The Gibson ES-345 [In Defence Of The Varitone & Stereo Output]
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2024
- Mick’s found an incredibly special old guitar… but can he manage to leave it alone and NOT mod it?
Welcome to the show. Yeah yeah yeah… I know, another show about my gear. Dan does want to do some stuff on his board and guitars but he’s been a bit snowed under as 2024 kicked off and hasn’t quite got there yet. So it’s me again!
Anyway.
Hopefully this show will function as more than just a rather spawny, ‘Oooh, look at my new guitar!’ video, and instead shed some light on one of Gibson’s less-loved features of the 20th century: the Stereo Varitone electronics package that dates all the way back to 1959 as the ES-345 and 355 hit the market (although officially launched the previous year).
So what is it, what does it do, and will I keep it un-modded?
Let’s find out…
Enjoy the episode!
I also just want to say a very special thank you to Adrian Thorpe (Thorpy), Dan Coggins and Rob Francis, without whom this guitar would not be in my possession. I am eternally grateful because I feel like I’ll be playing this one as long as I keep playing!
Oh, and please visit That Pedal Shop www.thatpedalshop.com/
Pedals & Stuff used in this show
• ThorpyFX Warthog
UK & Europe: bit.ly/2WoMXMS
Australia: bit.ly/2WRo1fY
USA: bit.ly/3qWCTK7
• Kinglsey Juggler
kingsleyamplifiers.com/product...
• Caroline Guitar Company Megabyte
UK & Europe: bit.ly/3SejodY
Australia: bit.ly/41Sjlb4
• Jam Pedals Harmonious Monk MkII
UK & Europe: bit.ly/41lFPzE
Australia: bit.ly/414fg2h
USA: bit.ly/421cyKA
• Universal Audio Evermore
UK & Europe: bit.ly/4aPitbg
Australia: bit.ly/3TYdq26
USA: bit.ly/4aPitbg
Interesting bits & go-to sections
0:00 Intro playing
2:00 Why are we making this video?
2:40 Origins of the Gibson ES-345
5:45 Stereo & out of phase?
9:55 Separate pickups, separate amp channels
11:40 Mid position in and out of phase
13:25 Varitone demo
16:20 Interaction of the volume controls
22:14 And with a bit of Thorpy Warthog
23:10 ES-345 and ES-335 Comparison 1
26:00 Leave it stereo, or make mono?
27:46 ES-345 and ES-335 Comparison 2
33:00 Closing thoughts and tones
38:25 Upcoming from Dan…
Guitars in today’s show
1965 Gibson ES-345 Stereo
Gibson Memphis 1958 ES-335 - Mick’s video here: • Gibson Memphis 1958 ES...
Amps in today’s show
Two Rock Classic Reverb Signature 100/50 & 112 cab with EVM12L speaker
Fender ’65 Deluxe Reverb with stock speaker
UK & Europe; bit.ly/2G9OnFJ
USA: sweetwater.sjv.io/ZQe62z
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“I guess you’re not ready for that yet… but your kids are going to love it”
Hahahahhha!!!
Norm said they rented that guitar so long they could have easily bought the thing!
I think Dan needs a guitar like that 345 because his jazz chops really shine on it.
Totally agree
Definitely
Yup. There was something different about Dans playing when he started playing that guitar. He just floated. Was great.
Agreed, and I also want to hear him on a "proper" jazz box.
On the other hand, I think Dan would totally love a Gibson's proper Big Jazz box like what Ron Quillo played from Carter Vintage
Love this, hard to beat the versatility of an ES345! Happy new guitar day Mick!
Okay this is my second comment on this video.... but I just want to write as a long time sub', that I hope Dan and Mick know how much we love that you guys have finally purchased some great guitars and we all share in the joy of discovery.
Ain't it a wonderful thing? .... and hard work pays off!
Long live TPS.
Thank you!
Finally watched it all, as a Lucille owner, and toying with the varitone, the flipped bridge magnet, and the stereo jacks, there's definitely a magic and a vibe to having it all in one guitar. I think that the varitone is probably better suited for a guitar pedal, like what Rothstein, De Lisle, and Tiny Tone have out. Because it saves adding an extra pound of weight, and modern varitone style pedals come with a boost for even more fine tuning.
