• Guys, we've spent considerable money converting the Les Paul Forum to this new XenForo platform, and we have ongoing monthly operating expenses. THE "DONATIONS" TAB IS NOW WORKING, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY DONATIONS YOU CAN MAKE TO KEEP THE LES PAUL FORUM GOING! Thank you!

NVGD! First Rack 1959 ES-345T!

RAB

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
2,122
66gcvk.jpg


BIG neck profile as is typical of these First Rack 345s...Charlie G. estimates there might be about 100 F.R. 345s...
 

RAB

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
2,122
34zg0f8.jpg


The neck is a big chunk of "hog" (Honduras Mahogany that is!)
 

RAB

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
2,122
As I usually do, I reversed the neck pickup ring to try and get the top of the pickup more parallel to the strings...:hank
 

RAB

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
2,122
Oh yeah, another standard "mod" I do is swap out the non-wire bridge for a wired ABR-1, vintage of course! :salude Don't want to lose a bridge piece should I break a string on a cold, dank stage, eh wot?
 

treyrab

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2016
Messages
57
Congrats RAB! Love it! First Rack 345s are in a league of their own. Maybe the best 3 racks of ES guitars that Gibson ever made, honestly....Here is mine, A29667, along with a '59 345 TDC. First rack was shipped in April, Cherry was shipped in October.

42328625354_41ed182182_h.jpg
 

OKGuitar

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2011
Messages
938
Any other early 345 fans out there? With the mono conversion it gets you close to ‘59 dotneck 335 sound without the BIG pricetag! :peace2
It doesn't get you close. It gets you there. Especially that neck pickup.
 

moonweasel

New member
Joined
Jan 20, 2004
Messages
9,427
What does "First Rack" mean? Never heard the term, and I've been on LPF forever. Thanks in advance!
 

Michael Minnis

Active member
Joined
Feb 12, 2004
Messages
1,597
Congratulations, RAB! Awesome score! I know you've regretted selling your former First Rack. Welcome back to the Club! And thanks for sharing so many cool photos. Play that beauty in good health!
 

RAB

Active member
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
2,122
Congratulations, RAB! Awesome score! I know you've regretted selling your former First Rack. Welcome back to the Club! And thanks for sharing so many cool photos. Play that beauty in good health!

Thanks all! I really appreciate the interest and support! LPF is a great place to hang! :)
 
Top