Gibson ES-335TD Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1973)

Gibson  ES-335TD Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar  (1973)
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Item # 9771
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Gibson ES-335TD Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1973), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

This is a fairly well-played but cool example of Gibson's classic ES-335TD made in the early 1970's but still with much of the feel of a '60's instrument. The instrument's typical features include an overall deep cherry finish, bound, block inlaid fingerboard, chrome-plated Tune-O-Matic bridge and tailpiece, two Gibson "patent Number" humbucking pickups and "amp"-style black molded knobs. The one-piece mahogany neck has the volute and "Made in USA" stamp typical of '70's instruments, and the label is the small white-and-purple rectangle used in that period.

The nut width is still the narrow 1 5/8" adopted in late 1965; the neck itself is slim down by the nut but gets chunkier back-to-front as it approaches the body and feels great. The tuners have been changed several times (a very common 1970's move) but are now restored to the original Gibson logo Kluson Deluxe. This guitar shows some play time but other than this and a neat refret is still original, showing the honest wear of 50+ years of use. It remains a great-sounding and playing instrument, not mint but a serious working guitar still.
 
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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).

This is a fairly well-worn guitar, though not a flat-out "Relic" in the parlance of today. The finish is lightly checked over the entire guitar, with some scrapes, dings, and chips. A lot of the topcoat is worn through on the back. The back of the neck oddly enough shows some general wear but no deep dings or dents; it looks like it was oversprayed decades ago but a lot of that is worn through since and it feels great. The headstock edges are less worn than many, the compression rings from Grover tuners are still visible.

There is a nicely done refret, with smaller wire then many would have used in the '70s or '80s on giving a truer vintage feel. With the exception of the (now restored) tuners the hardware appears original. There is wear to some pieces, notably corrosion to the tops of the knobs and plating loss to the pickup covers and bridge. Everything works as intended, and this is a super guitar to play with vibe for days. The case is the original '70s hardshell in VERY battered but still functional condition. Excellent - Condition.