The stereo wiring and flipped magnet are really cool with the right amp, like a JC-40, Twin Reverb, etc., but swapping in a push-pull pot would be wise for controlling the pickup phase on the fly, in addition to rolling the knobs.
With carefully tuned pickup heights, there’s already a world of sounds to explore just from the out of phase dual vol / dual tone pots. With the added varitone, there’s probably timbres for a lifetime in one axe.
As Mick says, it was a Mick-indulgent show but, like most Mick-indulgent shows, it went down an interesting rabbit-hole.
Dan sounds like a jazz master tone wise!. Tasty licks!
Maaaaaaaan, took me 3 days to watch this but now that I finally have - that 345 is wicked! Beautiful playing to both of you, but the inspiration was bleeding out of you Dan!
Great episode! I was thrilled to hear the reference to Freddie King when talking about the middle position.
Thanks Mick for giving the 345 some love. It gets beat up pretty good in the forums because of the Varitone. I have a ‘63 345 and I love mine and never get rid of the Varitone…it’s a secret weapon
This was a SUPER VIDEO for sure!!!! Dan would CUT MICK's ARM off if he Touched it you could TELL!!!!
@@ksharpe10 luckily Dan is trained in the means of restraining Mick without the need to carry out any impromptu amputations!! 😜
Ok, mine aren’t vintage guitars, only Memphis 1964 Reissues, and so they only have the mono Varitone and don’t have the out of phase pickups, but I’ve always really struggled to understand the hate there seems to be for the ES-345 because of the Varitone. I’d pick one every day over an ES-335.
Wonderful guitar Mick!! Congratulations!! So glad you’re not going to mod it!
I know that every guitar sounds different, even the same model. After hearing this 345, on my stereo, I don't know why someone would remove a varitone switch. Thanks guys, your playing and content are always excellent!
I just got a Mid 60s SG special and the pickups are out of phase. It does the same quack no quack when one of the PUs is rolled back a touch. So cool.
Somewhere, a guitarist says - “I’m not going to buy anything for a while”
Somewhere else - a B string breaks on a mid-solo bend!
Are these event’s connected?
Don’t take the chance! Gather unto you the joy bringing things, and play!
I think if the Gigrig has 2 inputs, running each pickup through completely different signal chains would be cool. Imagine having the neck pickup clean with tremolo and the bridge overdriven with some reverb. That would make a pickup change to completely different sounds. Then the middle would be really interesting to hear what sounds you could put together. Congrats on getting such an amazing Guitar!
There are number of ways to do that, and it could indeed offer a LOAD of options. Could be fun. But too much brain for me. Hahahab
One odd example of other Varitone equipped guitars if you're curious, although kind of a similar shape : the Epiphone Al Caiola, which is a Casino variant, fully hollow, albeit without F holes, longer scale, slightly more spaced out pickups, only one set of volume/tone knobs, no middle position and, instead of a rotary switch, the Varitone comes with individual switches, allowing to combine positions. Produced in small quantities in 63-69 as a "Custom" version with mini humbuckers, and an oddly even less common (a couple hundreds made, only in 67-68) "Standard" version with P90s, which is a dream to play.
The delay was set up beautifully for that slow jam. I would play that sound all night and day.
The quality of the sound we get to hear through RUclips is just so lovely. Really great production, Mick.
Luscious, luscious guitar. For a simple version of the phase-flipping trick, I highly recommend the Harmony Comet.
These two often reference Spinal Tap, for those living in UK, and not yet seen it - it is currently on iPlayer, not sure how long it will be there for, but well worth a watch!!
@HRJ1411 No, don’t even look at it.
I think for me that's jumped straight to the coolest guitar on the show! And it had some very cool stuff to compete with
Yeah no arguement there it was OtherWorldly, like GOD came down and BLESSED it for Sure.
What an amazing sounding thing! I was quite concerned when Mick said he was going to mod the snot out of the 345. What a gorgeous sound in both you fellas hands. Been waiting for this video for a few weeks! Cheers fellas!🎉
What an absolutely ace guitar. So many useful and useable tones. Not sure for heat-of-the-moment live performances but for studio use a Swiss Army knife of tones and options. Before you even approach your pedalboard…
Moved to comment for the first time in ages. Sheeeesh what a guitar. I’ve only ever heard the Varitone referred to with scorn and derision. Y’all really changed my (frankly, unfounded) assumptions about it. GREAT get, fellas. Sounds killer.
