Introducing the new Gibson Marcus King ES-345 electric guitar in Sixties Cherry
The Gibson Marcus King ES-345™, finished in striking Sixties Cherry, joins Gibson’s celebrated Artist model lineup, paying homage to the influential American guitarist Marcus King. Inspired directly by King’s prized 1962 ES-345—an heirloom passed down from his grandfather to his father and now to him, previously recreated by Gibson Custom—this guitar uniquely blends vintage character with contemporary enhancements.
The Marcus King ES-345 features mono wiring, Custombucker humbucking pickups delivering authentic vintage tones, and a fixed Vibrola tailpiece that enhances tuning stability without compromising the iconic vintage aesthetic. To coincide with the launch, Gibson is hosting an event with Marcus King on June 17 at the Gibson Garage in Nashville from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm CT.
Marcus King will appear in person, performing and answering questions posed by Mat Koehler, Vice President of Products. King has already released two new singles this summer, so stay tuned to Marcus’ Spotify channel for more new music to enjoy.
Marcus King is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist with the soul of American roots music flowing through his DNA. Hailing from South Carolina, his spine-tingling vocals and emotive guitar playing were influenced from an early age by his blues guitarist father, Marvin King, and grandfather who was a country musician.
What’s special about the Gibson Marcus King ES-345?
This guitar maintains the essential ES-345 design elements: a laminated maple/poplar/maple body, solid maple center block to increase sustain and feedback resistance, and luxurious gold hardware. The mahogany neck sports a comfortable Rounded profile (averaging .875” at the first fret, .975” at the 12th fret), complemented by an Indian rosewood fretboard with acrylic split parallelogram inlays and 22 medium jumbo frets.
Grover® Rotomatic® tuners with kidney buttons and an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic™ bridge ensure precise tuning and reliable performance. Each Gibson Marcus King ES-345 includes a robust Gibson hardshell case, safeguarding this musical heirloom whether on the road or at rest, ensuring it remains ready for every performance.
The Gibson Gazette recently caught up with Marcus, who offered his insights on the history of the guitar that inspired his new signature model.
Aside from its significance as a family heirloom, what is it about the sound and feel of your ES-345 that keeps drawing you back?
“My grandfather always called the ES-345 the Cadillac of guitars, and I couldn’t agree more with that comparison. A true American classic that serves as the gold standard for tone and curbside appeal. This guitar has the ability to pull new ideas out of me every night and an incredible versatility that makes the possibilities nearly endless.”
What do you think are the important elements of “Big Red” that needed to be captured in your new signature model and how do you feel about how the end result turned out?
“My grandfather—a career serviceman in the Air Force—always believed in keeping your gear and your workstation in tip-top shape and condition. We captured that perfect blend of ‘patina’ and ‘preservation’ with this instrument.”
You’ve previously spoken about the sense of nostalgia you associate with “Big Red”—do you think this new model from Gibson USA is an ideal opportunity for players to forge their own path and make their own musical memories?
“Big Red has always been a grounding instrument and comforting reminder of where I come from. That guitar always brings me back home to the joy, curiosity, and obsession I had for guitar from the beginning. I am so excited for another generation of players to feel what I felt, seeing and playing this guitar always feels like taking your dad’s car out for a Sunday drive. A hot red Coupe Deville with the top down, baby.”
There aren’t many other guitarists under the age of 30 who can say they’ve had two Gibson signature models. How does that feel?
“I’m always tremendously honored and humbled when I take Big Red out of the case. It still feels like my grandfather’s guitar, and I approach it with the same respect as I did when he first let me play the guitar when I was a young boy. I know he’d be very proud to know that Gibson and I were delivering this feeling to a new audience of players.”
Get all the details about the Gibson Marcus King ES-345 and gain some great insights into the incredible versatility of ES models, in general.
