During a high school dance in 1955, a Gibson guitar helped change the course of music history—and even rewrote history itself—in one unforgettable cinematic moment. The ES-345™ model featured in Back to the Future became an icon and bridged the past, present, and future in a way that only a great instrument can. The Gibson ES-345 was initially released in 1959, and the film’s producers were notified of that fact by Norman Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars, who supplied the guitar that was used for the film, which takes place in part in 1955. The producers of Back to the Future took artistic liberty when they selected the Cherry Red model to use for filming, and historical accuracy aside, the guitar’s aesthetic seemed right at home in the film’s mid-50s Enchantment Under the Sea school dance scenes. Now, Gibson Custom is proud to introduce the Back to the Future “1955" ES-345 Collector’s Edition, a stunning tribute to a classic guitar that transcends time. It features a thinline, three-ply ES™ body made from maple, poplar, and maple, with a solid maple internal centerblock adding sustain and feedback resistance. The mahogany neck has a long tenon and is attached with hide glue. It features a 1961 Authentic Thin D-Shape profile and is equipped with a bound rosewood fretboard, 22 medium jumbo frets, and celluloid split parallelogram inlays. In a nod to the original guitar, which is the only known example from the era with a single parallelogram inlay at the 12th fret, the Back to the Future “1955" ES-345 Collector’s Edition also displays this rare feature. Powered by a pair of unpotted Gibson Custombucker pickups with Alnico 3 magnets, with each hand-wired to individual volume and tone controls with CTS® potentiometers and paper-in-oil tone capacitors, the Back to the Future “1955" ES-345 Collector’s Edition is also outfitted with a mono Varitone switch for added tonal versatility. The hardware is aged gold, as is befitting the upscale ES-345 model, including a Bigsby® B7 vibrato tailpiece. The Back to the Future “1955” ES-345 Collector’s Edition also features an artful interpretation of wear and aging by the Murphy Lab team. This meticulously crafted instrument celebrates an iconic moment in film history and the Gibson legacy of craftsmanship—both of which will stand the test of time. Only 88 of these iconic guitars were crafted as part of this very special run, a nod to the speed required for time travel and the enduring legacy of the film. The artisans of the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, matched every unique specification of the original guitar, including the solid 12th fret parallelogram inlay, reverse-engineered 1950s appointments, and a hand-stained Cherry Red and aniline dye finish. In another nod to the motion picture, a Lifton™ hardshell case with Marvin Berry and The Starlighters graphics and a collection of case candy is also included, making this a unique Collector’s Edition guitar for the ages.

Neck

• Neck Material: Mahogany

• Neck Profile: 1961 Authentic Thin D-Shape

• Scale Length: 24.75" (628.65mm)

• Nut Width: 1.69" (42.85mm)

• Nut Material: Nylon

• Fingerboard Radius: 12" (304.8mm)

• Fret Count: 22

• Frets: Authentic Medium-Jumbo

• Inlays: Celluloid Split Parallelogram with Celluloid Parallelogram at 12th Fret

• Neck Joint: Long Tenon, Hide Glue Fit

• Truss Rod: Authentic 1950s No-Tube

• Truss Rod Cover: Authentic Stepped 2-Ply

Electronics

• Neck Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3, Unpotted

• Bridge Pickup: Custombucker Alnico 3, Unpotted

• Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone

• Wiring: CTS 500k Audio Taper Potentiometers with Paper-in-Oil Capacitors

• Varitone: 6-Position Mono Varitone

• Pickup Selector: Switchcraft 3-Way Toggle

• Output Jack: Switchcraft 1/4"

Hardware

• Bridge: ABR-1 No-Wire

• Tailpiece: Bigsby ’59 B7 (Gold with Black Paint)

• Tuners: Kluson Single Line, Single Ring

• Hardware Finish: Aged Gold

• Pickup Covers: Gold

• Mounting Rings: Black M69 (Medium & Tall)

• Pickguard: Short ES-335 Style, Black 5-Ply with Wide Bevel

• Control Knobs: Black Top Hat with Gold Reflector

• Strap Buttons: Burnished Brass

• Switch Tip: Cream

• Switchwasher: Gold with Black Lettering (Varitone)

Headstock

• Headstock Inlay: Gibson Logo and Crown in Mother of Pearl

• Rear Headstock Plaque: Hill Valley Music Dealer Plaque

Miscellaneous

• Case: Lifton Hardshell with Marvin Berry and The Starlighters Graphics

• Strings: .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046

Accessories

• Certificate of Authenticity

• Dance Poster

• Clock Tower Flyer

• Goldie Wilson Campaign Button

• Flux Capacitor Case Light

• Time Machine Keys

• Marty and Siblings Photo

• Back to the Future Strap

• Casio CA53W Calculator Watch

• Pinheads Picks

Additional Information

• Pre-Owned (Single Owner)
• Purchased from an Authorized Gibson Dealer
• Practically Untouched
• All Contents Included
• Original Box
• Guitar Weight: 8 lbs 15 oz.