And Dan, your jazz chops are shining🔥
Hello Tom, Mick here. I was the same on the Varitone and like you, my option has been totally changed by actually using it. Amazing thing!
So fun to watch you both play. Mick, about as solid a blues man as can be. When Dan starts having fun and exploring the fretboard something magical happens. Both so inspiring to me.
Lovely! Congrats Mick!
Wow! What else is there to say? Mind blown 🤯
I think I heard that BB King always played his on 2. Congrats Mick! That is a beauty. Nice teaser as well!
Congats and early Happy Birthday Mick! Beautiful guitar. My own 50th present to me was a PRS DGT with a rosewood neck/Brazilian fretboard. Best guitar I have ever played.
Honestly one of the best videos I've seen from TPS. Mick's playing was also incredible. Thanks guys!!
Great sounding guitar and it’s fun watching you enjoy playing it!
One of the many projects I keep thinking about doing sometime is putting three humbuckers in a guitar with Jaguar-style on/off switches for each pickup and a varitone.
I still have, and regularly use, my 1960 Gibs0on GA-79 -the stereo amp made for these guitars. I've owned it since about 1965. It has two independent 15 watt amps each going to a separate 10" speaker. The case angled the speaker away from each other to increase separation.
I've got a '62 GA-79RVT and a '67 ES-345 and the two together are magic. The middle position really opens up the amp and having reverb and trem on one channel only gives the Space Reverb that Swart has been emulating for years. My only critique of this setup is the nut width on the '67 is smaller and not as comfortable as the earlier or later versions... Wish I had a 64-65 for the normal nut width, but hey, it is still a vintage Gibson, so I can't really complain
Still one more version of the ES 355. I have been playing my 1990 B B King Lucille since this guitar was new somewhere around 34 year now. This version has no F Holes and there are Two Output Jacks, 1 for Bridge PU and the 2 output Jack for the Neck PU. No TRS cable required. Considering the out of phase factor and now the 2 cables, 1 for either of two amps, Mick, you are 100% correct in saying It's not practical for implementing all that. Something is bound to wrong somewhere, but so far for me for the past three decades plus, I plug into the jack that is the top one and everything works like it would on a Les Paul, re both V & T Pots.
What to say? Those are some of the most pleasing, gorgeous, inspiring guitar tones I've heard on this show played by anyone! May it continue to give you joy, Mick!
Hearing the 345 via the bitrate of a RUclips video, I can only imagine how good it sounds in the room. That's a fuck of a good guitar. Congratulations Mick!
What an astounding guitar! Congratulations 😎
Well congrats on the new guitar. That didn't take long into 2024. Already accomplished your mission. Something about a guitar almost 60 years old. For sure the wood it is made out of has been a guitar much longer than it was ever a tree. For sure a reason it sounds so killer. Have a great weekend.
When I had mine, I'd run one pickup through one pedal/pedals and vice versa. Always two amps. Really miss that guitar 😢
That was so musical
This guitar really deserves new music Mick, Hope it’s inspired you to create some! Congrats 🎉
This is the first show I’ve watched on my Hifi for some time. I have to say the audio is sounding spectacular!
Thank you Simon! We made some changes just recently, and of course constantly learning. Cheers!
All these possibilities it's amazing, and these clean tones wonderful
Now we need a show with all the vintage stuff! Dan’s tele and junior plus Mick’s Strat and 345!
Dan is always so enthusiastic, but that flipping guitar tone is actually AMAZING!
Never pressed Like so fast. I love your shows that revolve around your guitar acquisitions beacuse you guys appreciate them so much. I would still love to see a vlog on this discussing more of the story behind why you wanted it, how it came to find you or vice versa, how you acquired it, and any of its history that you can share. Also your 335 is still crackin. The 345 is amazing, but a tad fiddly too. Both amazing in their own right. Love the SG teaser too!
Was so looking forward to this episode & didn't disappoint. Thanks for sharing!
The tonal possibilities are amazing on that beauty. Congrats Mick!
Guys looked at the varitone schematic and it doesn't change the polarity. That switch is the same as other Gibsons N, B, Center = N+B. It is a bit different in wiring than others with the volume after the switch.
