Marty McFly's 'Back to the Future' guitar is missing and Gibson wants your help

Gibson is asking the public to help locate Marty McFly’s missing guitar from Back to the Future, which disappeared decades ago. — Image credit: Universal Pictures/"Back to the Future"

This recording was made using enhanced software.

Summary

The search begins

Gibson is searching for Marty McFly’s iconic guitar, the cherry red ES-345 used in 'Back to the Future,' which vanished after filming the first movie.

The guitar's origin

The guitar was originally borrowed from Norman’s Rare Guitars, but may have been resold during a Japanese vintage guitar boom in the 1980s.

Got a tip?

The search will be featured in a new documentary, 'Lost to the Future,' and fans can submit tips online or by calling a dedicated hotline.

Full story

It’s been 40 years since “Back to the Future” debuted, but one key piece of the film’s legacy has vanished. Gibson is asking for the public’s help tracking it down.

The guitar in question? The cherry red Gibson ES-345 famously played by Michael J. Fox’s character, Marty McFly, in the 1985 cult classic.

A guitar lost in time

The instrument was originally borrowed from Norman’s Rare Guitars in Los Angeles. But when production on “Back to the Future Part II” began, producers noticed the guitar had gone missing.

Gibson, the guitar manufacturer behind the iconic model, officially launched a public search on Tuesday. The brand announced the initiative with help from Back to the Future stars — including a cameo from Huey Lewis, who also appeared in the original film.

The space-time mystery

In a 2023 interview with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, Norman’s owner shared that he warned producers the guitar model wasn’t era-accurate. It wasn’t released until 1958, though the film’s setting was 1955. But the team chose to take “artistic liberty” and used it anyway.

Actor Christopher Lloyd, who played Doc Brown, joked in the video announcement that the guitar might have fallen into a paradox or vanished into the space-time continuum.

But some believe the answer might be a little more grounded.

Mark Agnesi, Gibson’s director of brand experience, told Billboard the guitar was apparently sold and resold multiple times.

“We know it was returned to Norm’s,” Agnesi said. “At that time in the mid-’80s, there was a Japanese vintage guitar boom; charter buses of Japanese tourists were pulling up and buying everything in sight,” he explained. “So it could be someone has it in Japan.”

How to submit tips

Gibson’s hunt for the guitar will also be chronicled in an upcoming documentary titled “Lost to the Future,” timed with the 40th anniversary of the film.

The project invites fans and guitar lovers alike to join the mission and help solve one of pop culture’s most intriguing mysteries.

Those with any information about the guitar’s whereabouts are encouraged to call 1-855-345-1955 or submit a message at LostToTheFuture.com.

Harry Fogle (Video Editor) contributed to this report.

Tags: Entertainment, film, Hollywood, movies, Music

[KENNEDY FELTON]

It’s been 40 years since Back to the Future hit theaters, and one iconic piece of movie history has been missing ever since.

Can you help track down Marty McFly’s guitar? The legendary Cherry Red Gibson ES-345 played by Michael J. Fox in one of the film’s most famous scenes has vanished.

“It’s somewhere lost in the space-time continuum, or it’s in some teamster’s garage.”

Now, guitar maker Gibson is officially on the case—launching a public search Tuesday with a little help from some familiar faces.

“Michael, Michael, Michael. I’m sorry, I’m afraid you’re just too darn loud.” “Is that Huey?”

Yes—that’s music legend Huey Lewis, who made a cameo in the first film as a judge at the school talent show. Now, with the help of fans, Gibson hopes to track down the guitar once and for all, and they’re documenting the search in a new film called Lost to the Future—celebrating the franchise’s 40th anniversary.

“Or there might be a paradox.”

Christopher Lloyd—aka Doc Brown—might be onto something. The guitar was originally borrowed from Norman’s Rare Guitars in Los Angeles, but in a 2023 interview with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, the owner of the guitar shop said there was always a little time travel trouble.

“I said, ‘Look, they didn’t come out with these guitars until 1958. I just wanna warn you.’ They said, ‘We’re taking artistic liberty.’ (Laughs)”

If you have any information on the lost guitar, Gibson wants to hear from you. Call the tip line at 1-855-345-1955 or visit .

Why this story matters

The search for the missing iconic guitar from 'Back to the Future' highlights the enduring cultural impact of the film, the importance of preserving cinematic artifacts, and the ongoing fascination with musical history and memorabilia.

Cultural legacy

The widespread initiative to find the guitar underscores how 'Back to the Future' has inspired generations, with artists like Chris Martin and John Mayer crediting the movie for sparking their interest in music, according to The Hollywood Reporter and other sources.

Preservation of film history

The effort by Gibson and the film's creators to locate the lost guitar demonstrates a broader recognition of the value and fragility of physical props as key elements of cinematic heritage, as detailed by multiple sources including USA Today and The Associated Press.

Community engagement

By inviting the public and fans worldwide to contribute tips and participate in the search, as described by Rolling Stone and other outlets, the story illustrates how shared nostalgia and collective action can play a role in preserving and rediscovering important artifacts.

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Behind the numbers

While there are no complex statistics provided, several sources note the rarity and value of the missing and unique Gibson ES-345 guitar. According to Norman Harris and Mark Agnesi, a standard early 1960s ES-345 could fetch $25,000 to $50,000, but its role as a prominent movie prop makes it essentially priceless to collectors and fans.

Context corner

The 'Enchantment Under the Sea' scene in 'Back to the Future' featured Marty McFly performing on a Gibson ES-345, a model introduced in 1958, although the scene is set in 1955. This historical inaccuracy is often discussed by fans and filmmakers, but it hasn’t diminished the guitar's symbolic status in pop culture.

Global impact

The search for the iconic guitar extends internationally, as some believe it may have been purchased by a Japanese collector during a vintage guitar boom in the late 1980s. Gibson’s outreach includes input from its teams in Japan, China, and Europe, underlining the global cultural and collector interest in this cinematic artifact.