"Just Like The Real One…"

A really great playing early eighties ES-335DOT reissue in a beautifully mellowed natural finish. This 16-inch-wide guitar weighs 7.70 lbs. and has a nut width of just over 1 11/16 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Single-bound laminated maple body with maple central block. One-piece mahogany neck with a nice medium to thick neck profile - rather like a '59. Bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard (from a late fifties Flying V) with 22 medium jumbo frets and inlaid pearl dot position markers. Headstock re-faced to late fifties specification with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl crown inlay. Gibson "Custom Shop Edition" decal on back of headstock. Serial number "81803665" and "Made in USA" impressed on the back of headstock. Original Gibson orange oval label inside bass 'f' hole with Style "ES-355TDN" written in black ink and serial number "A 83665" stamped in black. Individual Gibson Deluxe tuners with double-ring Keystone plastic buttons (stamped on the underside "D-169400 / Patent No". Two Rick Norman 'Dot-Neck Set' humbucking pickups with original Gibson black plastic surrounds (stamped "MR 490 / M-69 8" and MR 491 / M-69 7"), with outputs of 7.86k and 8.31k. Five-layer (black/white) plastic pickguard. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way selector switch, all on lower treble bout. Black plastic bell-shaped knobs. 'Pigtail' ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic non-retainer bridge with metal saddles and "Pigtail' separate stud tailpiece and studs. All nickel parts. Housed in the original Gibson four-latch black hardshell case with blue plush lining (9.00).

This amazing twenty-six year old guitar has mellowed over the years in many a smoke filled room… the maple body has aged beautifully and it really looks like a '59 rather than an eighties guitar. With this in mind the previous owner had Master Luthier Terry Mueller carry out the following improvements which are all specified in the description:

1. The truss-rod 'condom' has been removed and the fretboard replaced with an original Brazilian board from a late fifties Flying V.
2. The tuners have been replaced with a set of original Gibson Deluxe tuners from 1969-74
3. The pickguard has been replaced with one from 1959
4. The headstock has been re-faced to the correct late fifties specification
5. The electronics have been replaced by Rick Norman including the installation of "Dot-Neck Set" humbuckers
6. The pickup rings have been replaced with original Gibson rings from the late fifties
7. The bridge, stud tail and studs have been replaced with 'Pigtail' parts - the best repro vintage available

The ES-335 was discontinued in late 1981 and replaced by the ES-335 DOT (reissue).