I also looked up the Gibson GA-79RVT which was their stereo amp and it has identical circuit for both channels going to separate 10" speakers.
But the freaken varitone circuit is wild with those two honken chokes in there and separate vari-caps for each pickup.
Great show thanks! Gordon
That guitar is beautiful. Congratulations Mick!!!
That guitar is so full of surprises! Loved every minute of this. Congrats Mick, and happy early birthday!🎉
I have 2 words for the sound that guitar produces: Bob Weir
Dude, that intro jam was wiiiiiiillld. So good. That is a really special sounding guitar.
The way Dustin Kensrue of Thrice uses a stereo guitar with his switcher is very interesting. The switcher is programmer to control the pickup selection. As a singer and player, this really simplifies everything you have to do during a gig. Worth considering revisiting this topic in the future and how this could work with the Gig Rig.
That’s a great solution for the kind of gig where everything is kinda set the same for each gig or song. Like, ‘always this sound here’. That’s basically the polar opposite of how I play and my gigs! But it is blimmin interesting! Maybe Dan would be into it.
Dan's jazz noodling was sublime👌
What a lovely sounding Guitar, I see Mick's given up on the contact lenses, Dan needs one of those Guitars, great show gents. PEACE AND LOVE TO EVERYONE ❤❤.
The varitone is the most under rated control in the history of the electric guitar. All Gibsons should have one in my opinion.
Fantastic video, thanks guys.
I don't wait for "special" dates. I stay on the look out for that "one" that fills a long standing desire and pounce when the price is right.
Great video Guy's. Lovely playing by you's two as always. I've got an early '70's 335 td, but it has got block inlays and neck binding. I loved the sounds that the varitone got out of the instrument, never heard it demonstrated as well as that before. I'm lucky enough to have one of the few made with the coil tap switch on the lower bout. It can make the guitar very Straty like your varitone setting. It's the most versatile guitar l own, you can make her sound like anything you want. It was my go to guitar when l was a London West end theatre pro.
Thanks for a great video Guy's, you've got a lovely guitar there Mick.
Think you nailed it on the head that it’s infinitely musical could fit into any mix. Will be interesting how you get along with some live shows
The Les Paul that featured a Varitone was the Les Paul Personal, Professional and Recording Models. The knob was labeled Decade, and had 11 positions(1 being off).
What a guitar and what a show!! Quite possibly the best 40 minutes I've ever spent on RUclips. So much learning and inspiration! Thank you leg-ends, you are amazing! Now all I need is to win the Euromillions so I can get one...
This video was really clarifying to me! I am on the market to acquire a Gibson ES and I didn't know much about the 345 stereo with Varitone, because I am more focused on the 335. But man...this 345 is really amazing, rich and plentiful of different tones.
That out of phase feature is so cool as well!
Loved this episode, especially the exploration of phase and varitone. If Dan is interested in a varitone I'd highly recommend the ES-137 Custom as an option. You don't get the same phase fun, but the tone options are great! Keep up the great content gentlemen.
Dan the Jazzer , cool playing mate when testing the Varitone 💪🏻👌🏻
Good god, that SG sounds absolutely outrageous! Cannot wait to hear what Dan has to "say" with that incredible guitar.
I used mine back in the 70s with the gibson stereo jack going into a Twin and a Super. Overdrive on the twin and clean on the Super
Pure magic
That 345 through mp3/RUclips compression was killer.
Mick you found a way to make the wet dry set up even more awesome by being able to dial up the gain and or wet effects via the guitars volume knobs whilst matching each pickup to the effects it suits best.
Delighted to see you both using right angle jacks at the body input. It always terrifies me when I see the regular lead sticking out. Both beautiful guitars, really cool. Quite the dynamic duo today. 🤘
Those people with regular straight jacks are monsters ! :D
@@jeremygorszczyk Amen brother. 🤪
Probably flip their toilet paper the wrong way ;)
@@derekclemons Don’t get me started on the toilet paper! My wife loads the roll to the back, wtf!! I call that the mullet, as opposed to the normal way, which I call the fringe. 🙄
'A gnat's chuff'. I will be using that expression for the rest of my life.
