Marcus King and Gibson reunite on a stripped-back ES-345 in Sixties Cherry
Blues-rock guitarist and singer-songwriter Marcus King has teamed up with Gibson on his second signature guitar, the Marcus King ES-345 Sixties Cherry.
Inspired by his treasured 1962 ES-345, affectionately known as Big Red, this latest model is a tribute to the iconic six-string passed down through three generations of King’s family.
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Originally introduced as a Custom Shop-only release in 2021, the new ES-345 now joins Gibson’s core Artist model lineup in a streamlined version that reflects King’s personal playing preferences.
Finished in a bold Sixties Cherry, the guitar keeps things simple and focused. Notably absent are a whammy bar and Varitone switch – features found on the original – which were deliberately omitted in favour of “only the features that Marcus finds essential”.
That includes mono wiring, two Custombucker humbuckers, and a fixed Vibrola tailpiece to enhance tuning stability while maintaining the vintage aesthetic. Other classic ES-345 appointments remain, such as the 3-ply maple/poplar/maple body, a solid maple center block for sustain and feedback resistance, and gold hardware throughout – including an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and Grover Rotomatic tuners with kidney buttons.
Credit: Gibson
The guitar’s mahogany neck features a rounded profile that averages .875” at the first fret and .975” at the 12th fret, while its Indian rosewood fretboard features acrylic split parallelogram inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets.
A Graph Tech nut and a custom stud anchor cover round out the build. Each guitar also comes shipped in a Gibson hardshell case.
For King, the connection to this model is deeply personal: “The guitar for me as a kid was a release, an escape, a best friend, and a babysitter,” he tells Gibson. “I don’t really like talking about myself, but it being my grandfather’s guitar really helps me feel like I’m able to carry on his legacy. I want to share with everyone else what he shared with me.”
The Gibson Marcus King ES-345 Sixties Cherry is now available for $9,499.
Learn more at Gibson.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
