One of Just 128 Mono ES-355TDs Made in 1960

One of just 128 mono ES-355TDs made in 1960. This early 1960 example (with a typical 1959 neck profile) weighs just 9.20 lbs. and has a nut width of just under 1 11/16 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Laminated maple body with maple central block, one-piece mahogany neck, and bound ebony fretboard with 22 frets and inlaid pearl block position markers. Multi-bound headstock with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl five-piece split-diamond inlay. The body is multi-bound on the top (seven-ply) and the back (three-ply). Individual Grover Roto-Matic tuners with half-moon metal buttons. Two hot PAF pickups with outputs of 8.82k and 8.31k. Tortoiseshell pickguard with five-layer (white/black/white/black/white) plastic binding. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch. Black plastic bell-shaped "Bell" knobs. ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and factory Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. All hardware gold-plated. Apart from three tiny blemishes on the top and some minimal tarnishing of the gold plating on the pickups, this great rarity is as good as it gets. Housed in its original Gibson brown hardshell case with purple plush lining (9.00). With original tags.

"A more high-end version of the 335 model also appeared in 1958, a cherry-finish guitar that was named the ES-355. This guitar was distinguished by multiple binding on the neck, body and headstock, the latter also bearing Gibson's luxurious split-diamond inlay. The 355 generally gleamed with gold-plated hardware, as well as boasting an ebony fingerboard and a Bigsby vibrato as standard" (Tony Bacon, Electric Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia, p. 132).

"Between 1958 and 1965 a total of 754 mono 355s were shipped...The stereo model was built in greater quantities and 1,056 left the factory between 1959 and 1965" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 238). In 1960, 128 mono 355s were shipped as opposed to 189 ES-355TD/SVs.