1959 Gibson ES-345 Red, Very Good, Original Hard, $22,000.00

According to the nice folks at Gibson, this guitar doesn't exist. It is a 1959 ES-345 which certainly exists but it's red and red wasn't officially released as a 345 color until 1960. This is, I believe the 8th red 59 to surface. That makes it rare. The watermelon red fade only occurs on red ES models made before mid 1960 making them very desirable (and very cool looking). It's the same red dye that fades away on Les Paul bursts. This guitar has sealed PAFs and has been converted to mono with the Varitone intact. Pickups are out of phase (that's how they come from the factory). It can be converted back to stereo or phase can be corrected for mono or it can be converted to 335 spec. It had a Bigsby installed at some point but the guitar is now set up as a stop tail. The tailpiece is vintage correct short seam. The ABR-1 is probably original although the saddles probably are not. Tuners are pat pending Grovers. All plastic parts are correct or original. The guitar has been re-fretted with jumbo wire. Brazilian rosewood board shows almost no wear but the back of the neck shows smooth wear through the finish in a few places. Being a late 59, the neck is transitional, so it isn't the big 59 profile but it isn't the super slim later profile either. I would characterize it as medium/slim. Case is (probably) original brown with pink Lifton.