The Gibson ES-345 [In Defence Of The Varitone & Stereo Output]

[@lynyrddeville]

I think Dan needs a guitar like that 345 because his jazz chops really shine on it.

[@tomfishman]

Totally agree

[@DavidJones-kv2bj]

Definitely

[@Iodine74]

Yup. There was something different about Dans playing when he started playing that guitar. He just floated. Was great.

[@johnnyboymcconnell43]

Agreed, and I also want to hear him on a "proper" jazz box.

[@joshuahundertmark7602]

On the other hand, I think Dan would totally love a Gibson's proper Big Jazz box like what Ron Quillo played from Carter Vintage

[@Funkybassuk]

“I guess you’re not ready for that yet… but your kids are going to love it”

[@ThatPedalShow]

Hahahahhha!!!

[@Tonetwisters]

Norm said they rented that guitar so long they could have easily bought the thing!

[@RobbieBarnby]

Love this, hard to beat the versatility of an ES345! Happy new guitar day Mick!

[@glynnewbould5198]

Thanks

[@GeorgeSharp-rv6ez]

I know that every guitar sounds different, even the same model. After hearing this 345, on my stereo, I don't know why someone would remove a varitone switch. Thanks guys, your playing and content are always excellent!

[@GregorHoul]

With carefully tuned pickup heights, there’s already a world of sounds to explore just from the out of phase dual vol / dual tone pots. With the added varitone, there’s probably timbres for a lifetime in one axe.

[@DrMattWalton]

Thanks Mick for giving the 345 some love. It gets beat up pretty good in the forums because of the Varitone. I have a ‘63 345 and I love mine and never get rid of the Varitone…it’s a secret weapon

[@ksharpe10]

This was a SUPER VIDEO for sure!!!! Dan would CUT MICK's ARM off if he Touched it you could TELL!!!!

[@davidburke2132]

@@ksharpe10 luckily Dan is trained in the means of restraining Mick without the need to carry out any impromptu amputations!! 😜

[@bradenrodriguez5183]

Okay this is my second comment on this video.... but I just want to write as a long time sub', that I hope Dan and Mick know how much we love that you guys have finally purchased some great guitars and we all share in the joy of discovery. Ain't it a wonderful thing? .... and hard work pays off! Long live TPS.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you!

[@bllyfen8]

Maaaaaaaan, took me 3 days to watch this but now that I finally have - that 345 is wicked! Beautiful playing to both of you, but the inspiration was bleeding out of you Dan!

[@Asillyhobo]

Finally watched it all, as a Lucille owner, and toying with the varitone, the flipped bridge magnet, and the stereo jacks, there's definitely a magic and a vibe to having it all in one guitar. I think that the varitone is probably better suited for a guitar pedal, like what Rothstein, De Lisle, and Tiny Tone have out. Because it saves adding an extra pound of weight, and modern varitone style pedals come with a boost for even more fine tuning. The stereo wiring and flipped magnet are really cool with the right amp, like a JC-40, Twin Reverb, etc., but swapping in a push-pull pot would be wise for controlling the pickup phase on the fly, in addition to rolling the knobs.

[@kbialous]

I'll use the inappropriate term and say that the 345 sounds better. It really does - I even listened to the show without looking at the screen. So much musicality and harmonics, and "vibe", and yes the notes sound less stiff or hard as Mick said. Nothing wrong with one guitar sounding better than another. Some Nashville guys/KZbinrs say a guitar "sounds like a record", and this 345 definitely does that! Great show!

[@davidburke2132]

Ok, mine aren’t vintage guitars, only Memphis 1964 Reissues, and so they only have the mono Varitone and don’t have the out of phase pickups, but I’ve always really struggled to understand the hate there seems to be for the ES-345 because of the Varitone. I’d pick one every day over an ES-335. Wonderful guitar Mick!! Congratulations!! So glad you’re not going to mod it!

[@bartboop]

Dan sounds like a jazz master tone wise!. Tasty licks!

[@rjroth4869]

What to say? Those are some of the most pleasing, gorgeous, inspiring guitar tones I've heard on this show played by anyone! May it continue to give you joy, Mick!

[@sordel5866]

As Mick says, it was a Mick-indulgent show but, like most Mick-indulgent shows, it went down an interesting rabbit-hole.

