Gibson ES-355TDW-SV Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1972), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 619105, walnut grain lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, brown tolex hard shell case.

This is a very clean 1972 Gibson ES-355 TDW-SV (thin line double-pickup Walnut Stereo, Vari-Tone is how the model is listed in Gibson's 1970 catalog) showing very little use over the last 50+ years. The top-line thin semi-solid 355 model was always a showpiece for Gibson; this early '70s example has its maple body finished in a dark walnut shade then a recent addition to the available palette. The body has 7-ply top binding, 3-ply back binding and single-ply bound f-holes.

The 3-piece mahogany neck has a single-bound ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays; the nut is the thin 1 1/2" spec held over from the late '60s. The headstock face is 5-ply bound with abalone Super 400 style split block inlay, an engraved "Stereo" truss rod cover and original Kluson Keystone Sealfast "waffle-back" tuners. All the hardware is gold plated. The unique Gibson Vari-Tone system was common on this model at the time, a 6-position selector offering a range of brighter tonalities than the standard humbucking tones.

The pickup covers on this ES-355 have "GIBSON" embossed on the covers, a short-lived feature pointing to a build date around 1972; the serial numbers in this period are notoriously unhelpful. The neck has the volute and "Made In USA" stamp typical of this period as well. This was the last semi-solid model to be fitted stock with the Maestro vibrola tailpiece; this fitting disappeared by the early '70s from most instruments as vibratos in general were considered out-of-date.

Gibson claimed this model "Offers the accomplished artist an amazing range of sound" and It has always been known as a very versatile instrument. While designed primarily with jazz and country players in mind, the ES-355 has long been considered one of the classic electric blues guitars, and virtually from its introduction was standard equipment for many of the seminal players in that genre, especially Chuck Berry and B.B. King. This one is ready to play "Everyday I Have The Blues" everyday, or pretty much anything else for that matter!
 
Overall length is 41 3/4 in. (106 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.).

Now more than half-a-century old this Es-355 remains all original and complete in truly excellent condition for its age. The walnut finish shows almost no visible checking, and has very little wear except for some very minor loss here and there. This includes some light finish flaking at the neck joint seams and a small finish chip on the back of the head stock that does not appear to go into in the wood. The nicely figured maple back has no heavy wear of checking with one small ding near the upper waist. There is some typical finish checking on the headstock face.

The hardware is all original and complete. The gold plating is overall very well preserved; there is some minor loss on the Gibson logo pickup covers near the pickguard, as well as on the tuners and bridge top. The vibrato tailpiece is complete with all arm fittings and in excellent shape with hardly any plating loss. The multi-bound pickguard appears to be original with no celluloid deterioration. The original frets show very little wear with all intact nibs.

This practically time capsule guitar is a wonderful player, and hardly looks 15 years old let along 50! It comes in an older deep pink-plush-lined brown hard case, which is very clean overall with some scuff marks, structurally perfect with all latches working. The case key and Gibson string pamphlet are still in the pocket. Overall Excellent Condition.