What is a Gibson ES-345? with Steve Sterlacci!

#gibsonguitars #guitar #gibson ‪@SteveSterlacci‬
What makes a Gibson ES-345 a Gibson ES-345? Seriously. It's a surprisingly interesting question. With special guest Steve Sterlacci and his Vintage Gibson from 1972! Playing into a Marshall JVM, with a Vick Audio Lotus Overdrive.
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[@SteveSterlacci]

Thanks for having me on brother!

[@78tag]

Steve - do you know anyone who has done some work with the 345/Helix mix?

[@SteveSterlacci]

@@78tag I use mine together all the time!

[@78tag]

@@SteveSterlacci ...any videos on the stereo applications of the 345 thru the Helix? Dual amps, stereo summed to mono and the like. Thanx

[@SteveSterlacci]

@78tag I tried it for awhile and did not like it. I ripped out the whole norlin wiring and put in a mono wiring harness

[@seppi65]

Another 63/64 Memphis Es-345 owner here, same seafoam green finish. I almost got the '58 blonde reissue 335 til I saw the 345 and fell in love with the color and inlays. I'll admit, the Varitone never leaves position 1. It's my most versatile guitar. Interestingly, the whole guitar resonates at 440Hz, so I have to be careful not to get wolf tones when hitting A notes too hard.

[@JessicaLynnCountry]

👏👏👏👏

[@tjcolatrella943]

I've got a new ES-345 arriving tomorrow it's a Gibson Exclusive not in any retail shop in Wine Red with Gold Hardware! No Varitone or Stereo! I will though play this stereo using my MXR A/B Stereo Splitter going into a Mesa Boogie California Tweed and Tone King Imperial MKII!

[@glassslide]

I have a 2016 Memphis '64 Reissue ES-345 in Red and absolutely love it just a fantastic guitar and although I rarely use the baritone I would not want to buy one of the current ones that do not have it. Great video and gorgeous 345 in Seafoam Green.

[@JJT007hero]

Thank you,🙏 this is the best video on the es345. Super grateful for the time you spent on this. Great work. I’m probably gonna get one! I wonder if you’ve ever tried an es347?

[@JackFossett]

Thanks! No I haven't, but I'd like to

[@iainfreeman5112]

I have the 59 Memphis reissue 345 from 2014. I love it. To be honest it was a 30th birthday present from the wife and it was the cheapest 59 Gibson around. I had treble bleeds put in it, that's about it. It really is my finest guitar and sounds amazing. I've kept the Varitone, but don't really use it. It's a fun tone experiment. For me a 345 minimum has to have the parallelograms and the Gold hardware! (limited edition colours excepted). With these latest editions really 335 with fancier inlays.

[@Tonetwisters]

I sold those 1970's 345's brand new. I am blessed to have a 1973 ES-355 that I got as NOS in 1974. And you gotta have the stereo and varitone; otherwise it's just a fancy 335! VERY nice playing, brother!! Playing a Stereo Gibson through two amps, is just outrageous! What a loud, punchy sound! With you, on the #2 into the #1 for boost! Yeh. You gotta have the rhythm switch on a Jazzmaster. Sorry. I'm an old guy. Been playing 62+ years. BTW: Using a Showman, you don't get the out-of-phase using the two channels. And I am in the process of finally setting up a 1967 Bandmaster into a 1X12 Mesa cab, to match my '62 Bandmaster, also into a 1X12 Mesa cab. Got all the parts; just need to feel better (I'm 76) and clean up that Bandmaster and get-a-goin with this project for my 355 STEREO! Those big pot cans were shielding. All of my innards quit working right and I had Gibson Repair and Restoration put in new stuff. Sounds incredible. Playing live into two Deluxe Reverbs would be quite snappy ... and I have FIVE Y cables and I don't play out anymore! Thanks for deep diving into these guitars, guys! And Jesus saves and time is running out!! God bless.

[@richardpeterson3895]

Back in the '70s, I couldn't understand people removing the VariTone. "It sucks tone!" Position 1 takes it out of the circuit! But they would physically remove the VariTone. Years later I had the insight that the switch and particularly the inductor coil add a lot of mass and the switch was placed in the worst place to interfere with the resonance of the top. The VariTone filters are most effective connected directly to the pickups, for the combined inductance So the stereo output possibly followed naturally from that. Both pickups in mono, the amp sees a low impedance pickup giving more top end chime as well reinforcement or cancellation of harmonics. So running stereo presents a high impedance signal to both inputs, beefier sound. Running into both channels of a two channel amp can result in out of phase if one channel has an additional gain stage (tremolo.) Running two amps risks ground loop, hum and shock potential. But you get acoustic blending of the two pickups.

