The Lost Bass Project has taken on the case of finding Marty McFly's Gibson ES-345 from Back To The Future, similar to their recent success in tracking down Paul McCartney's missing Höfner 500/1 violin bass.
The iconic ES-345 guitar, famously played by Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly in the 1985 film Back to the Future, has been missing since the movie's production ended. Despite a global search initiated by Gibson, the guitar's current location remains unknown [1][3].
To aid in the search, Gibson has enlisted the help of investigative journalists Scott and Naomi Jones, who recently found Paul McCartney's missing Hoefner bass in 2023 [6]. Their expertise is proving invaluable as they scour for leads and tips from the public [1].
Thousands of leads have been submitted, but as of August 2025, the trail is still cold, and the guitar has not been recovered [1][3][5]. In light of this, Gibson is not expecting anyone to return the missing ES-345, but they are trying to locate it to reunite it with Michael J. Fox [4].
Agnesi, the director of brand experience at Gibson, has asked the public to check their own guitar collections, including guitars from family members, for any potential leads [2]. The possibility exists that the McFly ES-345 could be in someone's possession and they might not even know they have it.
The ES-345 that Gibson is searching for is either a 1960 or 1961 model, and it has a unique characteristic - an anomalous inlay at the 12th fret, which rules out most suspects [3].
Jason Isbell, a renowned musician, is also involved in the search for the lost ES-345. In parallel, Gibson has teased a Custom Shop reissue model inspired by the original Marty McFly ES-345, indicating the firm’s continued interest in reviving the guitar’s legacy even as the original remains lost [2].
Norman's Rare Guitars, where the ES-345 was purchased from, does not have it [3]. If anyone has seen a Cherry Red ES-345 from the early '60s with a solid inlay at the 12th fret, they should submit a tip at Lost To The Future [3].
In a recent development, Scott and Naomi Jones have officially joined Gibson's investigative team for the lost ES-345. They are using their skills and resources to help find this iconic piece of cinema history [1].
Meanwhile, Paul McCartney was reunited with his 1961 Hoefner bass in December 2023 after it was found in an attic in Sussex in September 2023 [6]. Scott and Naomi Jones successfully found the bass, and McCartney played it on the final date of his Got Back 2024 Tour at London's O2 Arena [6].
The search for the lost ES-345 continues, with the hope that it will one day be found and reunited with Michael J. Fox, just as Paul McCartney's Hoefner bass was reunited with him.
[1] https://www.gibson.com/en-US/News/2025/08/20/Gibson-Partners-with-Scott-and-Naomi-Jones-to-Help-Find-the-Lost-ES-345-Guitar-from-Back-to-the-Future [2] https://www.gibson.com/en-US/News/2025/07/28/Gibson-Announces-Custom-Shop-Reissue-of-the-Marty-McFly-ES-345 [3] https://www.gibson.com/en-US/News/2025/06/15/Gibson-Launches-Global-Search-for-the-Lost-ES-345-Guitar-from-Back-to-the-Future [4] https://www.gibson.com/en-US/News/2025/05/15/Gibson-s-Lost-to-the-Future-Project-Aims-to-Reunite-Michael-J-Fox-with-the-Guitar-He-Played-in-Back-to-the-Future [5] https://www.gibson.com/en-US/News/2025/03/31/Gibson-s-Lost-to-the-Future-Project-Update-March-2025 [6] https://www.gibson.com/en-US/News/2024/12/15/Paul-McCartney-Reunited-with-His-1961-Hoefner-Bass-after-It-Was-Found-in-an-Attic-in-Sussex-in-September-2023
The search for the iconic ES-345 guitar, associated with the film Back to the Future, has led Gibson to enlist the help of investigative journalists Scott and Naomi Jones, who are known for their success in finding Paul McCartney's missing Hoefner bass in 2023. With their expertise, they are combing through leads and public tips, hoping to unearth any clues about the missing music instrument's whereabouts.
As Scott and Naomi Jones focus on locating the lost ES-345, the music world follows their search closely, reminiscing about the blend of entertainment, music, and pop-culture that the legendary guitar and the iconic film embodied.
