In one of the most iconic scenes in film history, a Gibson ES-345™ Cherry Red guitar took center stage in the film Back to the Future—and today, it’s making history again. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the beloved Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment film starring Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, and in honor of October 21—officially recognized as Back to the Future Day—Gibson, the legendary global instrument brand, in partnership with Universal Products and Experiences proudly announces the Back to the Future Collection. Featuring limited-edition ES-345 models from Gibson Custom and Epiphone, as well as an exclusive apparel line, the Back to the Future Collection is designed to thrill both guitar enthusiasts and fans of the iconic film. Music and film fans can stop by the Gibson Garage Nashville and London locations to see the entire Back to the Future Collection in person, and worldwide via Gibson.com.
This summer, Gibson and Michael J. Fox launched a global “Lost to the Future” search for the original Gibson ES-345 Cherry Red guitar played by Fox in Back to the Future during the unforgettable “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance scene—a moment that inspired generations of musicians after Marty McFly’s electrifying performance of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode.” Despite efforts to find the guitar during the filming of the sequel, the guitar’s whereabouts remained a mystery. Fans worldwide have been submitting tips at www.LostToTheFuture.com, and after thousands of submissions, Gibson has narrowed the search and is actively pursuing a handful of promising leads to locate and authenticate what may be the most significant guitar in movie history.
“Bringing this guitar to life has been a passion project for many years, and it’s incredibly exciting to finally see it become a reality,” says Mark Agnesi, Director of Brand Experience at Gibson. “We couldn’t be prouder of how these guitars turned out—they’re truly special. This is the guitar that inspired me, and countless others from my generation, to pick up playing in the first place.”
The Back to the Future 1955 ES-345 Collector’s Edition from Gibson Custom is limited to just 88 guitars worldwide, a nod to The Time Machine from the film, and features a stunning Cherry Red finish with exclusive design details. The Epiphone Back to the Future ES-345, limited to 1,985 guitars globally, celebrates the year the blockbuster film hit theaters and offers fans an accessible way to own a piece of cinematic and musical history. In addition to the guitars, there’s also an exclusive range of Back to the Future apparel and accessories, including tees, hats, collectible guitar pick tins, a guitar strap, and an AXE HEAVEN® mini guitar that will delight collectors and fans alike.
Back to the Future Gibson Custom Collection guitar case candy includes a flux capacitor, key to the Time Machine, a Casio watch, production still from the film, a guitar strap, picks, posters and a Certificate of Authenticity.
The new Epiphone Back to the Future ES-345 is a replica of the legendary Gibson ES-345 based on the model that Michael J. Fox aka Marty McFly plays in the film Back to the Future. A loving tribute to this cultural icon, the Epiphone Back to the Future ES-345 features a five-ply layered maple semi-hollowbody with a solid maple centerblock for enhanced sustain and improved feedback resistance. The top has four-ply binding with single-ply binding on the back. The mahogany neck has a comfortable Rounded C profile and is topped with a single-ply bound rosewood fretboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and is adorned with pearloid split parallelogram inlays that are a hallmark of the ES-345. The 60s Kalamazoo headstock is equipped with a Graph Tech® nut and Epiphone Deluxe tuning machines with cream Keyston buttons. The Epiphone logo and Gibson Crown are inlaid in mother of pearl. On the back of the headstock, in a nod to the 1985 film, you’ll find a Hill Valley Music store decal. The Back to the Future ES-345 has gold hardware, including an Epiphone LockTone™ Tune-O-Matic™ bridge and a Bigsby® B70 vibrato tailpiece, and just like the guitar in the movie, the original Stop Bar studs are left in place. The Back to the Future ES-345 is powered by two of Epiphone’s acclaimed Alnico Classic PRO™ pickups, each with individual volume and tone controls. A mono Varitone provides even more tonal versatility. It even comes packed in a vintage-style hardshell case with Marvin Berry and the Starlighters graphics. The Epiphone Back to the Future ES-345 is limited to only 1985 units worldwide, and they’re sure to go fast, so unless you have a flux capacitor-equipped Time Machine so that you can go back in time to get one later, you’d better grab yours now while you still can.
Launching alongside the Epiphone and Custom Shop ES-345 guitars, Gibson’s apparel division will release a collection of exclusive, film-inspired merchandise. Ranging from AXE Heaven mini ES-345 Cherry Red guitars to guitar pick tins, straps, T-shirts, and hats inspired by the film, the Back to the Future collection promises to be an exciting addition to any fans collection.
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