The Search Is On for Marty McFly’s Legendary Guitar from Back to the Future

A piece of cinematic — and musical — history has gone missing, and now the hunt is officially on.

Gibson Guitars and Universal Home Entertainment, along with filmmaker Doc Crotzer, have launched Lost to the Future, a quest to track down one of the most iconic props from Back to the Future: the cherry red Gibson ES-345 guitar that Michael J. Fox (as Marty McFly) famously shreds during the Enchantment Under the Sea dance. That unforgettable scene, where Marty rocks out to “Johnny B. Goode,” lit a fire in the hearts of music lovers and aspiring guitarists around the world.

The twist? That legendary guitar has been missing for decades.

Originally rented from Norm’s Rare Guitars in Tarzana, California, the ES-345 vanished sometime after filming — and despite years of searching, no one knows where it ended up. But now, with Gibson and Crotzer leading the charge, a full-fledged search is underway, and a documentary is in the works to chronicle the journey.

“Back to the Future made me want to make movies and pick up a guitar,” says Crotzer (Road House, Shotgun Wedding, Glee). “I’ve always wondered what happened to that guitar.”

Turns out, he’s not alone. Gibson’s Mark Agnesi, who once worked at Norm’s and now serves as the company’s Director of Brand Experience, has been quietly hunting for the guitar for 16 years. Despite combing through countless stacks of vintage instruments, it’s remained elusive.

A Pop Culture Obsession

That scene from Back to the Future has inspired countless musicians. Chris Martin of Coldplay even credited the film as one of the reasons the band exists, calling Michael J. Fox “our hero forever.” Guitar icons like John Mayer and Jason Isbell echo the sentiment, describing the ES-345 as the most iconic guitar ever featured in a movie.

“The world needs to see that guitar,” Isbell says in a new video announcing the search.

If you’ve got a lead on its whereabouts, the team wants to hear from you. Tips can be submitted via LostToTheFuture.comor by calling 1-888-345-1955.

So Where Did It Go?

According to Agnesi, the trail runs cold in the mid-1980s. The guitar was reportedly returned to Norm’s Rare Guitars, but from there, its journey gets murky — possibly swept up in the Japanese vintage guitar boom of the era.

Unfortunately, the guitar’s serial number was never documented. But there's a unique clue: a solid inlay on the 12th fret, unlike the split inlays typical of the ES-345. That distinctive detail is now the key to authenticating the real deal.

“That anomaly is the smoking gun we’re looking for,” says Agnesi. “It won’t be on any other guitar.”

Crotzer calls it “the most amazing coincidence” — a cosmic sign that the guitar wants to be found.

A Few Historical Hiccups

While the movie is set in 1955, the ES-345 didn’t actually debut until 1958 — and the cherry red version didn’t hit the scene until 1959. At the time, Chuck Berry would have been playing a different Gibson model altogether. But the filmmakers opted for style and impact over strict historical accuracy. And we’re glad they did — because that guitar helped make the scene truly unforgettable.

Even Berry’s own family wasn’t bothered. His son, Charles Berry Jr., called the film “a nice wholesome movie,” saying his father got a kick out of it. “It may not be exactly the right guitar, but we’ll take it.”

And as for Marvin Berry? No, he wasn’t real — just a fun piece of movie magic.

More Than Just a Guitar

The search is just one part of a broader celebration of the film’s legacy. Gibson is releasing custom versions of the ES-345 this fall, alongside Back to the Future-themed apparel. An upcoming episode of Gibson TV: The Collection will feature Michael J. Fox talking about his love for guitars and his personal collection. Proceeds will also benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation, through Gibson Gives.

“It’s like Excalibur,” Fox says of the missing ES-345. “I was having the f---ing best time. I didn’t realize the influence it had on people.”


(Gibson ES-345 guitar autographed by Michael J. Fox. a 2015 reissue of a 1960s Gibson ES-345 cherry red guitar, very similar to the 1958 model that Marty McFly played. Photo credit PropStoreAuction.com)

The Bigger Picture

Ultimately, Lost to the Future isn’t just about recovering a guitar — it’s about tracing the impact of a moment that sparked creativity in an entire generation.

“There’s a collective experience here we really want to capture,” says Crotzer. “Whether you went on to become Chris Martin or just played in your garage, this scene meant something.”

Let’s hope that guitar resurfaces. Until then, the story — and the music — plays on.