A Gibson ES-335 with a Coil-Tap switch, a TP6 Tailpiece and an Ebony Fretboard with Pearl block Markers

1979 Gibson ES-347TD

A very nice, one owner late seventies 'tobacco burst' ES-347TD that weighs 8.90 lbs. Single 'cream' bound (top and bottom) laminated 16 inch wide, 1 3/4 inch deep laminated maple body with maple central block. Three-piece mahogany neck with a nut width of 1 11/16 inches, a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches and a nice medium to thick neck profile with a non-intrusive volute. Cream bound ebony fretboard with brass nut, 22 original medium jumbo frets and inlaid pearl block position markers. Headstock with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl crown inlay. Serial number "73209163" impressed on the back of the headstock. Individual Gibson 'Grover' RotoMatic tuners with tulip shaped metal buttons. Two Gibson T-Top, wax-potted humbuckers with outputs of 8.25k (neck) and 7.88k (bridge). Five-layer black over white plastic pickguard with beveled edge. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch, all on lower treble bout. Two-way phase switch on treble horn. Black plastic barrel-shaped 'speed' knobs. Original "New Tune-O-Matic" bridge and separate stud tailpiece. All parts gold-plated. This guitar is in exceptionally fine (9.00) condition. There are a few 'guitar cord' indentations on the back of the treble horn and a couple of minuscule surface marks and a tiny bit of tarnishing to the gold hardware. Housed in the original Gibson five-latch, black hardshell case with dark red plush lining (8.50).

"Toward the end of the 1970s, Gibson was looking for a viable adaptation of the popular ES-335 model guitar that would capture players imagination. Gibson brought out the ES-335 Pro (Dirty Finger pickups with exposed coils, 1979-1982), ES-335 CRS/CRR (Country Rock Models, stereo, coil tap switch, brass nut, 1979 only), ES-347 (coil tap switch, TP-6 tailpiece, ebony fingerboard, large block inlay, 1978-1992) and the ES-369. These models were made at a time when variations of popular models were created by the major guitar manufacturers to build sales. A few short years later the reissue period would begin that has engulfed the marketplace" (Larry Meiners, "Gibson's ES-369: A Unique Adaptation of the ES-335 Model Guitar," at http://www.flyingvintage.com/gcmag/ES369.html).

"Gibson totally revamped its line of semi-hollowbody guitars (with the 'wonder-thin silhouette') in early 1979. They replaced the ES-335 with their first 'reissue' -- the ES-335DOT -- and discontinued the ES-345 and 355, which had never sold as well as the more workmanlike 335. These guitars were replaced by a new model, the ES-347, which combined many of their most attractive features with new trends in guitar technology. The 347 had deluxe appointments: maple body and neck; bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlays; an SP-2 headstock with binding and tasteful 'crown' inlay; and gold hardware. Its updated features included high-output 'Dirty Fingers' humbuckers, a coil-tap switch, Gibson’s new TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece, and the 'Sustain Sisters', which had their genesis in the big brass insert of Mitch Holder’s ES-355 Custom. Gibson R&D had refined Mitch’s concept, and the Sustain Sisters were four large, threaded brass inserts sunk into the centerblock, into which the TP-6 and Tunomatic bridge were mounted" (Baker Rorick, "Gibson ES-357," at http://www.vintageguitar.com/brands/details.asp?ID=22).