[@AmnellAndreas]

The Varitone is in my opinion one of Gibson's smartest, and best innovations. It makes the 345 and 355, in my humble opinion, the most versatile electric guitar that Gibson ever put out. But who am I to say... Anyways, I'll be coming out with a video about this soon on my channel😎

[@johnwdoyle]

Somewhere, a guitarist says - “I’m not going to buy anything for a while” Somewhere else - a B string breaks on a mid-solo bend! Are these event’s connected? Don’t take the chance! Gather unto you the joy bringing things, and play!

[@HRJ1411]

These two often reference Spinal Tap, for those living in UK, and not yet seen it - it is currently on iPlayer, not sure how long it will be there for, but well worth a watch!!

[@patrickhopkinson1851]

@HRJ1411 No, don’t even look at it.

[@ckturvey]

I think if the Gigrig has 2 inputs, running each pickup through completely different signal chains would be cool. Imagine having the neck pickup clean with tremolo and the bridge overdriven with some reverb. That would make a pickup change to completely different sounds. Then the middle would be really interesting to hear what sounds you could put together. Congrats on getting such an amazing Guitar!

[@ThatPedalShow]

There are number of ways to do that, and it could indeed offer a LOAD of options. Could be fun. But too much brain for me. Hahahab

[@DavidWren-u3k]

I own a genuine 1965 Epiphone Casino with factory fitted (at the time of manufacture) Varitone. Truly a rare bird.

[@JeffStarr]

Great episode! I was thrilled to hear the reference to Freddie King when talking about the middle position.

[@davenovak6310]

I just got a Mid 60s SG special and the pickups are out of phase. It does the same quack no quack when one of the PUs is rolled back a touch. So cool.

[@mattrector431]

What an amazing sounding thing! I was quite concerned when Mick said he was going to mod the snot out of the 345. What a gorgeous sound in both you fellas hands. Been waiting for this video for a few weeks! Cheers fellas!🎉

[@troybrowne9218]

Wow! What else is there to say? Mind blown 🤯

[@MyriadOfHoops]

One odd example of other Varitone equipped guitars if you're curious, although kind of a similar shape : the Epiphone Al Caiola, which is a Casino variant, fully hollow, albeit without F holes, longer scale, slightly more spaced out pickups, only one set of volume/tone knobs, no middle position and, instead of a rotary switch, the Varitone comes with individual switches, allowing to combine positions. Produced in small quantities in 63-69 as a "Custom" version with mini humbuckers, and an oddly even less common (a couple hundreds made, only in 67-68) "Standard" version with P90s, which is a dream to play.

[@davidpepper442]

I think I heard that BB King always played his on 2. Congrats Mick! That is a beauty. Nice teaser as well!

[@Strat642001]

Congats and early Happy Birthday Mick! Beautiful guitar. My own 50th present to me was a PRS DGT with a rosewood neck/Brazilian fretboard. Best guitar I have ever played.

[@KONSTRUKTlVlST]

Good god, that SG sounds absolutely outrageous! Cannot wait to hear what Dan has to "say" with that incredible guitar.

[@DickieDemos]

Luscious, luscious guitar. For a simple version of the phase-flipping trick, I highly recommend the Harmony Comet.

[@bradenrodriguez5183]

The delay was set up beautifully for that slow jam. I would play that sound all night and day. The quality of the sound we get to hear through KZbin is just so lovely. Really great production, Mick.

[@mailman1175]

It may have already been noted here, but Joe Robinson has an old stereo Gretsch. IIRC, they took a different approach, with the high strings running one signal path and the low ones the other.

[@ShaneOBrien]

Still one more version of the ES 355. I have been playing my 1990 B B King Lucille since this guitar was new somewhere around 34 year now. This version has no F Holes and there are Two Output Jacks, 1 for Bridge PU and the 2 output Jack for the Neck PU. No TRS cable required. Considering the out of phase factor and now the 2 cables, 1 for either of two amps, Mick, you are 100% correct in saying It's not practical for implementing all that. Something is bound to wrong somewhere, but so far for me for the past three decades plus, I plug into the jack that is the top one and everything works like it would on a Les Paul, re both V & T Pots.

[@elliotgreen987]

I think for me that's jumped straight to the coolest guitar on the show! And it had some very cool stuff to compete with

[@ksharpe10]

Yeah no arguement there it was OtherWorldly, like GOD came down and BLESSED it for Sure.

[@austinbridge]

Honestly one of the best videos I've seen from TPS. Mick's playing was also incredible. Thanks guys!!

[@EmilioConesa]

50 years ago I owned a red ‘62 ES345. I wanted to be like Elvin Bishop! I loved that thing… It was stolen when I was 18years old. I cried like a baby. What I’d do to have it back? Congrats Mick, you earned it.

