Gibson Custom 1959 ES-345 Reissue Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar With Bigsby - Heavy Aged, Ebony

Limited to just 100 instruments worldwide, the Gibson Custom 1959 ES-345 Reissue with Bigsby captures one of the most distinctive variations from the company's golden era. Part of Gibson Custom’s Limited-Edition Collection, this semi-hollow electric guitar features a layered maple/poplar/maple body with a solid maple centerblock, delivering warm resonance with focused sustain and enhanced feedback resistance. Dual Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups provide the airy bloom and dynamic response associated with late-’50s humbuckers, while the mono Varitone circuit expands tonal flexibility across a wide range of styles. Finished in Heavy Aged Ebony by the Gibson Murphy Lab and outfitted with gold hardware and a factory-installed Bigsby vibrato, this 1959 ES-345 Reissue blends vintage elegance, expressive performance and Custom Shop craftsmanship.

Custombucker Pickups Deliver Late-'50s Tonal Clarity and Warmth

Dual Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups capture the articulate highs, warm midrange and dynamic sensitivity associated with original Patent Applied For humbuckers. Paired with the semi-hollow construction and maple centerblock, the pickups respond naturally to picking dynamics and volume adjustments. Clean tones reveal clarity and definition, while driven settings develop rich harmonic complexity suitable for blues, jazz and classic rock applications.

Mono Varitone Circuit Expands Tonal Possibilities

The ES-345’s mono Varitone circuit adds a distinctive tonal palette beyond traditional controls. Combined with two volume knobs, two tone knobs and a three-way toggle switch, the Varitone provides multiple filter options for shaping frequencies and refining tone. This flexible control layout allows players to move from warm, rounded textures to more focused and cutting sounds without relying on external processing.

Bigsby Vibrato and Gold Hardware for Expressive Control

A factory-installed Bigsby vibrato tailpiece enables subtle shimmer and expressive pitch modulation, while the ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge supports stable intonation and sustain. Kluson Deluxe tuners provide dependable tuning stability, and gold-plated hardware enhances both performance and visual elegance. Together, these components create a responsive platform suited to expressive playing styles.

Heavy Aged Ebony Finish With Vintage Character

The Murphy Lab Heavy Aged nitrocellulose lacquer finish introduces authentic checking and subtle wear that reflects decades of playing history. Multi-ply binding, split-parallelogram inlays and mother-of-pearl headstock appointments reinforce the instrument’s vintage-inspired aesthetic. The result is a guitar that looks and feels like a carefully preserved original from Gibson’s golden era.

A Limited-Edition Expression of the ES-345 Legacy

With its mono Varitone circuit and factory-installed Bigsby vibrato, this Gibson Custom 1959 ES-345 Reissue stands as one of the most distinctive models in the 2026 Limited-Edition Collection. Its combination of vintage tone, expressive control and refined craftsmanship makes it an inspiring instrument for players and collectors alike.