to the Future. British guitar player John McLaughlin owns a Sunburst ES-345 modified with a Bigsby tailpiece and a scalloped fingerboard. He played this guitar in the One Truth Band and Trio of Doom. The ES-345 was discontinued in 1981, one year after the Gibson Lucille, which is based on the ES-355 (see below), was launched. The differences between the two models are: The headstock inlay on ES-345 is a "small crown" rather than the "split-diamond" custom inlay on the ES-355. The position markers on ES-345 are "split parallelogram" rather than the "block" inlays used on the ES-355. Also, the first fret on the ES-345 is not inlaid. The stereo output wiring and the Varitone was factory-installed on the ES-345 and ES-355TD-SV, but not on the unmodified ES-355TD (mono version). The vibrato unit (Vibrola or Bigsby) was an option on the ES-345; In contrast, it was factory-installed on most ES-355s (except for the earlier models in the 1950s, final models after 1979, and Lucille). As of 2020, The ES-345 is back in production. Instead of the Varitone switch and stereo output, this new version differentiates from the ES-335 mostly in its traditional aesthetics, but does feature a thermally-engineered maple centerblock and quartersawn adirondack spruce bracing. ES-355 The Gibson ES-355 (Thinline semi-hollow, Double pickups) was at the top of Gibson's range of thinline semi-hollowbody electric guitars. It was manufactured from 1958 to 1982, fitted with the Varitone Stereo option (SV), as the ES-355TD-SV released in 1959. This guitar is now available in reissues from Gibson's main line or custom shop. The headstock has a split-diamond inlay rather than the smaller crown inlay on the 335/345, in addition to a multiple-layered binding. The fingerboard inlays are inlaid mother-of-pearl blocks, beginning at the first position of the fretboard. In addition to the headstock, binding is also applied to the fretboard and both the front and the back edges of the body. Rather than the rosewood fretboard on a 335 or 345, both variations of the 355 have an ebony fingerboard for a 'smoother' sound. Reissues use a richlite fingerboard. Early models of Epiphone's limited edition budget version had an ebony fingerboard but the later issues had a rosewood board. The ES-355 was available with a Vibrola vibrato unit or a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. It was also available with a stereo output and Varitone tone filter circuitry. When fitted with the optional stereo wiring