Gibson Custom 1964 ES-345 Mono Varitone

This Gibson Custom Shop M2M 1964 ES-345 is one of the coolest and most distinctive semi-hollows we have ever had through the door. It began when John spotted a striking Gibson on Instagram and asked the Custom Shop to recreate the colour. The result is a unique shade that sits somewhere between red and pink, still classic in vibe but unmistakably custom. It is bold, elegant and unlike anything you can buy off the shelf. When it arrived, the warehouse team loved it instantly.

Built to 1964 ES-345 specs, this guitar features a plain maple body with pressed top, back and rims, all finished in VOS for a soft, vintage sheen without artificial ageing. Most ES models of this style are Murphy Lab aged, but this one is clean, classy and free of relic work, perfect for players who want vintage vibe without simulated wear. The colour is matched across the top, back and rims, with a medium cherry neck tint that blends beautifully into the body.

The neck is genuine mahogany with a 1964 ES-335 profile, topped with an Indian rosewood fingerboard. Split parallelogram aged celluloid inlays give it a proper old-school look, and the Jescar FW45100 fretwire and 22-fret layout offer excellent playability. The nylon nut, 24.75 inch scale and 1.6875 inch nut width complete the vintage-correct feel.

Hardware is gold throughout, and it looks incredible against the custom colour. The Kluson tuners, ABR-1 bridge with nylon saddles, gold pickup covers and gold Varitone ring all add to the luxurious aesthetic. The Bigsby tailpiece with Custom Made plate gives it that unmistakable 345 swagger, and the long ES-335 pickguard ties the whole look together. The truss rod cover reads Stereo, but the guitar is wired mono, exactly as intended for this build.

Electronics include a pair of Custombuckers, Gibson's most accurate recreation of late 50s and early 60s PAFs. They are built with unpotted coils, Alnico magnets and carefully matched wind patterns to deliver the airy top end, open midrange and dynamic response that define the best vintage semi-hollows. In a 345-style platform they shine even more, giving you that unmistakable bloom on the note, the woody attack and the harmonic complexity that makes these guitars so addictive to play. Paired with the mono Varitone and ES CPA wiring with PIO caps and vintage taper pots, the result is a wide palette of tones that move effortlessly from warm jazz to biting blues to chiming, articulate rhythm work.

This is a one-of-a-kind M2M build with a unique colour, gold hardware, Bigsby, VOS finish and classic 345 styling. It is perfect for players who love the vibe of something like the ES-355 Noel Gallagher model but want a more individual twist and a lower price point. You simply cannot walk into a shop and find another one like it.