A Specially-Ordered ES-335 "Custom" with Mono Varitone.

1968 Gibson ES-335TDC-Custom.

This specially-ordered guitar weighs 9.10 lbs. and has a narrow nut width of 1 9/16 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Single-bound laminated maple body, one-piece mahogany neck, and ebony fretboard with 22 original jumbo frets and inlaid pearl block position markers. ES-355-style headstock with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl five-piece split-diamond inlay. Black over white plastic truss-rod cover engraved in white "Custom" and secured by two screws. Individual Kluson Super 'waffle-back' tuners with single-ring bell-shaped Keystone buttons. Serial number "912931" stamped in black on back of headstock. Two patent-number humbucking pickups, each with a small rectangular black label on the underside "2,737,842", with outputs of 8.95k and 8.20k. Tortoiseshell pickguard with five-layer white and black plastic binding. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch and six-position 'Mono' Varitone switch. Black plastic ribbed-sided conical-shaped "Witch Hat" knobs. ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic 'retainer' bridge with metal saddles and factory Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. All hardware gold-plated. There is no orange label inside the guitar, nor is there any evidence of one ever having been there. The cherry red finish is very rich and shows no sign of fading whatsoever. There is some very minor belt buckle 'scarring' on the back (nothing through the finish), some light body checking and some slight tarnishing on the pickup covers and the on the base which connects to the Bigsby Vibrato arm. A spectacular example in near mint (9.25) condition of a specially ordered and possibly unique ES-335. Housed in the original Gibson black hardshell case with orange plush lining. Together with the original brown envelope containing the case key, Tune-O-Matic bridge instructions, and "Humbucking Pickup Adjustments."

This was a specially-ordered guitar, factory-equipped with a Bigsby vibrato and with the "Custom Made" plaque covering the two stud tailpiece holes. It also has "Custom" on the bell-shaped truss-rod cover. Even though it was never explicitly offered as an option on the model, some ES-335s were custom-built (after 1959) with the stereo Varitone circuitry. This ES-335 is a very rare Varitone example with 'mono' circuitry. Although the neck has all the features of an ES-355, it is single-bound. The body, however, is that of an ES-335, with single binding on the edges and unbound f-holes. In addition, all of the hardware is gold-plated. Truly a wonderful playing, looking and sounding guitar.

"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).