Gibson ES-330TDC Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1967)
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Gibson ES-330TDC Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1967), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 120770, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
This is a beautiful original example of a cherry finish ES-330TD from 1967, with the rare optional factory-installed Maestro Vibrola vibrato tailpiece. It shows typical features for the period most notable all chrome hardware. The nut is the narrow 1 9/16" width used after 1965, although 1 5/8" was the technical standard. A total of 2563 cherry ES-330TD's shipped from Kalamazoo in 1967, the model's grandest total to date but only a small proportion would have been ordered with a vibrato, and even fewer with this one. The feel of the Maestro is a bit tighter than a Bigsby and if used with precision it is more likely to stay in tune.
The single bound thin-rimmed laminated maple body has a brilliant cherry finish overall and is fully hollow with no center block, unlike the semi-solid 335-355 series. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret and has a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons; on this guitar they have been restored. The two P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the newer late 60's style "Witch Hat" amp-style plastic tone and volume knobs and white switch tip.
The ES-330 is a great sounding and very versatile guitar at home in many musical situations. Despite being intended by Gibson as an "amateur" instrument (the least expensive of the double-cutaway thinlines) the 330 has been used by legions of professional players and heard on countless classic records in many styles since its introduction in 1959. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings. A number of period bluesmen have been spotted with it as well, including B.B. King, Chuck Berry and most notably Slim Harpo, who is nearly always pictured with one.
The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were also featured in countless '60's British invasion groups, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. The American garage band era players who took inspiration from these bands made extensive use of the model as well. This early 1967 guitar shows only minor wear and is a very nice example, superbly playable and vibrato-ready with the expected "Fab" sound in spades!
Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This nearly 60-year-old guitar is in nicely preserved condition overall, looking played but relatively well cared for since the Johnson/Nixon years. The all-original cherry lacquer finish is a deep rich red with light checking and hardly any fade, retaining a vibrant color. There are some dings, scuffs and chips overall, with superficial belt buckle worming to the center of the back and minor dinks and chips to the back of the neck but no really heavy wear.
The hardware is largely original including the factory original Maestro Vibrola, a rare find on this model. The Tune-O-Matic bridge is a later repro by Faber in Germany and a plastic shim has been added under the neck pickup to raise it up to balance the sound with the neck unit. This can be removed if desired but does make a noticeable sonic difference. The tuners have been restored to correct originals with minimal scarring; something else was previously fitted. The chrome plating shows some minor wear overall.
The original frets have been crowned down a bit and the guitar is a friendly player, especially if you like a narrower neck and a vibrato. It sounds great and resides in the original ES-335 style yellow-lined deluxe black case, which few period buyers of this model shelled out for (most 330's originally came in chipboard!). Overall Excellent - Condition.
This is a beautiful original example of a cherry finish ES-330TD from 1967, with the rare optional factory-installed Maestro Vibrola vibrato tailpiece. It shows typical features for the period most notable all chrome hardware. The nut is the narrow 1 9/16" width used after 1965, although 1 5/8" was the technical standard. A total of 2563 cherry ES-330TD's shipped from Kalamazoo in 1967, the model's grandest total to date but only a small proportion would have been ordered with a vibrato, and even fewer with this one. The feel of the Maestro is a bit tighter than a Bigsby and if used with precision it is more likely to stay in tune.
The single bound thin-rimmed laminated maple body has a brilliant cherry finish overall and is fully hollow with no center block, unlike the semi-solid 335-355 series. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret and has a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons; on this guitar they have been restored. The two P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the newer late 60's style "Witch Hat" amp-style plastic tone and volume knobs and white switch tip.
The ES-330 is a great sounding and very versatile guitar at home in many musical situations. Despite being intended by Gibson as an "amateur" instrument (the least expensive of the double-cutaway thinlines) the 330 has been used by legions of professional players and heard on countless classic records in many styles since its introduction in 1959. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings. A number of period bluesmen have been spotted with it as well, including B.B. King, Chuck Berry and most notably Slim Harpo, who is nearly always pictured with one.
The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were also featured in countless '60's British invasion groups, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. The American garage band era players who took inspiration from these bands made extensive use of the model as well. This early 1967 guitar shows only minor wear and is a very nice example, superbly playable and vibrato-ready with the expected "Fab" sound in spades!
Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This nearly 60-year-old guitar is in nicely preserved condition overall, looking played but relatively well cared for since the Johnson/Nixon years. The all-original cherry lacquer finish is a deep rich red with light checking and hardly any fade, retaining a vibrant color. There are some dings, scuffs and chips overall, with superficial belt buckle worming to the center of the back and minor dinks and chips to the back of the neck but no really heavy wear.
The hardware is largely original including the factory original Maestro Vibrola, a rare find on this model. The Tune-O-Matic bridge is a later repro by Faber in Germany and a plastic shim has been added under the neck pickup to raise it up to balance the sound with the neck unit. This can be removed if desired but does make a noticeable sonic difference. The tuners have been restored to correct originals with minimal scarring; something else was previously fitted. The chrome plating shows some minor wear overall.
The original frets have been crowned down a bit and the guitar is a friendly player, especially if you like a narrower neck and a vibrato. It sounds great and resides in the original ES-335 style yellow-lined deluxe black case, which few period buyers of this model shelled out for (most 330's originally came in chipboard!). Overall Excellent - Condition.