One of Just 207 Mono ES-355TDs Made in 1967

One of just 207 ES-355TDs made in 1967. This mid-sixties example weighs just 9.00 lbs. and has a nut width of just over 1 9/16 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. "Custom" on truss-rod cover. 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 patent number humbuckers with outputs of 7.57k and 7.46k. Tortoiseshell pickguard with five-layer (white/black/white/black/white) plastic binding. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch and jack socket, all on lower treble bout. Black plastic bell-shaped "Bell" knobs with white markings and metal tops. ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic retainer bridge with nylon saddles and factory Deluxe Vibrola tailpiece (with a lyre-engraved metal coverplate and plastic-tipped handle). All hardware gold-plated. Apart from some slight finish checking and minimal tarnishing of the gold plating on the pickups, this is an exceptionally fine example of this quite rare version. 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 1970 a total of 1,343 mono ES-355TDs were shipped. The stereo model was built in greater quantities and 1,808 left the factory between 1959 and 1970 (see A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 238, and Larry Meiners, Gibson Shipment Totals 1937-1979, pp. 22-23). In 1967, 207 mono ES-355TDs were shipped as opposed to 198 ES-355TD/SVs.