Gibson ES-330TDC Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968)
LOADING IMAGES
This item has been sold.
Item # 10335
Prices subject to change without notice.
Gibson ES-330TDC Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 979071, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a very nice example of the final original version of Gibson's classic double cutaway thinline hollowbody, the ES-330TDC. This guitar exhibits the major design modification the ES-330 underwent in 1968: the neck joint was shifted from the 16th to the 19th fret, making it feel and play more like the semi-solid ES-335. This of course greatly improved fretboard access, and thus is one of the few examples of some players preferring the later 1960's version of a Gibson instrument to its earlier incarnation! The combination of the fully hollow thinline body with the extended fret access is quite rare in a Gibson.
Other features on this ES-330 are standard for the late 1960's including chrome plated metal parts, "Witch hat" style knobs and the very thin (just a hair over) 1 1/1/2" nut width used in the late '60's. This guitar has a lovely deep transparent cherry finish overall, with single binding on the body and a bound, block inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The two P-90 pickups are controlled by the standard Gibson one switch, four knob wiring.
These "long neck" 330's were only in production for a few years made in smaller numbers compared to earlier 1960s examples so are relatively rare. The ES-330TD in general is a great sounding very versatile guitar, one of Gibson's most adaptable designs. This model been heard in many styles of music since the instrument was introduced in 1959: Jazz great Grant Green used ES-330's extensively on his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings, as did many other jazz, blues and R&B artists. The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were featured in countless '60's British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann and many more. This is a super example of the final 1960's version, a very friendly guitar all around.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This guitar is in very nicely preserved condition overall, looking only lightly played and well cared for over the past 50+ years. The original finish shows very nice color with hardly any fade to the cherry lacquer. It does have some typical checking, with minor dings, dents and scuffs overall but no large areas of wear. The headstock edges have some minor chips and there is one deeper ding in the body binding just above the upper cutaway.
All hardware is original and complete. The chrome plating shows just some minor wear, mostly to the bridge saddles. The original frets look to have been crowned down a bit but are still in good shape without any notable wear. Overall this is a great sounding example and a very nice player. It includes a period 9more 1970's era Gibson hard case that is in good shape but has some musty odor to it; a modern HSC can be substituted if preferred. Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a very nice example of the final original version of Gibson's classic double cutaway thinline hollowbody, the ES-330TDC. This guitar exhibits the major design modification the ES-330 underwent in 1968: the neck joint was shifted from the 16th to the 19th fret, making it feel and play more like the semi-solid ES-335. This of course greatly improved fretboard access, and thus is one of the few examples of some players preferring the later 1960's version of a Gibson instrument to its earlier incarnation! The combination of the fully hollow thinline body with the extended fret access is quite rare in a Gibson.
Other features on this ES-330 are standard for the late 1960's including chrome plated metal parts, "Witch hat" style knobs and the very thin (just a hair over) 1 1/1/2" nut width used in the late '60's. This guitar has a lovely deep transparent cherry finish overall, with single binding on the body and a bound, block inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The two P-90 pickups are controlled by the standard Gibson one switch, four knob wiring.
These "long neck" 330's were only in production for a few years made in smaller numbers compared to earlier 1960s examples so are relatively rare. The ES-330TD in general is a great sounding very versatile guitar, one of Gibson's most adaptable designs. This model been heard in many styles of music since the instrument was introduced in 1959: Jazz great Grant Green used ES-330's extensively on his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings, as did many other jazz, blues and R&B artists. The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were featured in countless '60's British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann and many more. This is a super example of the final 1960's version, a very friendly guitar all around.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This guitar is in very nicely preserved condition overall, looking only lightly played and well cared for over the past 50+ years. The original finish shows very nice color with hardly any fade to the cherry lacquer. It does have some typical checking, with minor dings, dents and scuffs overall but no large areas of wear. The headstock edges have some minor chips and there is one deeper ding in the body binding just above the upper cutaway.
All hardware is original and complete. The chrome plating shows just some minor wear, mostly to the bridge saddles. The original frets look to have been crowned down a bit but are still in good shape without any notable wear. Overall this is a great sounding example and a very nice player. It includes a period 9more 1970's era Gibson hard case that is in good shape but has some musty odor to it; a modern HSC can be substituted if preferred. Overall Excellent Condition.