Sweet guitar Mick ! My Lucille has 2 x 1/4" mono jacks with the Varitone. Cheers from Toronto.
that ES-345 is magic but please get the in-phase sound too, that's the most beautiful thing ever
Congratulations on finding such a lovely guitar Mick! Hope it brings you years of joy 🤞🏻🙏🏻
Lovely guitar! I agree with Dan … as gramps used to say, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
I own a genuine 1965 Epiphone Casino with factory fitted (at the time of manufacture) Varitone. Truly a rare bird.
I'll use the inappropriate term and say that the 345 sounds better. It really does - I even listened to the show without looking at the screen. So much musicality and harmonics, and "vibe", and yes the notes sound less stiff or hard as Mick said. Nothing wrong with one guitar sounding better than another. Some Nashville guys/RUclipsrs say a guitar "sounds like a record", and this 345 definitely does that! Great show!
Brilliant video! And a beautiful guitar! I use an Xotic X-Blender when I want to play my ‘69 ES345 in mono without modifying the circuit. It solves the issues with the volume pot interaction which arises when passively summing the pickups with an adapter, and also allows the phase to be inverted.
I have wanted a 345 for a while. I bought a 335 recently. it satisfies the need.
Vintage guitars are magic
Mick that is a NICE guitar! Congratulations.
You guys have the coolest toys.
I love everything y'all do. I'm also happy you're going to explore it as it was made, I think they had a good set of ideas. Thanks for all of the information, camaraderie, philosophy, and inspiration!
The 345 is an astonishing guitar...gratz Mick!
The show we’re all waiting for!
Congrats Mick !!! Glorious tones
The company 'deLisle Guitars' makes the "Pentatone" which is a replica of the Varitone. Gibson really doesn't make too many of these and the parts are hard to find. For $50ish bucks, you're there with deLisle.
My 345 came without the varitone wired in and when I discovered it was just the switch with no components, I realized that it would not be very easy to get it working again by myself. The whole thing needed help, I only had one patent stamped pickup that didn't sound right, and the controls were not original, so I got the Pentatone and a wiring harness and I'm in business, HOWEVER, Mick you got me thinking I need to make the pickups I put in there out of phase! Brilliant!
I'm one of those Fender Clean Sounds kinda guys - but I have to admit that sounded glorious with a lot of dirt on it. Congrats on the new guitar Mick!
To me it sounded like the FENDER Killer depending on who is playing it. WOULD love to hear John Cordy do some Jazz and his regular thing with this GUITAR, It would SPLIT ytube in TWO. At least for Guitarists!!!
Soooo good! Some time back I toyed with the idea of putting a varitone circuit in my old Sheraton. After hearing your 345 I absolutely will NOT be doing this. Now I've heard that guitar....too high a benchmark. What a beautiful sound.
Beautiful. The only genuine vintage guita i have ever played was a cherry red '64 335. It was a delight and its neck was as skinny as my Parker Fly Deluxe. Wonderful thing.
Not sure if someone else has mentioned this in the comments but Gibson came up with the numbers because they were the original price. So an ES-335 is Electric Spanish and cost $335 in 1958, so the fancier 345 and 355 were more money by $10 and $20 in 1958. This numbers for price is also true for things like the ES-125 and such.
Ha! How amazingly short sighted! Hahahah! Same with Martin. D-18, D-28 etc….
Stunning
If I were looking for "The One", that would be it! Ticks all my 'favourite tones' box. I wonder how many have been 'overlooked' in guitar stores! Beautiful guitar Mick and congrats on your big birthday!
Wow, "the special one" just entered the game. Congrats, what a treat! Lovely new board you have there. 😊
hope you are now spending a lot more time playing than before. Congrats that thing is gorgeous.
50 years ago I owned a red ‘62 ES345.
I wanted to be like Elvin Bishop!
I loved that thing…
It was stolen when I was 18years old.
I cried like a baby.
What I’d do to have it back?
Congrats Mick, you earned it.
Hi Gents,
Hey Mick, ten seconds in and l can hear you've got a live one there. Can't really define it - you just know it when you hear it.
I'm certain it assuages any phantom Blue pain you might be experiencing and replaces it with that gorgeous Tequila Sunrise burst joy.
Congrats on the new acquisition and l hope it gives you many years of happy days.
What an awesome guitar.
I love my '95 335, but that one is killer :)
I can hear why you bought the 345. So many classic and rich tones.
Don't underestimate the overall effect of the different bridge/tailpiece setups. Changes more than just the feel.