Gibson ES-330TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966)
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Item # 10357
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Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 806108, sparkling burgundy finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a superb original example of a Gibson ES-330TD from 1966, finished in the dramatic red metallic finish Gibson called "Sparkling Burgundy". Supposedly Gibson used this comparatively thick metallic lacquer to cover up cosmetic issues caused by sped-up production on these pressed-top guitars, but whatever the reason is gives a striking look quite diffident from the usual cherry or sunburst liveries. This is the first year this special finish appears on mostly semi-hollow Gibsons, and it is a fairly rare find on the ES-330.
Apart from the finish this guitar has typical period features: a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay and chrome-plated hardware including a tune-o-matic bridge with nylon 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 metal-covered P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the older black '60s style "capped" plastic tone and volume knobs, not he "witch hat' amp-style knobs phased in the next year.
The ES-330 is a great sounding very versatile guitar at home in many musical situations. Despite being intended by Gibson as an "amateur" instrument (the least expensive of the double-cutaway thinlines) the 330 has been heard on countless classic records in many styles of music since its introduction in 1959. For just one notable example Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on many of his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings.
A number of period bluesmen have been spotted with an ES-330 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. Although the model fell from favor in the 100 watt Marshall era of the early 1970's, the ES-330 is today perfectly suited to most modern styles, vintage-influenced or not! This Burgundy baby is one of the coolest looking variants out there and a great playing guitar to boot!
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 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This ES-330 is in very fine condition overall and remains original with no major wear or alteration. There is some very light checking and scuffing overall, but not much play wear to the bold and unfaded metallic red finish. There are scattered small dings and chips; most notably one by the jack edge and a fairly deep ding on the back of the neck behind the second/third fret area. The "Volume" markings are worn off the lower forward knob. Overall this is a very clean guitar and does not appear to have been much played.
The original larger frets have hardly any wear and playability is excellent. Really other than some minor wear this is a lovely and especially striking original example of this 1960s Gibson classic, an excellent playing and sounding guitar complete in the original yellow-lined hard case. Excellent Condition.
This is a superb original example of a Gibson ES-330TD from 1966, finished in the dramatic red metallic finish Gibson called "Sparkling Burgundy". Supposedly Gibson used this comparatively thick metallic lacquer to cover up cosmetic issues caused by sped-up production on these pressed-top guitars, but whatever the reason is gives a striking look quite diffident from the usual cherry or sunburst liveries. This is the first year this special finish appears on mostly semi-hollow Gibsons, and it is a fairly rare find on the ES-330.
Apart from the finish this guitar has typical period features: a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay and chrome-plated hardware including a tune-o-matic bridge with nylon 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 metal-covered P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the older black '60s style "capped" plastic tone and volume knobs, not he "witch hat' amp-style knobs phased in the next year.
The ES-330 is a great sounding very versatile guitar at home in many musical situations. Despite being intended by Gibson as an "amateur" instrument (the least expensive of the double-cutaway thinlines) the 330 has been heard on countless classic records in many styles of music since its introduction in 1959. For just one notable example Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on many of his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings.
A number of period bluesmen have been spotted with an ES-330 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. Although the model fell from favor in the 100 watt Marshall era of the early 1970's, the ES-330 is today perfectly suited to most modern styles, vintage-influenced or not! This Burgundy baby is one of the coolest looking variants out there and a great playing guitar to boot!
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 9/16 in. (40 mm.).
This ES-330 is in very fine condition overall and remains original with no major wear or alteration. There is some very light checking and scuffing overall, but not much play wear to the bold and unfaded metallic red finish. There are scattered small dings and chips; most notably one by the jack edge and a fairly deep ding on the back of the neck behind the second/third fret area. The "Volume" markings are worn off the lower forward knob. Overall this is a very clean guitar and does not appear to have been much played.
The original larger frets have hardly any wear and playability is excellent. Really other than some minor wear this is a lovely and especially striking original example of this 1960s Gibson classic, an excellent playing and sounding guitar complete in the original yellow-lined hard case. Excellent Condition.