Gibson Custom Back to The Future "1955" ES-345 Collector's Edition - Cherry Red

To celebrate 40 years of Back to the Future, Gibson brings one of cinema’s most iconic guitars back to life with the new Back to the Future ES-345! In one of the most memorable scenes in Back to the Future, a Gibson ES-345 took center stage and became forever linked to both film and music history. While the story was set in 1955, the instrument used on screen was a 1959 ES-345, supplied by Norman Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars. Its stunning Cherry Red finish and unmistakable tone helped create one of cinema’s most iconic musical moments. Now, to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary, Gibson Custom has recreated this legendary guitar with the Back to the Future “1955” ES-345 Collector’s Edition, a painstakingly built tribute that captures every detail of the original instrument, complete with Murphy Lab ageing and Custom Shop craftsmanship at the highest level.

This guitar features a traditional three-ply ES body constructed from maple, poplar, and maple, along with a solid maple center block for added sustain and reduced feedback. Ensuring the colour of this guitar was as accurate as possible to the original was a serious challenge. The Gibson Custom team spent months analysing the original film, and other instruments crafted at the time to ensure the colour was just right, and they’ve done a wicked job. The Murphy Lab team have also done an incredible job aging this instrument. The subtle lacquer cracking, dings, and tarnished hardware really add to this guitars look and character.

The mahogany neck is joined with hide glue using a long tenon for maximum resonance and stability. It features a 1961 Authentic Thin D neck profile and a bound rosewood fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets, a 42.85mm nut width, and a 24.75-inch scale length. Just like the original guitar used in the film, it includes a single parallelogram inlay at the 12th fret, a subtle yet distinctive detail that makes this model truly special.

Equipped with a pair of unpotted Gibson Custombucker pickups with Alnico 3 magnets, this guitar delivers a wide and expressive tonal range. Each pickup is hand-wired to its own volume and tone controls using CTS potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors for exceptional clarity and response. Adding to its versatility, a mono Varitone switch expands the tonal options even further, allowing players to explore everything from warm vintage tones to sharper, more cutting sounds. With an ABR-1 bridge, Bigsby ’59 B7 tailpiece, and Kluson Single Line tuners, this guitar offers great stability.

Limited to only 88 pieces, a tribute to the film’s iconic time-traveling speed, the Collector’s Edition is handcrafted by the expert luthiers at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, Tennessee. Every detail has been carefully recreated, from the period-correct 1950s construction to the hand-applied Cherry Red finish. Each guitar is presented in a Lifton hardshell case featuring Marvin Berry and The Starlighters graphics, complete with a selection of exclusive case candy, making it a truly special collector’s piece that celebrates both cinematic and musical history.