Gibson ES-330TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1964)

Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 66858, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogant neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

A beautiful original example of a sunburst ES-330 from the classic "Beat group" year 1964. This guitar has typical period features including a dark sunburst top, bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay, nickle pickup covers and all nickle-plated hardware including a tune-o-matic bridge with bone saddles. The single bound body is fully hollow, unlike the semi-hollow 335-355 series and the neck joins at the 16th fret. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons. Two P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with 60's style "capped" plastic tone and volume knobs and white switch tip.

The ES-330 is a great sounding very versatile guitar at home in many musical situations. Despite being intended by Gison as an "amateur" instrument (the least expensive of the double-cutaway thinlines) the 330 been heard on countless classic records in many styles of music since its introduction in 1959. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings. A number of period bluesmen have been spotted with one as well, including B.B. King, Chuck Berry and most notably Slim Harpo, who is nearly always pictured with one. The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were featured in countless '60's British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. This particular guitar is an exceptionally nice example, with the expected "Fab" sound and playability in spades!
 
Overall length is 40 1/2 in. (102.9 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.). Superb condition overall-all original finish and hardware, finish extremely well preserved with no fade, nickle plating still shiny. Some minor very small dings and chips, but really this is about as clean as we'd generally expect to find in a used instrument with 45+ years behind it! The only alteration is the addition of a period strap button on the upper horn, and one original bone saddle replaced with a period nylon piece. A super player, with a nice period black/gold lined HSC (handle replaced). Excellent Condition.

Item # 5361
 
This item has been sold.


 
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