A Fine Original '62 ES-335 with Two PAFs

One of just 226 Sunburst ES-335s issued in 1962 and most certainly one of the very last with two PAFs. This forty-three-year-old beauty weighs 8.50 lbs. and has a nice, fat nut width of just under 1 11/16 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Laminated maple body with single binding on the top and back and semi-solid construction with maple central block, one-piece mahogany neck, and bound rosewood fretboard with 22 jumbo frets and inlaid pearl block position markers (no inlay at the 1st fret, as usual). Headstock with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl crown inlay. Individual single-line Kluson Deluxe tuners with double-ring Keystone plastic buttons. Two PAF humbucker pickups with black plastic surrounds and outputs of 7.88k and 7.42k. Five-layer (black/white/black/white/black) plastic pickguard. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch for pickup selection, all on lower treble bout. Gold plastic bell-shaped "Bell" knobs with metal tops. ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic retainer bridge with metal saddles and separate stud tailpiece. With the original Gibson orange oval label inside the bass f-hole, the style ("ES-335TD") written in black ink and the serial number ("78548") stamped in black. The serial number is also stamped on the back of the headstock. The previous owner (since 1969) had fitted a Gibson trapeze tailpiece (which is included in the case), but this has now been removed and the original studs and the stud tailpiece have now been re-fitted. The only evidence of this sacrilegious crime against humanity that remains are the four tiny holes on the bottom of the edge of the guitar by the strap button. In addition, at one time in its life the tuners on this guitar were changed, as evidenced by very small washer marks on the face of the headstock, but no extra holes were made and the originals have now been replaced. The guitar has been expertly refretted with original specification jumbo fretwire. There is the bare minimum of finish checking, one tiny mark on the top of the guitar near the pickup selector switch, and a minuscule amount of chipping to the edge of the headstock. If it were not for the four tiny holes left by the removal of the trapeze tailpiece, we would have unequivocally given it a very strong 9.25. It plays fantastically and sounds wonderful...and it has that great '62 neck profile that many players prefer. Housed in the original Gibson black hardshell case with orange plush lining (8.75).

"Introduced in 1958, the ES-335T (originally no final D) truly ranks among the all-time Gibson classics, not only because of its enduring popularity but also because of its semi-solid construction which pioneered a new style of electrics" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 231).

"There were indeed a number of firsts in the early days of the electric guitar, but in retrospect only few of them can be considered as true milestones. The double cutaway thinline pioneered by Gibson in 1958 genuinely rank amongst the great original designs. Their graceful shape was truly innovative at the time and spawned several imitations such as Gretsch's revamped Chet Atkins series or the Guild Starfire. But perhaps the most important hallmark of the new thinline was their semi-solid construction. Indeed Gibson's prime objective was to design an instrument that would combine the advantages of both solid and hollow body electrics and therefore appeal to a variety of players, regardless of their musical style" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 77).