Gibson ES-345TD Stereo Wine Red 1978

Introduced in 1959, the ES-345TD is the upmarket sibling to the ES-335, adding stereo wiring and a six-position Varitone network. By 1978, Gibson was building these with a three-piece maple neck and a volute, narrow-nut profile, and gold hardware.

This killer 1978 example is finished in very 70s Wine Red with a highly figured maple veneer top. Finish is worn off the back of the neck from use; otherwise the guitar shows standard age-appropriate wear. Original medium-low frets remain low but the guitar plays well. The fingerboard shows some dimpling, so it’s been played and enjoyed! The stereo wiring is intact and the correct cable is supplied with the guitar.

The original hardshell case is worn yet fully functional. Weight is 3800g. Three-piece maple neck with volute as correct for the year. A really straight, beautiful and just all round awesome late-’70s ES-345 that has all the mojo and none of the bad traits that the Norlin era is otherwise known for.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Body: Laminated maple top/back/sides; solid maple center block; double cutaway; multi-ply binding front and back
• Top: Figured/flame maple veneer on outer ply. Finish: Wine Red nitrocellulose
• Neck: Three-piece maple; set-neck; volute behind nut; scale length 24.75″
• Fingerboard: Bound rosewood; split-parallelogram inlays; 12″ radius; original frets low but in good condition; visible play dimpling
• Nut: Approx. 1 9/16″
• Headstock: Crown inlay; Gibson logo; multi-ply binding; truss-rod cover “STEREO” style for period
• Pickups: Two gold-covered patent-number humbuckers typical of late 1970s production
• Electronics: Stereo output; six-position Varitone; 3-way toggle; individual volume and tone controls
• Hardware: Gold plating; Tune-o-matic bridge; period-correct trapeze tailpiece; Gibson tuners
• Plastics: Black multi-layer pickguard; black witch hat knobs per late-’70s spec
• Weight: 3800g
• Condition notes: Finish worn off back of neck; otherwise standard wear; all original parts; original case present, worn but fully functional