Marcus King ES-345: Gibson Honors a Legacy
New Gibson USA Marcus King ES-345 signature model announced
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The Gibson Marcus King ES-345 is the latest USA signature model for the artist and features a different set of specifications compared to his Custom Shop model.
Gibson Marcus King ES-345
The latest Gibson Marcus King ES-345, originally conceived as a Custom Shop model in 2021, faithfully recreates the aesthetic and spirit of King’s beloved vintage instrument while incorporating modern features essential to his performance.
Being built as a standard USA model should also make it more affordable.
1962 ES-345
King, who is known for his soulful voice, playing style, and diverse musical influences, hails from South Carolina. Music runs deep in his family; his father, Marvin King, is a renowned blues guitarist, and his grandfather was a country musician.
The very inspiration for this new Gibson ES-345 is a 1962 ES-345—a treasured heirloom (his grandfather had exceptional taste in guitars) passed down through his family, becoming a cornerstone of Marcus’s sound and a symbol of his journey.
Gibson based its Custom Shop model on this guitar, and now this new USA Standard model is launching, just minus a few of the appointments.
Custombucker
It appears very similar to the Custom Shop version, but there are some notable differences between the two.
This contemporary version boasts mono wiring (and no Varitone switch), a pair of Gibson Custombucker humbucker pickups for that signature tone, and a fixed Vibrola tailpiece engineered for enhanced tuning stability. A distinctive stud anchor cover, customised specifically for Marcus King, further personalises the instrument.
The fixed Vibrola will mean no tuning issues, and so really it only functions as a hardtail bridge, and is mainly there for aesthetic reasons. I’m not sure how much to will contribute tonally to the guitar as a whole.
Classic ES-345
As it is an ES-345 model, it features the typical 3-ply maple/poplar/maple body construction and a solid maple center block, which is crucial for improved sustain and superior feedback resistance.
The mahogany neck features a comfortable Rounded profile, measuring an average of .875” at the first fret and .975″ at the 12th fret. The Indian rosewood fretboard is fitted with acrylic split parallelogram inlays, a set of 22 medium jumbo frets, and a Graph Tech nut.
This model is finished in a nitrocellulose finish. Gold hardware is used throughout the guitar (which works perfectly with the cherry finish), including an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and a set of Grover Rotomatic tuners with kidney buttons.
Price & Availability
This model is available now and is far more affordable than the Custom Shop version.
MSRP – GBP 3499 / EUR 3999
Gibson Marcus King ES-345 at Thomman for €3999
More Information
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One response to “Marcus King ES-345: Gibson Honors a Legacy”
Those vibrolas are great. They have a unique effect on the sound providing a natural metallic reverb effect. Subtle, but definitely there. Got one on my SG.
However! They are absolutely useless as tremolos. Impossible to use and throw the guitar totally out of tune.
Still! Look great and sound great. Recommended.