One of Just 117 Mono ES-355TDs Made in 1961

One of just 117 mono ES-355TDs made in 1961. This late 1961 example (with a typical medium neck profile, not skinny like a 1960) weighs just 8.70 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 7.44k and 8.42k. 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 with metal reflector tops. ABR-1 Non-retainer Tune-O-Matic bridge and factory sideways vibrola tailpiece with long arm. All hardware gold-plated. Apart from some minimal tarnishing to the gold plating, mainly on the vibrato tailpiece, some miniscule body checking, one tiny surface mark on the back of the guitar, two small on the back of the neck behind the thirteenth fret, and a previous guitar stores sticker on the back of the headstock, this very rare mono example is in near mint condition and as good as it gets. Housed in its original Gibson black hardshell case with orange plush lining (9.00).

"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.