[@projectmoon13]

Proud owner of a Memphis 2008 Gibson ES 345 stereo custom 3tone sunburst

[@clarencevickrot3531]

Always a good question for any reissue when Gibson cuts corners.

[@kjchicago1]

The Gibson ES-345-An Interesting Electric Guitar

[@stratosexual1329]

Your 345 is my favorite ES guitar! I have admired it for while. Might get one for my 50th b-day. Thanks for making the video!

[@JackFossett]

Happy birthday in advance!

[@78tag]

Can't think of a better birthday present (even if you have to do it yourself). With that handle I'm not going to assume you are married.

[@graemero5532]

Great video Jack. Love the 345 and the varitone. I'd rather have it and not use it than not have it at all.

[@JackFossett]

Entirely reasonable way to look at it!

[@78tag]

I know people back in the day rejected them because they thought the varitone "choke" was a tone suck but I guess they've gotten around that in the modern guitars.

[@roscoenyc]

DeLisle makes some great stuff. Gonna try his Varitone. Thanks.

[@allendesomer]

A long time ago, I had an early '60s Epiphone with their Tone Expressor system. There was only one combination of switches that I liked apart from not using them at all. I've heard that the Varitone switch utilizes a similar electrical concept, so I'm inclined to agree with the assessment in this video. IMHO, just give me articulate responsive tone from my guitar, and I'll take it from there with the gear I'm plugged into.

[@78tag]

Why not just swap in a push/pull vol pot for the phase option? I must say I was hoping that Steve would have been my best bet for applications of the 345/Helix combo. Do you think Steve has any recommendations? I'd love to hear what someone who is familiar with all the features of the Helix has to say. Yes, the #3 setting is the first noticeable reduction in bass freq's. I can see what you are up to with making the #1 position a boost built into the guitar. I keep saying this in the comments of my 345 video adventures (and I have no affiliation) the Taurus Servo II adds some harmonic value that turns this guitar into another animal (especially the middle position). It's like 6 more settings (plus all of the bridge/neck vol pot variations that are already in the circuit). Just sayin.

[@YouTubeHandlesAreMoronic]

I find that gold hardware serves two main functions for me. 1) It prevents my from buying very expensive, new, flashy guitars because it's so incredibly tacky-looking, and 2) Makes cheap chrome hardware look more appealing, in contrast.

[@willmartin5183]

Killer lead tone in the intro!

[@josephcorcoran8714]

I wanted a 345 just like yours but I couldn’t find one. I ended up getting 2 2021 ES335’s. I wanted the Variatone and when I saw that it was no longer offered I was bummed. The ES guitars are my favorite.

[@jimbarnes3831]

I can't see the benefits. I'll just keep the 335.

[@tjcolatrella943]

I got the New ES-345 in Wine Red Direct from Gibson only available there from them and the intonation is so far out on 4 of the 6 strings flat and I mean really flat also so much it registers as the preceding note in one or two cases! A total bummer and Gibson tells you it will be set up before shipping too just to add insult to injury! $3,899.00 for a guitar you can't play chords sound sick terrible yet 2 strings the intonation is spot on so none of this is due to atmospherics etc.! I wouldn't be surprised if a disgruntled employee intentionally sabotaged it, it's that bad! It arrive Friday and Monday I may ask them to take it back and give me a refund!

[@john_air]

*one suggestion for your awesome channel* becasue your channel is helpful and great for guitar geeks like me and i want to continue to watch it PLZ don't start the video with exetremly frowny face i see that all the time in outsdie i don't want to see that in my private time thank you very much =)

[@JackFossett]

I didn’t

[@john_air]

@@JackFossett you know you did.

[@JackFossett]

No, that’s incorrect. Thanks for the comment though! Have a good one.

[@john_air]

@@JackFossett thx for the awesome reviews keep rocking and smile =)

[@HappyHermitt]

Go listen to Freddie King playing his. OMG

[@Winterfell1066]

You are a great guitar player. I love your informative videos. However,...... I keep thinking, "Why is this accountant telling me about guitar?" So... you are great. Your videos are great. You look like an accountant. No disrespect to accountants,.