[@edtweed5e4-a]

Vintage guitars are magic

[@waynead754]

I still have, and regularly use, my 1960 Gibs0on GA-79 -the stereo amp made for these guitars. I've owned it since about 1965. It has two independent 15 watt amps each going to a separate 10" speaker. The case angled the speaker away from each other to increase separation.

[@tremelo68]

I've got a '62 GA-79RVT and a '67 ES-345 and the two together are magic. The middle position really opens up the amp and having reverb and trem on one channel only gives the Space Reverb that Swart has been emulating for years. My only critique of this setup is the nut width on the '67 is smaller and not as comfortable as the earlier or later versions... Wish I had a 64-65 for the normal nut width, but hey, it is still a vintage Gibson, so I can't really complain

[@jthatcher962]

Never pressed Like so fast. I love your shows that revolve around your guitar acquisitions beacuse you guys appreciate them so much. I would still love to see a vlog on this discussing more of the story behind why you wanted it, how it came to find you or vice versa, how you acquired it, and any of its history that you can share. Also your 335 is still crackin. The 345 is amazing, but a tad fiddly too. Both amazing in their own right. Love the SG teaser too!

[@shelbyied]

So fun to watch you both play. Mick, about as solid a blues man as can be. When Dan starts having fun and exploring the fretboard something magical happens. Both so inspiring to me.

[@crumpred805]

Lovely guitar! I agree with Dan … as gramps used to say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

[@RobertNolan]

The company 'deLisle Guitars' makes the "Pentatone" which is a replica of the Varitone. Gibson really doesn't make too many of these and the parts are hard to find. For $50ish bucks, you're there with deLisle. My 345 came without the varitone wired in and when I discovered it was just the switch with no components, I realized that it would not be very easy to get it working again by myself. The whole thing needed help, I only had one patent stamped pickup that didn't sound right, and the controls were not original, so I got the Pentatone and a wiring harness and I'm in business, HOWEVER, Mick you got me thinking I need to make the pickups I put in there out of phase! Brilliant!

[@FabrizioCalderara76]

This video was really clarifying to me! I am on the market to acquire a Gibson ES and I didn't know much about the 345 stereo with Varitone, because I am more focused on the 335. But man...this 345 is really amazing, rich and plentiful of different tones. That out of phase feature is so cool as well!

[@yellowtruckproductions7502]

Lovely! Congrats Mick!

[@Matthewtaylorn]

Dude, that intro jam was wiiiiiiillld. So good. That is a really special sounding guitar.

[@pjcerto1074]

Hi Gents, Hey Mick, ten seconds in and l can hear you've got a live one there. Can't really define it - you just know it when you hear it. I'm certain it assuages any phantom Blue pain you might be experiencing and replaces it with that gorgeous Tequila Sunrise burst joy. Congrats on the new acquisition and l hope it gives you many years of happy days.

[@scotttunis6184]

I have 2 words for the sound that guitar produces: Bob Weir

[@igordemoraeslenzi]

Now we need a show with all the vintage stuff! Dan’s tele and junior plus Mick’s Strat and 345!

[@evanmiller2579]

Well congrats on the new guitar. That didn't take long into 2024. Already accomplished your mission. Something about a guitar almost 60 years old. For sure the wood it is made out of has been a guitar much longer than it was ever a tree. For sure a reason it sounds so killer. Have a great weekend.

[@philh27]

What an absolutely ace guitar. So many useful and useable tones. Not sure for heat-of-the-moment live performances but for studio use a Swiss Army knife of tones and options. Before you even approach your pedalboard…

[@bleeknoir]

The varitone stays! So versatile!

[@tomfishman]

Moved to comment for the first time in ages. Sheeeesh what a guitar. I’ve only ever heard the Varitone referred to with scorn and derision. Y’all really changed my (frankly, unfounded) assumptions about it. GREAT get, fellas. Sounds killer. And Dan, your jazz chops are shining🔥

[@ThatPedalShow]

Hello Tom, Mick here. I was the same on the Varitone and like you, my option has been totally changed by actually using it. Amazing thing!

[@simonissell]

This is the first show I’ve watched on my Hifi for some time. I have to say the audio is sounding spectacular!

[@ThatPedalShow]

Thank you Simon! We made some changes just recently, and of course constantly learning. Cheers!

[@dwaynejessome1728]

Was so looking forward to this episode & didn't disappoint. Thanks for sharing!

[@ZephyrCrypto]

Been looking for a cherry 345 for so long - wish Gibson would put the varitone back in the new ones, even if it's not wired for stereo.

