Pre-Order - Limited Edition Collection 1959 ES-345 Reissue - Murphy Lab Heavy-Aged, Bigsby - ETA Summer 2026

A 1959 ES-345 Reissue with a Bigsby and in an exceptionally rare color

The 1959 ES 345 Reissue, Heavy Aged, Ebony, is a rare opportunity to experience a historically significant semi-hollowbody brought to life with the unmistakable character of a well-loved vintage original. Part of Gibson Custom’s Limited Edition Collection, which was inspired by decades of Made to Measure special orders and the deep expertise and creativity of the artisans at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee, this reissue of one of the most elusive factory combinations from Gibson’s first Golden Age, a 1959 ES 345 finished in Ebony and with a factory-installed Bigsby Vibrato tailpiece, captures the elegance, tonal complexity, and expressive versatility that made the ES 345 an icon for discerning players.

The body construction uses the classic layered maple/poplar/maple formula with multi-ply binding on the top and back. A solid maple center-block enhances sustain and greatly increases feedback resistance, creating a powerful voice that thrives in both clean and overdriven settings. The Heavy Aged nitrocellulose lacquer finish, developed and artfully applied by the Murphy Lab, imparts decades of authentic wear, from lacquer checking to subtle playing marks, offering the unmistakable feel of an instrument that has lived a rich musical life.

The mahogany neck is carved to the coveted Authentic 1959 profile and joined to the body with a long neck tenon for exceptional resonance. A rosewood fretboard with aged cellulose split parallelogram inlays, 22 reissue medium jumbo frets, single ply binding, and a 24.75 inch scale length delivers a playing experience that is both familiar and inspiring. The headstock features the Gibson logo and crown, both inlaid in mother of pearl, completing an aesthetic that is as refined as it is steeped in tradition.

Dual Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups deliver the airy bloom, warm midrange, and dynamic sensitivity associated with late 50s Patent Applied For humbucker tone. Paired with a three-way toggle switch, two volume controls, two tone controls, and a mono Varitone circuit, the ES 345 offers a broad tonal palette that delivers everything from smoky jazz comping to biting blues and rock leads and everything in between.

Gold hardware, black plastics, and an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge elegantly complement the Ebony finish. For players seeking extra expressiveness, the Bigsby Vibrato tailpiece adds another dimension of musicality with a push or pull of the bar. With Kluson Deluxe tuners, nickel pickup covers, and a Lifton reissue hardshell case, this limited run reissue is both a collector’s piece and a stage-ready instrument of remarkable versatility.

The 1959 ES 345 Reissue with Bigsby, Heavy Aged, Ebony, stands as a testament to the era that defined electric guitar craftsmanship and to the modern artisans who continue that legacy today. Exceptionally rare in its original form and meticulously rendered here, it is a guitar built to inspire—visually, sonically, and artistically.

The photos of the guitar are stock images from Gibson Custom Shop for the sole purpose of the pre-order.  They are not images of the specific guitar which is expected to arrive in the summer of 2026.  Images of the guitar will be made available upon arrival.

• Serial Number

  59ES34526LE23271

• Brand Name

  Gibson Custom Shop

• Model

  Pre-Order - Limited Edition Collection 1959 ES-345 Reissue - ETA Summer 2026

• Finish Color

  Ebony

• Finish Type

  Nitrocellulose Lacquer

• Aging

  Heavy Aged

• Body Wood

  3-Ply Maple/Poplar/Maple

• Binding

  Multi-ply on Top and Back, Single-ply on Fingerboard

• Neck Wood

  Solid Mahogany

• Neck Joint

  Long Tenon

• Neck Shape

  Authentic 1959

• Fingerboard Wood

  Indian Rosewood

• Fingerboard Radius

  12"

• Fingerboard Inlays

  Aged Cellulose Split Parallelogram

• Frets

  22 Reissue Jescar, Medium Jumbo

• Scale Length

  24.75"

• Headstock

  Gibson Logo and Crown Mother-of-Pearl Inlay

• Nut Material

  Nylon Reissue

• Center Block

  Solid Maple

• Pickups

  2 Alnico 3 Custombuckers

• Controls

  2 Volume, 2 Tone with Varitone, 3-way Switch

• Tailpiece

  Bigsby

• Hardware

  Gold

• Tuners

  Gold Kluson Deluxe

• bridge

  ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic

• Pickguard

  Multi-ply Black

• Unique Features

  Limited Pre-order - Expected to Arrive This Summer 2026

• Case

  Aged Brown/Pink Lifton Reissue 5-Latch Case

• Certificate of Authenticity

  Yes