Repair Advice for Gary Baker’s cherry-red Gibson ES345TDC

[Gary Baker]

Gary Baker’s cherry-red Gibson ES345TDC with Stereo-wiring, Varitone, Custom-Made plaque and side-to-side Vibrola tailpiece.

Uncertain about Needed Repairs and Date of Manufacture  

I am Gary, the 72 year-old original and only owner of a ES345TDC since my teenage years, probably bought in 1960 nor 61.  I owned A cheaper Epiphone 2-3 years before I begged my Uncle Fred Kihm, Mid-west Regional (Sales?) Manager for Chicago Musical Instruments, to build me a special Gibson.  I was young, currently influenced by the Gretsch White Falcon, so chose the ES over the Les Paul (ooooh), but Uncle Fred made the rest of the decisions (Cherry-red/Stereo-wired/Side-to-side Vibrola/Varitone/Custom Made Plaque). A very fine uncle, even though a Bigsby or factory stop would have been more playable.  Nephew Dave broke the Vibrola bar in the 70’s or 80’s.  I should have dumped the vibrola then and just installed a stop (like Elvis Bishop’s-whose guitar looks more like mine than any other ES I have seen being played on TV. His appears to be stereo, too, but he has the long pick guard and orange pickup switch and tear-drop varitone knob. Mine has short guard and cream-colored pickup switch and a round knurled varitone switch.). Instead, I machined a replacement Vibrola part that was stronger.

I do not know the manufacture date.  I seem to remember being excited to be able to play the flat string-bending notes to the recently released Ventures song, Walk, Don’t Run (1960), but because I already had the Epiphone, it is hard to remember exactly when I received the ES-345.  Its thin neck, its cream-colored pickup switch knob, its gold-trimmed tone/volume knobs and the short pick-guard suggest it is post 1959, maybe post 1960. (ƒ-hole label stamped faintly: 6543-35, preceded by a hand-written illegible character, either A or 8 or 7)  I haven’t been able to find this serial number. 

I would like to repair it, spruce it up to snuff, but I need expert advice.  Lucky for the guitar, I never amounted to much of a player, mostly due to genetic lack of rhythm that eventually eliminated me from several bands.  Therefore, the ES-345TDC never got beat-up by playing too much.  It deserves repairs: replacing the side-to-side vibrola with a “factory-like” stop (for improved guitar balance) or with a Bigsby, unless this “unusual” guitar is worth more with the original Vibrola.  Along the way, decades ago, I replaced the bridge factory PAF humbucker with a single coil Duncan (I think). I was hoping for (and did not get) a sharper Fender sound. Should I replace the Duncan bridge pup with (copy of) original equipment or with the current preferred pickup(s)? I definitely need new heads (or tuning knobs, at least)  Mine are discolored, shriveled plastic and one is chipped with a slightly bent shaft, but all still function.  There is one small wood ding on the bass side of the head, not extending into the tuners nor in-lay.  I or a luthier could probably repair this shallow wood chip damage in the head with epoxy resin (Fix Rot Kit) and black enamel.

I would agree with anyone who claims the side-to-side vibrola and the Varitone switch are just decorations, although there ought to be technology now to make in/out of phase and other music effects that could replace whatever was in the Varitone switch that might provide more interesting stereo effects.  Any ideas??

I still have the original, intact y-pigtail cord, each tail with a mono-amp jack. The stereo guitar jack has been resoldered a few times, but is otherwise original.  It has a Gibson hard case.

I plan to pass my ES345TDC guitar along to a future generation family member who already shows a lot of music talent, but I am interested to know the approximate valuation and the year of manufacture for my odd serial number.  I have photos, if needed.  I need advice before proceeding.

SPECIFICATIONS:

ƒ-hole sticker says:

Style:  ES-345

Gibson Guitar

Number: (handwritten illegible first character is maybe a squirrely 7 or 8, or letter A) followed by (stamped faintly) 6543-35 (I cannot find this serial number or anything like it.)

Guaranteed against faulty workmanship & materials

(Stamped) STEREO VARITONE

GIBSON, INC.

Kalamazoo, Michigan (Street address not on label=225 Parsons St)

U.S.A. 

(end f-hole label)

•Side-to-side Vibrola tailpiece: cast iron fulcrum-whammy bar broken in 1970’s, replaced with stronger machined-steel custom part.  Old broken part weakly bronze-welded, kept inside case.

•Shallow wood chip in distal bass-side of head.  

•Original machine heads with plastic turning knobs have shrunk and become deformed/dsicolored, at least one with bent axle.  All still function.