[@GlasVelo]

The 345 is an astonishing guitar...gratz Mick!

[@derick-smith]

The tonal possibilities are amazing on that beauty. Congrats Mick!

[@gordonrankin4667]

Guys looked at the varitone schematic and it doesn't change the polarity. That switch is the same as other Gibsons N, B, Center = N+B. It is a bit different in wiring than others with the volume after the switch. I also looked up the Gibson GA-79RVT which was their stereo amp and it has identical circuit for both channels going to separate 10" speakers. But the freaken varitone circuit is wild with those two honken chokes in there and separate vari-caps for each pickup. Great show thanks! Gordon

[@jakereesemusic]

Man that middle pickup position tone is NASTY. Absolutely phenomenal. Good for you mate. Cheers

[@RobertFisher1969]

One of the many projects I keep thinking about doing sometime is putting three humbuckers in a guitar with Jaguar-style on/off switches for each pickup and a varitone.

[@rocnpops62]

That guitar is beautiful. Congratulations Mick!!!

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

I don't wait for "special" dates. I stay on the look out for that "one" that fills a long standing desire and pounce when the price is right.

[@ORFisHome]

Dan and Mick play in a whole different league than I do, but I really appreciate how Mick is willing to sell guitars and gear to acquire another instead of just mortgaging his future to acquire, acquire, acquire. It's such a gratifying feeling to downsize the clutter in return for something truly special. Well done and a stunning guitar.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Mick. Mick sold the gear. Cheers.

[@ORFisHome]

@@ThatPedalShow Yes, yes, yes! So sorry! I promise I know the difference. 😉

[@-Pol-]

It's totally feasible to recreate the Varitone using EQ. I created presets using the parametric EQ module on my cheap little MS-50g for each switch position from a frequency spectrum chart I found online for the Varitone. Although I've never used one personally the EQ'd emulation is close enough for my purposes.

[@Scoots1994]

Dan is always so enthusiastic, but that flipping guitar tone is actually AMAZING!

[@stevenims6581]

Great sounding guitar and it’s fun watching you enjoy playing it!

[@aronvanalstine]

I feel like the new (vintage) one really requires a refined attack. The old (new) one seems a bit more forgiving on the right hand. That's a compliment, ya know!

[@aronvanalstine]

Lol

[@larry2388]

I can hear why you bought the 345. So many classic and rich tones.

[@anthonyalfredyorke1621]

What a lovely sounding Guitar, I see Mick's given up on the contact lenses, Dan needs one of those Guitars, great show gents. PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE ❤❤.

[@igordemoraeslenzi]

The show we’re all waiting for!

[@lopsrobins]

This guitar really deserves new music Mick, Hope it’s inspired you to create some! Congrats 🎉

[@pedalscapes]

What an astounding guitar! Congratulations 😎

[@taloujazz9504]

All these possibilities it's amazing, and these clean tones wonderful

[@rfpho1456]

Given me lots to think about with my Lucille. Need a summing TRS cable now to see if it does that out of phase thing. Always run it mono

[@torolavlien666]

What a guitar and what a show!! Quite possibly the best 40 minutes I've ever spent on KZbin. So much learning and inspiration! Thank you leg-ends, you are amazing! Now all I need is to win the Euromillions so I can get one...

[@drwilliamlarge]

'A gnat's chuff'. I will be using that expression for the rest of my life.

[@dickybird6916]

That 345 through mp3/KZbin compression was killer. Mick you found a way to make the wet dry set up even more awesome by being able to dial up the gain and or wet effects via the guitars volume knobs whilst matching each pickup to the effects it suits best.

[@timoconnell]

The way Dustin Kensrue of Thrice uses a stereo guitar with his switcher is very interesting. The switcher is programmer to control the pickup selection. As a singer and player, this really simplifies everything you have to do during a gig. Worth considering revisiting this topic in the future and how this could work with the Gig Rig.

[@ThatPedalShow]

That’s a great solution for the kind of gig where everything is kinda set the same for each gig or song. Like, ‘always this sound here’. That’s basically the polar opposite of how I play and my gigs! But it is blimmin interesting! Maybe Dan would be into it.

[@josh_baymee]

That guitar is so full of surprises! Loved every minute of this. Congrats Mick, and happy early birthday!🎉

[@tedc6694]

1958 Gibson had pointy guitars but 1957 Chevy's points were contagious. My 1957 Leescraft speedboat has same quarterpanel point. LOVE LOVE LOVE 345 possibilities. My Epiphone 339 ultra iii has rare out of phase thing that, like 345, if the 2 volumes match volume drops because of phase. (Strangely Gibson has standing offer to rewire the few ultra 3 les pauls and 339s that were wired this way) I use 2 amps with wet in one amp only because of TPS. I look forward to hearing more 345.

