1960 GIBSON ES-345TD Bigsby Cherry

A 1960 Gibson ES-345TD in Cherry, serial A-35937, built in 1960 and shipped in January 1961. It comes from the last batch of 345s made that year and retains 1960 specifications: period neck shape, no first-fret inlay, long-magnet PAFs and an early factory short pickguard. This is an original factory Bigsby guitar, with the stopbar studs covered by black plastic dots. The Cherry finish is original, with clearly visible player wear and no breaks. All four original 500K Centralab pots date to the 27th and 28th weeks of 1960 (codes 1346027 and 1346028). Both long-magnet PAF pickups with A2 magnets are original: the neck, still wearing its Patent Applied For decal, reads 8.37K; the bridge, which never had a PAF decal as was common on stereo models of this period, reads 7.42K. The bridge pickup magnet was flipped so the pickups sit in phase, as on a 335. The stereo jack was removed and the Varitone, though reinstalled, is disconnected: the guitar is wired as a mono 335, with the original parts kept in the case should one want to return it to stereo. Other replacements include an aged Faber ABR-1 bridge, Kluson-type tuners (the post holes were enlarged during an earlier Grover install), one stopbar stud cover and one screw on the bridge pickup ring. The original frets are worn, with minimal buzzing. Weight 3.55 kg, nut width 42.30 mm, neck depth 21 mm at the 1st fret and 22 mm at the 12th. Comes in its original Lifton “Built Like a Fortress” hardshell case.

Brand Gibson Model ES-345TD Finish Cherry Made In Year 1960 (shipped January 1961) Body Material Maple laminate Neck/Fingerboard Mahogany/rosewood Tuners Replacement Kluson-type (post holes enlarged from a prior Grover install) Weight 3,55 kgs / 7.826lbs Scale Length 24.75″ Nut Width 42,30 mm / 1.665″ Neck Depth 1st – 12th 21,00 mm / .827″ – 22,00 mm / .866″ Radius 12″ Electronics Original long-magnet PAFs (A2), original Centralab pots (weeks 27–28 of 1960); Varitone present but disconnected; wired as mono Pickup Impedance N = 8.37K, B = 7.42K Contains Brazilian Rosewood (Y/N) Y Case Original Lifton brown hardshell case Modifications/Repairs Wired to mono (stereo jack removed, Varitone disconnected; original parts in case); replacement ABR-1 (aged Faber); replacement Kluson-type tuners; one replacement stopbar stud cover; one replacement screw on the bridge pickup ring; bridge PAF magnet flipped in-phase