Gibson ES-335TD Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958)
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Item # 12992
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Gibson ES-335TD Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1958), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # A-28376, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a magnificent example of one of Gibson's absolute classic electric guitars -- an ES-335T from the first production year 1958. Although 335's from just about any year are usually excellent instruments, connoisseurs of the model consider those from 1958-9 to be the ultimate examples. All of 267 sunburst finish ES-335s were shipped out of Kalamazoo in that initial year 1958, starting around April. According to the "A" Artist series serial number this guitar was shipped in early November. The factory order number stamped under the treble side F-hole is T5971-21.
ES-335T was Gibson's first semi-solid thinline with a solid wood block running down the middle of the body, a revolutionary design that launched an entire new genre of electric guitars. This new model cost all of $267.50 in 1958, and the brown case would set you back an additional $46.50. This was in the same price range as the newly sunbursted Les Paul, which the ES-335 and its expanding semi-solid family soon eclipsed, at least in the exes of Gibson's management.
This one bears a beautiful deep shaded sunburst finish on the top and back and shows typical features for later 1958. The most notable is a bound, dot-inlaid fingerboard, which would be changed to pearloid blocks a couple of years later. The VERY first 335's had an unbound fingerboard, but that upgrade was added shortly before this one was built. The neck profile is the round-backed 1958-9 "C" style, which some players greatly prefer to the thinner flatter profile "1960 neck" which replaced it at the dawn of the new decade. The neck angle is quite flat to the body as is typical of most '58's, to enable a lower action the original "no-wire" ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge has been spelled by a somewhat later bridge base using the original saddles but lowered from the beneath; the original remains in the case. The top on 1958 335's is a thinner 3-ply maple thought by some to have a beneficial affect on tone.
All other original hardware including pickup covers, stop tailpiece and long pickguard bracket are nickel played. The pickups are a killer set of all-original PAFs which have never had the covers removed, and sound spectacular. The tuners are the original single-ring tulip-button Klusons. This is an original stop tailpiece guitar; there has NEVER been a vibrato fitted.
At 7.54 lbs. this is the lightest ES-335s we have had, and handles like a dream. Overall this is simply a fantastic guitar, played in with light wear but never abused or altered. It sounds amazing in everything from straight jazz to funky blues to flat-out scream. Even not plugged in it has a real ring to it. It is housed in the classic brown-and-pink Gibson hardshell case, somewhat worn but fully functional.
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 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 7.54 lbs.
This is a just lightly worn in and all original guitar, showing some play wear from 65+ years of use but no serious damage, repair or alteration except for the easily reversed bridge substitution. While it has been played the instrument also appears well-cared for. The all-original finish shows light wear overall, with typical minor checking, fine scratching, dings and dents.
The back of the neck is cleaner than many, with some minor dings but no finish worn away. The headstock has minor chips and dings along the edges. Unusually for a thin-top, '58 there is a small stress mark but no repair in the jack area, which is a common problem.
All hardware is original, even down to the plastic strap buttons. The nickel hardware has typical wear. The PAF pickups are original and undisturbed and sound fabulous, the covers show some plating wear but have never been removed with untouched solder joints on the underside and original wiring.
The frets appear original recrowned just a bit in the lower positions but still quite playable, there is some light wear to the rosewood fingerboard. With the bridge substitution this is simply a wonderful-feeling and sounding guitar, with a spirited selection of splendid PAF tones from sweet to snarly to monster overdriven and very touch sensitive at all sound levels. It includes the original brown HSC with some wear but still very solid; overall this is a super attractive guitar with JUST enough funk to feel righteously old with that perfect vintage Gibson vibe. Excellent - Condition.
This is a magnificent example of one of Gibson's absolute classic electric guitars -- an ES-335T from the first production year 1958. Although 335's from just about any year are usually excellent instruments, connoisseurs of the model consider those from 1958-9 to be the ultimate examples. All of 267 sunburst finish ES-335s were shipped out of Kalamazoo in that initial year 1958, starting around April. According to the "A" Artist series serial number this guitar was shipped in early November. The factory order number stamped under the treble side F-hole is T5971-21.
ES-335T was Gibson's first semi-solid thinline with a solid wood block running down the middle of the body, a revolutionary design that launched an entire new genre of electric guitars. This new model cost all of $267.50 in 1958, and the brown case would set you back an additional $46.50. This was in the same price range as the newly sunbursted Les Paul, which the ES-335 and its expanding semi-solid family soon eclipsed, at least in the exes of Gibson's management.
This one bears a beautiful deep shaded sunburst finish on the top and back and shows typical features for later 1958. The most notable is a bound, dot-inlaid fingerboard, which would be changed to pearloid blocks a couple of years later. The VERY first 335's had an unbound fingerboard, but that upgrade was added shortly before this one was built. The neck profile is the round-backed 1958-9 "C" style, which some players greatly prefer to the thinner flatter profile "1960 neck" which replaced it at the dawn of the new decade. The neck angle is quite flat to the body as is typical of most '58's, to enable a lower action the original "no-wire" ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge has been spelled by a somewhat later bridge base using the original saddles but lowered from the beneath; the original remains in the case. The top on 1958 335's is a thinner 3-ply maple thought by some to have a beneficial affect on tone.
All other original hardware including pickup covers, stop tailpiece and long pickguard bracket are nickel played. The pickups are a killer set of all-original PAFs which have never had the covers removed, and sound spectacular. The tuners are the original single-ring tulip-button Klusons. This is an original stop tailpiece guitar; there has NEVER been a vibrato fitted.
At 7.54 lbs. this is the lightest ES-335s we have had, and handles like a dream. Overall this is simply a fantastic guitar, played in with light wear but never abused or altered. It sounds amazing in everything from straight jazz to funky blues to flat-out scream. Even not plugged in it has a real ring to it. It is housed in the classic brown-and-pink Gibson hardshell case, somewhat worn but fully functional.
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 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 7.54 lbs.
This is a just lightly worn in and all original guitar, showing some play wear from 65+ years of use but no serious damage, repair or alteration except for the easily reversed bridge substitution. While it has been played the instrument also appears well-cared for. The all-original finish shows light wear overall, with typical minor checking, fine scratching, dings and dents.
The back of the neck is cleaner than many, with some minor dings but no finish worn away. The headstock has minor chips and dings along the edges. Unusually for a thin-top, '58 there is a small stress mark but no repair in the jack area, which is a common problem.
All hardware is original, even down to the plastic strap buttons. The nickel hardware has typical wear. The PAF pickups are original and undisturbed and sound fabulous, the covers show some plating wear but have never been removed with untouched solder joints on the underside and original wiring.
The frets appear original recrowned just a bit in the lower positions but still quite playable, there is some light wear to the rosewood fingerboard. With the bridge substitution this is simply a wonderful-feeling and sounding guitar, with a spirited selection of splendid PAF tones from sweet to snarly to monster overdriven and very touch sensitive at all sound levels. It includes the original brown HSC with some wear but still very solid; overall this is a super attractive guitar with JUST enough funk to feel righteously old with that perfect vintage Gibson vibe. Excellent - Condition.