Head to head
Gibson Back to the Future "1955" ES-345 Collector's Edition, Light Aged, Cherry Red vs Gibson Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition, Black/White
Electric$19,999
No ratings yet77Overall / 100
Electric$16,999
No ratings yet76Overall / 100
The verdict
The Gibson Back to the Future "1955" ES-345 Collector's Edition, Light Aged, Cherry Red and Gibson Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition, Black/White are closely matched overall — 77 to 76 on our estimated score.
Estimated from specs & owner reviews — a starting point, not a substitute for playing both.
Gibson Back to the Future "1955" ES-345 Collector's Edition, Light Aged, Cherry Red wins on
No standout advantage.
Gibson Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition, Black/White wins on
- Lower price ($16,999 vs $19,999)
Scorecard
| Metric | Back to the Future "1955" ES-345 Collector's Edition, Light Aged, Cherry Red | Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition, Black/White |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 77 | 76 |
| Build | 87 | 87 |
| Playability | 75 | 75 |
| Sound | 74 | 71 |
| Value | 67 | 66 |
Full specifications
| Spec | Back to the Future "1955" ES-345 Collector's Edition, Light Aged, Cherry Red | Michael Schenker 1971 Flying V Collector’s Edition, Black/White |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gibson | Gibson |
| Type | Electric | Electric |
| Years | — | — |
| Country | US | US |
| Body wood | 3-ply maple/poplar/maple | Mahogany |
| Neck wood | Mahogany | 3-piece Mahogany |
| Fretboard | Rosewood | — |
| Strings | 6 | 6 |
| Frets | 22 | 22 |
| Scale | 24.75" | 24.75" |
| Pickups | Custombucker Alnico 3, Unpotted / Custombucker Alnico 3, Unpotted | T-Top Humbucker, Alnico 5, Unpotted / T-Top Humbucker, Alnico 5, Unpotted |
| Rating | — | — |
| Price | $19,999 | $16,999 |
| Binding | 3-ply top, single-ply back and fretboard | — |
| Body Finish | Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer | Murphy Lab Aged Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
| Body shape | ES-335 | Flying V |
| Body Styles | ES-335 | — |
| Bridge | ABR-1 No-Wire | ABR-1 (Wire) |
| Bridge pickup | Custombucker Alnico 3, Unpotted | T-Top Humbucker, Alnico 5, Unpotted |
| Case | Lifton™ hardshell with Marvin Berry and The Starlighters graphics | Custom Replica Flight Case with M.S.G. Graphics |
| Centerblock | Maple | — |
| Control Knobs | Black top hat with gold reflector | Knurled White Top Hat with Gold Lettering and Numbers and Dial Pointer |
| Controls | 2 Volume, 2 Tone, CTS 500k audio taper potentiometers, paper-in-oil capacitors; 6-position mono varitone | 2 Volume, Master Tone; Hand-wired with 500k CTS Potentiometers and Ceramic Capacitor |
| Finish | Aged gold | Chrome; Murphy Lab Light Aged |
| Fretboard inlay | Celluloid split parallelogram with celluloid parallelogram at 12th Fret | Cellulose Dot |
| Fretboard radius | 304.8mm / 12.0in | 304.8mm / 12.0in |
| Fret Count | 22 | 22 |
| Headstock Inlay | Gibson logo and crown in mother of pearl; Hill Valley Music dealer plaque on headstock rear | Gibson Logo Hotstamped on Truss Rod Cover |
| Joint | Long tenon, hide glue fit | Glued In, Set Neck |
| Model | 55ES345BTTFMLGH1 | 71FVMSBWMLCH1 |
| Mounting Rings | Black M69 medium & tall | Black |
| Neck pickup | Custombucker Alnico 3, Unpotted | T-Top Humbucker, Alnico 5, Unpotted |
| Nut | Nylon | Corian |
| Nut width | 42.85mm / 1.69in | 40.01mm / 1.58in |
| Output Jack | 1/4" Switchcraft | 1/4" Switchcraft |
| Pickguard | Short ES-335; black 5-ply, wide bevel | Single-ply White, Painted Half Black |
| Pickup Covers | Gold | None |
| Pickup Selector | Switchcraft 3-way toggle | 3-way Switchcraft |
| Profile | 1961 Authentic Thin D-Shape | Artist Profile |
| Scale length | 628.65mm / 24.75in | 628.65mm / 24.75in |
| Strap Buttons | Burnished brass | 2 - Near Heel/Tenon on Back and On Side of Left V Tip |
| String gauges | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 | .010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046 |
| Switch Tip | Cream | Cream |
| Switchwasher | Gold with black lettering (Varitone) | — |
| Tailpiece | Bigsby '59 B7, gold with black paint | Historic Reissue Stop Bar |
| Truss rod | Authentic 1950s no-tube | Adjustable |
| Truss Rod Cover | Authentic stepped 2-ply | Single-ply White, Painted Half Black |
| Tuner Plating | Aged gold | Chrome; Murphy Lab Light Aged |
| Tuners | Kluson single line, single ring | Schaller M6 |
| Accessories | — | Certificate of Authenticity in Matching Black/White Folio, #56 Medallion on Commemorative Mahogany Block |
| Headstock | — | 70s Short Flying V, Artist-signed on Headstock Rear |
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