Gibson ES-330TDC Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963)
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Gibson ES-330TDC Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1963), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 109753, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a nice original example of a cherry-finish ES-330TD from 1963, a very good year for Gibson! The ES-330TDC has a classic set of mid-line Gibson features, but a distinctive feel. This one is equipped with a period Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, so while somewhat heavier offers a bit of extra sauce sonically! The Bigsby is actually gold plated (though most of it is worn off) and though not a factory fitting is a period-appropriate one.
While grouped with the thin-line semi-solid 335 range this is actually a very different instrument to play. The slim double-cutaway single-bound body is fully hollow without any center block, making it much lighter and more resonant. This also led to another distinguishing feature of the 330, the neck joining the body farther in at the 16th fret to allow the joint to be stronger. This one was made earlier in 1963 and retains an evolved version of the flatter, wide profile neck that Gibson used in 1960-62.
This guitar has typical period details including a medium cherry finish overall, bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay and nickel-plated hardware including the tune-o-matic bridge and trapeze tailpiece. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons. Two P-90 pickups under nickel-plated covers are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the 1960's style "capped" plastic tone and volume knobs and white switch tip. Just the previous year the ES-330 switched from a dot-inlaid neck with plastic pickup covers to this configuration.
The double pickup ES-330 is a great sounding 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 heard on countless classic records in many styles of music 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 330's as well, including occasionally B.B. King, Chuck Berry and most notably Slim Harpo, who is nearly always pictured with one.
The ES-330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were also featured by countless '60's British invasion bands including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. With added the Bigsby this one definitely has a "Beat-era" feel and is ready to rock on for the next 60+ years.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This cherry red thinline has been around over 60 years; it shows some general wear and tear but still plays fine. Overall there is typical checking to the finish with a collection of dings, scrapes and dents; a larger belt buckle wear spot is evident on the back. The back of the neck is well worn down to the wood, with some dings and dents largely worn smooth again. The ES-330 originally had no forward strap button; this one had a standard Gibson style pin added on the back of the heel.
As noted a Bigsby tailpiece was added long ago, likely when the guitar was new. It was originally gold plated but much of that is worn off, and there is a license # lightly etched into the treble side of the baseplate. The tuners are repros of the correct period Kluson Deluxe machines re-installed in place of something else with some scars visible; the Tune-O-Matic bridge and pickguard bracket are correct style repros as well. The other hardware remains original, the nickel plating showing some general wear.
This 330 definitely has some adventures along the way, but has a great vibe. The guitar has been refretted and the fingerboard shows some residual wear but remains an excellent playing and sounding guitar, complete in an original yellow-lined HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.
This is a nice original example of a cherry-finish ES-330TD from 1963, a very good year for Gibson! The ES-330TDC has a classic set of mid-line Gibson features, but a distinctive feel. This one is equipped with a period Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, so while somewhat heavier offers a bit of extra sauce sonically! The Bigsby is actually gold plated (though most of it is worn off) and though not a factory fitting is a period-appropriate one.
While grouped with the thin-line semi-solid 335 range this is actually a very different instrument to play. The slim double-cutaway single-bound body is fully hollow without any center block, making it much lighter and more resonant. This also led to another distinguishing feature of the 330, the neck joining the body farther in at the 16th fret to allow the joint to be stronger. This one was made earlier in 1963 and retains an evolved version of the flatter, wide profile neck that Gibson used in 1960-62.
This guitar has typical period details including a medium cherry finish overall, bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay and nickel-plated hardware including the tune-o-matic bridge and trapeze tailpiece. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons. Two P-90 pickups under nickel-plated covers are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the 1960's style "capped" plastic tone and volume knobs and white switch tip. Just the previous year the ES-330 switched from a dot-inlaid neck with plastic pickup covers to this configuration.
The double pickup ES-330 is a great sounding 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 heard on countless classic records in many styles of music 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 330's as well, including occasionally B.B. King, Chuck Berry and most notably Slim Harpo, who is nearly always pictured with one.
The ES-330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were also featured by countless '60's British invasion bands including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. With added the Bigsby this one definitely has a "Beat-era" feel and is ready to rock on for the next 60+ years.
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This cherry red thinline has been around over 60 years; it shows some general wear and tear but still plays fine. Overall there is typical checking to the finish with a collection of dings, scrapes and dents; a larger belt buckle wear spot is evident on the back. The back of the neck is well worn down to the wood, with some dings and dents largely worn smooth again. The ES-330 originally had no forward strap button; this one had a standard Gibson style pin added on the back of the heel.
As noted a Bigsby tailpiece was added long ago, likely when the guitar was new. It was originally gold plated but much of that is worn off, and there is a license # lightly etched into the treble side of the baseplate. The tuners are repros of the correct period Kluson Deluxe machines re-installed in place of something else with some scars visible; the Tune-O-Matic bridge and pickguard bracket are correct style repros as well. The other hardware remains original, the nickel plating showing some general wear.
This 330 definitely has some adventures along the way, but has a great vibe. The guitar has been refretted and the fingerboard shows some residual wear but remains an excellent playing and sounding guitar, complete in an original yellow-lined HSC. Overall Very Good + Condition.