1964 ES-345 Reissue Bronze Mist

This Gibson Custom Select 1964 ES-345 is finished in Bronze Mist, a color that was used by Oldsmobile in the late 1950s. Gibson Custom Select guitars have unique specifications like custom finishes and unique hardware that are made in small batches by skilled artisans at the Gibson Custom Shop. These guitars are designed to make a unique instrument that will stand out in a crowd of normal guitars. Unique features on this 1964 ES-345 include a Dogear P-90 pickup in the neck position and the hand-mixed Bronze Mist finish that is derived from a color that was used by Oldsmobile in the late 1950s.

This 1964 ES-345 has an Authentic 1964 D-shape neck profile and 1964-style pointed cutaway horns. The classic combination of a solid mahogany neck with a bound rosewood fretboard makes up the neck’s construction. Rolled fretboard edges simulate decades of play wear that make the guitar feel broken in. Like all ES-345s, this guitar has the ornate appointments that differentiate an ES-345 from an ES-335, which include multi-ply binding on the top and split parallelogram inlays on the fretboard. The body is made from layered maple/polar/maple that is pressed with the original equipment from the 1950s. A solid maple centerblock provides long sustain and reduces feedback when the guitar is played at high volumes. This combination of features from hollowbody and solid body designs make semi-hollow guitars desired by rock and roll stars and jazz players alike.

The most obvious unique feature of this Gibson Custom Select 1964 ES-345 is the Dogear P-90 found in the neck position. This feature is rare to find on any Gibson guitar since Dogear P-90 pickups are usually only found on guitars like ES-330s and Les Paul™ Juniors. While the pickup is a normal P-90 under the cover, the pickup cover lends itself to a different sound due to it being bolted directly to the body of the guitar. Nickel hardware replaces the normal gold hardware that is typically found on ES-345s, so the hardware doesn’t clash with the Bronze Mist finish.

Guitar makers have looked towards automotive manufacturers for paint colors since the advent of the electric guitar. Gibson’s roster of original custom colors from the 50s and 60s, such as Pelham Blue and Cardinal Red, all originated in the automotive industry. This Bronze Mist finish is no different. It dates back to the late 1950s with Oldsmobile when V8 engines roared down city streets with flamboyant tail fins that were prominently featured on the rear quarter panels. This 1964 ES-345 is given the VOS treatment, which takes some of the shine off the guitar, further accentuating the guitar’s vintage vibe.

With a unique feature set on a rare model that can only be ordered through Made to Measure and Custom Select, this 1964 ES-345 will surely stand out in a sea of standard guitars. It’s not every day you see a Dogear P-90 in the neck position since swapping a humbucker for a Dogear P-90 is not a simple task. The Bronze Mist finish harkens back to Gibson’s Golden Era, where all custom colors came from the automotive industry. All these appointments combined into one unique instrument make for a special guitar that can be cherished for years to come. Included with the guitar is a 60s hardshell case with a Gibson Custom Certificate of Authenticity.