George Harrison's Gibson 345

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 8:36 pm

I didn't know George had one of these

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paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:17 pm

I've heard about this one. He briefly used it in '65 after his first Country Gentleman (Ed Sullivan show) fell out of the back of The Beatles' touring car and had been run over by the time they realized and went back for it (another motorist caught up with them at a pit stop and told them they'd "dropped a banjo a few miles back"). He later got a replacement Country Gent as well as a Tennessean (his Shea Stadium guitar). Some have speculated that it was borrowed from The Moody Blues. Others have suggested he actually owned it (due to it turning up in those videos, which were after he got more Gretsch hollows) but it quickly took a backseat to his Casino.

George was a major guitar nerd, he went through guitars like crazy in this period compared to McCartney and Lennon, and didn't use all of them publicly.

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:06 pm

"1965:Gibson ES-345-TD (tobacco sunburst, stop tailpiece; vintage '63-'65). It's been reported that one of the Moody Blues loaned this guitar to Harrison after his Country Gent was smashed on a roadway on 2 December '65, but photos from the "Daytripper" and "We Can Work It Out" video session of 23 November show Harrison playing this guitar, so another myth bites the dust. Other photos show him using it on the December British tour, but after that -- nothing. It doesn't show up in current photos of his collection, so it may just be one of those guitars that passed through his hands. I wish I had more to report, but that's show biz."

Paradigmforcosmos · Post by **Paradigmforcosmos** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:33 pm

Keith Richards also had one in the early stages of The Rolling Stones I believe.

westtexasred · Post by **westtexasred** » Sat Dec 22, 2012 11:51 pm

DanHeron wrote:

Whoa... when did it get a Bigsby?.

paul_ · Post by **paul_** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 12:23 am

And lose the varitone switch and gain dot markers... I reckon that's a different guitar. That's an early pic going by the haircut.

ChrisFFTA · Post by **ChrisFFTA** » Sun Dec 23, 2012 6:35 am

Paradigmforcosmos wrote:Keith Richards also had one in the early stages of The Rolling Stones I believe.

From memory it was used a lot on exile. He still plays one live

rod335 · Post by **rod335** » Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:00 pm

Like every one else I don't know what happened to the 345, although that is it playing the main riff on 'I feel fine' (among other tracks.) The 335 shown with the Bigsby on it was Joe Brown's, the photo was taken at, I think, The Cavern in the early days when The Beatles SUPPORTED Joe Brown! In the early days of the Stones Keith Richards played an early Epiphone Casino, which was sometimes used by Brian Jones. Nowadays, Richards has a black ES 355 ( can't remember if it has a varitone or not.) Don't think he uses the Casino at all, even if he still has it.

Rod

NickS · Post by **NickS** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 1:08 pm

rod335 wrote:Rod

Welcome to the forum, Rod!

rod335 · Post by **rod335** » Mon Jul 29, 2013 6:49 pm

Hello Nick

Thanks for the welcome, maybe I shouldn't be here as my main interest is 50s/early 60s Gibson ES guitars, not the normal forum scene!

The Joe Brown 335 is now owned by Roy Wood, and has been for the last approx 40 years. Joe wants it back and Roy won't part with it.

I did notice someone moaning about the Musicman head shape. I also love these guitars and really don't have a problem with the head shape. Apart from improving the balance and perhaps helping eliminate deadspots, it also reduces string tension on the E and B strings, making bending easier. Plus Musicman guitars (and basses) are so much better made than the alternative.

I did have a short scale (22 1/2"?) Musicmaster, secondhand, in 1967, but I think that's the only shortscale guitar I've ever owned.

Rod