Does it matter that a 1958 Gibson ES-345 appeared in a Back to the Future scene set in 1955? According to Michael J. Fox, it makes “little difference”
Though a cult classic adored by millions, Back to the Future famously features a historical faux pas, which many guitar gear aficionados have been consistent in pointing out since the film’s release in 1985.
The mistake, specifically, is that Marty McFly plays a Gibson ES-345 during the iconic “Enchantment Under the Sea” school dance scene. Only that scene is set in 1955, when the ES-345 didn’t arrive until three years later in 1958.
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Of course, this is a debate for the very niche guitar-nerd subsection of the Back to the Future audience, but how much does it really matter? According to Michael J. Fox, who plays the film’s main protagonist, not all that much.
In his recent memoir Future Boy – released last month – Fox says the decision on the part of the film’s producers to call on a Cherry Red ES-345 for the scene was not intended to be a “cinematic Easter egg”.
The film’s art department simply picked the ES-345 because it evoked the iconic wine-red axe that Chuck Berry famously duckwalked across stages all over the world,” Fox writes [via SlashFilm].
Fox himself wasn’t bothered by the historical inaccuracy himself, as he notes that the 1958 ES-345 was very enjoyable to play while filming.
“Both the ’55 and ’58 versions of the Gibson electric are rare and beautiful instruments; for me, it makes little difference which I played,” he says.
“I’ve always loved the Gibson E line: big, imposing guitars yet hollow-bodied and therefore lightweight. Even a little guy like yours truly could sling ’em and fling ’em and still make ’em sing.”
That the inclusion of a 1958 Gibson ES-345 in a film scene set in 1955 turned out to be largely irrelevant, as the scene quickly became a favourite in the cult classic movie.
Now, 40 years after the movie’s original release date, the scene continues to inspire, so much so that Gibson just released a $20k Custom Shop recreation of the Back to the Future ES-345, alongside a more affordable Epiphone version, too.
Astonishingly given its price tag, the Gibson Custom Shop Back to the Future ES-345 sold out its 88 units – corresponding with the film’s 88 miles per hour needed for time travel – in mere hours.
Credit: Gibson
It later emerged, though, that scalpers had gotten their hands on some of the guitars, with one of the $20k guitars later listed on Reverb for over $100,000. Similarly, the guitar’s $999 Epiphone counterpart was being listed on the gear marketplace for up to $7,000.
“Less than an hour after the first Back to the Future guitars went up on Reverb, 10 had sold – and it hasn’t stopped there,” said Cyril Nigg, Reverb’s Senior Director of Analytics, at the time. “Over the past week, ‘Back to the Future’ has been the number one trending search on Reverb.
“What we’re seeing is part of a larger, nostalgia-fuelled trend, as moments from the past continue to drive demand. In fact, the Epiphone edition is the top selling semi-hollow body guitar on all of Reverb at the moment, as buyer demand continues to outpace supply.”
You can learn more about the Back to the Future Collection, which alongside the two guitars includes a line of BTTF-branded memorabilia, over at Gibson.
Credit: Gibson
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