•Neck:  0.75” thick at 3rd fret;  0.85” thick at 12th fret.

•Short pick-guard

•Cream/Yellow edge trim contains a fine black pinstripe on the front trim.

•Neck pickup is orig PAF Humbucker.  Bridge pick-up replaced ~1975? with Duncan (maybe Dimarzio) single coil that fits into/under the original gold-plated PAF Humbucker cover plate.  Cannot find where I put Duncan paperwork and old PAF Humbucker.  Original PAF probably lost.

•White letters “STEREO” embossed into truss-rod cover in the head.  

•White letters “Custom-Made” embossed into rectangular plastic plate below tunamatic bridge.

•Varitone- 6 position.  Mine has the only Varitone knob that is round that i have ever seen on-line or TV (maybe to keep away from the side-to-side vibrola?)

I apologize if I am in the wrong forum.  I am neither a luthier nor a good guitar player. I need advice on what to repair/change and where.

Gary Baker

[e-mail]

[Alex Glasser]

you might want to go down to gryphon in palo alto.  looks like you're in humboldt but it would probably be worth the drive

[Paul Verticchio]

Great advice from Alex. I second the recommendation.

Your instrument has the potential of being extremely valuable (possibly a 5 digit figure). Given the modifications (which were perfectly 'acceptable' at the time they were made), its value will be much less than if it were stock.  If you can find the original PAF, you can add an extra $2K to the value of the guitar. The actual value of the guitar [as is] can only be estimated after a professional hands on appraisal.

Please entrust it ONLY to a reputable and experienced repairer.

If you have a photo of the instrument, we would LOVE to see it :)

Best of luck.

[Gary Baker]

Thanks Alex and Paul

I will again search for my original PAF, something I do about every 10 years.  I will take it down to Gryphon, but probably not until March.  I presume Gryphon will find me...a reputable and experienced repairer.  Will they be able to decipher my serial number?  Should I contact Gryphon before I darken their door?

Gary

P.S. I have 7 more photos, but blog offered only 3 per send

[Joshua Levin-Epstein]

I'm sure Gryphon can steer you to a competent repair person, They can certainly appraise the guitar and give good advice as they have been in this business since vintage guitars were known as "used" guitars.

The serial number does begin with A (1960, 1961) but the numbers do not match those years which end with A 36147 (Duchossoir). If the guitar is indeed custom, that might explain the odd serial number. Regardless, this looks like a 60/61 345. The sideways vibrato dates from 1960. I would bet that if you removes the "Custom Made" plate, you'll find either stop tailpiece bushings or holes for them. You really risk damaging the finish by looking or by removing the tailpiece , so I wouldn't. You could have the buttons on the machines replaced or replace the machines with contemporary replacements, that will work much better than the originals.

Also, when this guitar left the factory, the pick ups were wired out of phase. This may no longer be th case with the replacement pick-up. It would be great (and to your advantage) to locate that original pick-up. And stay away from that Fix Rot stuff.

[Paul Verticchio]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for taking the time to post those pic's. You have a beautiful instrument.

For its age, the finish appears to be in excellent shape.

She's a beauty. :)

[Alex Glasser]

to Gary: Brian Michael at Gryphon can help you with everything.  He's the head of the repair shop.  I would have done it if i still worked there! Frank Ford, who runs this whole website is the owner and main man repair guy there.  Just call Gryphon and ask to talk to to Brian.  He will let you know everything you need to know.

[Gary Baker]

Alex, Paul and now Joshua

Thanks so much.  You have given me the Gryphon pathway and a contact name and good information and advice that I needed.  Your suggested date of manufacture (1960-61) and my dim memory match.  It never occurred to me that the "Custom Made" plate would cover-over pre-installed holes or bushings for the stock stop.  I will sign-off and call Brian Michael at Gryphon.

Gary

[LARRY KLOSE]

Brian's the guy.  He's done work for me--absolutely first rate.  In addition, Frank still works daily in the same shop and they consult as necessary.  They both ended up at the counter to discuss one of my jobs, for example.  The rest of the crew appears to be first rate as well, although none of them has done work for me.

There's bio's of the whole repair staff on the Gryphon web site, BTW.  www.gryphonstrings.com

Larry

[Frank Ford]

Hi -

Looks like I'm late to the party - again.  I just got back from my two-day teaching gig at Roberto-Venn in Phoenix, so I'm more behind than usuall, I guess.

Indeed, I am here in the shop more or less daily, and Brian and I would be glad to take a look at  your guitar when you can bring it in.  A phone call ahead is a good idea, so we make sure we're all here, etc.   650-493-2131