Gibson Celebrates ‘Back to the Future’ 40th Anniversary With Limited Edition Guitars
“I guess you guys aren’t ready for that yet. But your kids are gonna love it,” says Marty McFly after delivering an electrifying solo in the original film.
MARTY MCFLY: Courtesy of Universal Pictures
Great Scott! Gibson is marking the 40th anniversary of the 1985 classic, Back to the Future, with two limited-edition guitars — the Gibson Custom ES-345 and a more affordable Epiphone version — inspired by one of the most iconic guitar scenes in film history.
Only 88 Gibson Custom guitars will be made worldwide, a nod to the DeLorean time machine’s required 88 miles per hour to travel through time. At the same time, Epiphone’s run is limited to 1,985 units, celebrating the year the original film was released.
The guitar pays tribute to the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance scene, where Marty McFly, played by Michael J. Fox, performs Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” on a vintage Cherry Red Gibson ES-345.
The Gibson Custom model is handcrafted in the United States with premium materials, featuring a maple and poplar body, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, gold hardware, and aged finish. The Epiphone version, produced overseas, offers a more affordable option for enthusiasts. It comes with a layered maple body, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, gold hardware, and Alnico Classic PRO pickups.
The Gibson Custom costs USD 19,999, around PHP 1.16 million, while the Epiphone version is priced at USD 999, around PHP 58,000.
The original ES-345 used in the film was supplied by Norman Harris of Norman’s Rare Guitars. Earlier this year, Gibson launched a global search for the instrument, whose whereabouts remain a mystery to this day.
Aside from these models, Gibson has also released exclusive T-shirts, picks, pick tins, and a guitar strap as part of the commemorative collection.
Relive the iconic scene from Back to the Future below:
