A Near Mint '65 ES-335

This 16-inch-wide semi-hollow body guitar, with a solid maple block running lengthwise down the center, weighs 7.50 lbs. and has the thinner nut width of just over 1 9/16 inches (introduced in mid '65) and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Laminated maple body with single binding on the top and bottom edges, one-piece mahogany neck, and rosewood fretboard with 22 frets and inlaid pearl block position markers. Headstock with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl crown inlay. Individual 'two-line' Kluson Deluxe tuners with double-ring Keystone plastic buttons. Serial number ("330072") stamped on the back of the headstock. Five-layer (black/white/black/white/black) plastic pickguard with bevelled edge. Two super hot "patent number" humbucking pickups (small black rectangular labels with "PATENT NO 2,737,842"on underside of each) with outputs of 8.51k and 8.76k. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch and jack socket, all on lower treble bout. Black plastic bell-shaped knobs with white markings and metal tops. ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic retainer bridge and nickel trapeze tailpiece with diamond on cross-bar. Orange label inside bass "f" hole with "ES-335TD" and serial number "330072" stamped in black. This super guitar is in near mint condition and although there is a '2' beneath the serail number on the back of the headstock we cannot find any flaw in the wood to explain why the factory considered this guitar a "second". Complete with the original Gibson booklet and hang-tag. Housed in its original Gibson black hardshell case with orange plush lining (9.25).

"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).