtry

Les Paul Forum Co-Owner and Moderator
Joined
Jul 16, 2001
Messages
12,646
Great score!!!:dude: Welcome to the club...I own A31022.:jim



Red345%2810%29-XL.jpg
 

treyrab

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
57
Great score!!!:dude: Welcome to the club...I own A31022.:jim

Gorgeous Charlie! Happy to be in the club. It might be the best ES I own. Right up there with a First Rack 59 and 59 335. This was certainly an amazing time for these ES guitars! :dude:
 

OKGuitar

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
938
Here's A30993. I've owned it twice and will probably own it again (I keep buying it back).

watermelon.jpg
 

marshall1987

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 30, 2005
Messages
3,278
What a beauty! I would give my left ear lobe for one of those 345s. Congratulations. :dude:
 
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