[@Zan_Halford]

That was so musical

[@agriff4795]

The Les Paul that featured a Varitone was the Les Paul Personal, Professional and Recording Models. The knob was labeled Decade, and had 11 positions(1 being off).

[@shamsam4]

I love everything y'all do. I'm also happy you're going to explore it as it was made, I think they had a good set of ideas. Thanks for all of the information, camaraderie, philosophy, and inspiration!

[@gongqi67]

I have wanted a 345 for a while. I bought a 335 recently. it satisfies the need.

[@bucklberryreturns]

Hearing the 345 via the bitrate of a KZbin video, I can only imagine how good it sounds in the room. That's a fuck of a good guitar. Congratulations Mick!

[@robertritchie2860]

Dan's jazz noodling was sublime👌

[@ducky63]

Delighted to see you both using right angle jacks at the body input. It always terrifies me when I see the regular lead sticking out. Both beautiful guitars, really cool. Quite the dynamic duo today. 🤘

[@jeremygorszczyk]

Those people with regular straight jacks are monsters ! :D

[@ducky63]

@@jeremygorszczyk Amen brother. 🤪

[@derekclemons]

Probably flip their toilet paper the wrong way ;)

[@ducky63]

@@derekclemons Don’t get me started on the toilet paper! My wife loads the roll to the back, wtf!! I call that the mullet, as opposed to the normal way, which I call the fringe. 🙄

[@romestant]

hope you are now spending a lot more time playing than before. Congrats that thing is gorgeous.

[@robertlewis8024]

Don't underestimate the overall effect of the different bridge/tailpiece setups. Changes more than just the feel.

[@Evy-1988]

that ES-345 is magic but please get the in-phase sound too, that's the most beautiful thing ever

[@mikedr1549]

I'm one of those Fender Clean Sounds kinda guys - but I have to admit that sounded glorious with a lot of dirt on it. Congrats on the new guitar Mick!

[@ksharpe10]

To me it sounded like the FENDER Killer depending on who is playing it. WOULD love to hear John Cordy do some Jazz and his regular thing with this GUITAR, It would SPLIT ytube in TWO. At least for Guitarists!!!

[@petegeoghegan7562]

Soooo good! Some time back I toyed with the idea of putting a varitone circuit in my old Sheraton. After hearing your 345 I absolutely will NOT be doing this. Now I've heard that guitar....too high a benchmark. What a beautiful sound.

[@johnsmith-sm6mh]

Dan the Jazzer , cool playing mate when testing the Varitone 💪🏻👌🏻

[@billycarter4832]

Congrats Mick !!! Glorious tones

[@cliverichards6282]

The varitone is the most under rated control in the history of the electric guitar. All Gibsons should have one in my opinion.

[@ikbogle]

Think you nailed it on the head that it’s infinitely musical could fit into any mix. Will be interesting how you get along with some live shows

[@Gummball_03]

That 335 is a blues and rock machine in the best way possible. That 345 is an instrument. Pure and simple.

[@enricopallazzoofficial]

Mick, if you want to hear a big ES345 user. Check Porl Thompson from The Cure. I know, i know its not your kind of music but he's really incredible with that guitar. Check in particular his performance on THe Cure song "NEver Enough" from the 1993 "Show" concert (there is the video on youtube, it's a 4:55min video). Him, with its red ES345, plugged into 2 Mesa Boogie amps playing like a madman. He was an incredible underrated guitarist and played guitar in the 90s with Plant and Page when they did that tour togehter.

[@MaxCadyServitoreDiDio]

Porl was an AMAZING player. Deserve more recognision

[@scottcurry4116]

Really cool video. The designers must have had a blast creating this guitar. I had no idea about it. Enjoy it Mick!

[@alexstark2812]

Not sure if someone else has mentioned this in the comments but Gibson came up with the numbers because they were the original price. So an ES-335 is Electric Spanish and cost $335 in 1958, so the fancier 345 and 355 were more money by $10 and $20 in 1958. This numbers for price is also true for things like the ES-125 and such.

[@ThatPedalShow]

Ha! How amazingly short sighted! Hahahah! Same with Martin. D-18, D-28 etc….

[@jeremydodds1761]

Fantastic video, thanks guys.