This Gibson ES-345 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar in Sixties Cherry weighs 8 lbs 10 oz. The ES-345 takes the visual vibe of the venerable 335 to the next level with multiple ply's of binding on the body and split parallelogram fingerboard inlays.
Ok, fine... it's not THAT different than the 335. There aren't tons of cosmetic upgrades, like the difference between a Les Paul Standard vs Custom. However, the cosmetic upgrades on the ES-345 are far more subtle yet somehow obvious. The Cream-Black-Cream binding around the body certainly adds depth and elegance to the shape. This style of binding is still done by hand and is very tedious and time-consuming, especially considering each ply involves the same amount of work.
The other immediately obvious aesthetic up-tick is the Split Parallelogram Fingerboard Inlays. Always a dead giveaway that you aren't looking at a 335! These acrylic fingerboard inlays look outstanding in a bound Dark Rosewood Fingerboard. The strong contrast makes them pop off the fingerboard (not literally, of course, but if that did somehow happen our experienced repair team has you covered :).
The neck itself is made from Mahogany and is carved to Gibson's Medium C Profile. Not as thin as a SlimTaper, not as thick at a 56-58 Les Paul, this is a nice, full-feeling neck that I'd call medium-thick more than medium-thin. The fingerboard is made from Rosewood and has a 12" fingerboard radius. 22 Medium Jumbo frets give us a tall yet flat, glass-like surface to work with, allowing for easy bends and vibrato. 1.7" nut with is just a hair wider than the 1.69" we see quoted on most Gibsons. I don't notice any difference, personally. 24.75" scale length allows the strings to feel a little slinkier than on a Fender. Check out Matt's Blog on the subject to learn more.
Gibson Calibrated T Type Humbucker Pickups come in the ES-345 model. These pickups are brighter and more open sounding than say a 57 Classic. This makes them an ideal choice for those who like to play clean or with pedals. Each pickup has its own volume and tone control and is accessible on its own or in tandem via the 3-way pickup toggle switch. These pickups are great if you prefer the sound of single-coil pickups but want the feel and performance of a larger semi-hollow. While still definitively humbuckers, the Calibrated T-Types open top-end nature is a step toward the single-coil sound.
