Gibson ES-330TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1959)
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Item # 11007
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Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1959), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # S1034-16, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminate maple body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a super nice example of a very early first-generation sunburst ES-330TD from 1959, the model's debut year. This guitar has all the earliest features including a bound dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard, rounder "Mickey Mouse" cutaway horns, and black plastic P-90 pickup covers. The 1959-coded factory order number (S1034-16) under the treble side F-hole indicates an extremely early batch of this then-new model, possibly the first rack in production.
Although they debuted in 1959 the 330 models were not officially offered until the fall of that year. The initial announcement in the October/November '59 GIBSON GAZETTE described them as "Thrilling modern instruments" adding "Double cutaway body and thin silhouette make it wonderfully east to hold and play". They are pitched as replacing the ES-225 series, Gibson's first economy thinlines "within the next few weeks" indicating shipments of the 330's had just gotten underway. A total of 270 sunburst two-pickup models made it out of Kalamazoo before the end of the year priced at $250 (plus case) of which this is one.
The ES-330 has a classic set of mid-line Gibson features, but a distinctive feel. While grouped with the semi-solid 335 range it is actually a very different instrument to play. The slim single-bound body is fully hollow without any center block, making it much lighter than the 335-355 series. This also led to another distinguishing feature of the 330, the neck joining the body farther in at the 16th fret to allow the joint to be stronger.
The neck profile is the rounder "1959 style" that Gibson used right around this time; it is not as chunky as some but has a solidly round backed feel. The bulk of dot-neck ES-330s shipped in 1960 and '61 were made with the much flatter 1960 profile, which some players are not as fond of. The headstock has a pearl Gibson logo; the tuners are single-unit enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons.
The two P-90 pickups are mounted under black plastic dog-ear covers, which would be replaced with metal in the early '60s. The y are controlled by the standard Gibson 4-knob one switch wiring rig, with amber plastic bonnet knobs and the "classic" '50s amber switch tip. The sonic balance between the two pickups on this guitar is better than most we have had, with a nice strong signal from the bridge unit.
Early ES-330TDs are great-sounding, extremely versatile guitars and have been heard in many styles of music since the instrument was introduced. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early 1960s recordings. Slim Harpo relied on one for his deep swamp blues. The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were featured in countless '60s British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, and many more. This is a super example, the earliest ES-330TD we have seen, light and handy with a killer feel and sound.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 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.).
Overall this is a very nice original guitar showing some fairly light wear but no major damage or heavy wear. It remains original except for a very well done refret with correct style wire, with a new nut as part of the package. Some minor fills were done to the first position on the fingerboard, fairly discreet but visible on close inspection.
The finish is mostly relatively clean with typical checking, some scuffing and small dings, mostly noticeable on the back of the neck. The back of the body shows some heavier belt-buckle scratching into but not through the lacquer and an area of deeper checking and some minor finish loss in the center which appears moisture related. All hardware is original and complete with some minor plating wear.
The edges of the headstock are a bit banged up with a small chip off the forward treble side corner. A correct vintage Gibson strap button was added on the back of the heel, possible when the guitar was originally sold; ES-330s lacked this useful fitting for some years, and nearly all have since been fitted with one. The frets are in excellent shape, this is a fine-playing and sounding guitar, very light and super comfortable. It is still complete with the very nice original pink-lined brown HSC, often not originally purchased with this model as it added $47.00 to the price! Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a super nice example of a very early first-generation sunburst ES-330TD from 1959, the model's debut year. This guitar has all the earliest features including a bound dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard, rounder "Mickey Mouse" cutaway horns, and black plastic P-90 pickup covers. The 1959-coded factory order number (S1034-16) under the treble side F-hole indicates an extremely early batch of this then-new model, possibly the first rack in production.
Although they debuted in 1959 the 330 models were not officially offered until the fall of that year. The initial announcement in the October/November '59 GIBSON GAZETTE described them as "Thrilling modern instruments" adding "Double cutaway body and thin silhouette make it wonderfully east to hold and play". They are pitched as replacing the ES-225 series, Gibson's first economy thinlines "within the next few weeks" indicating shipments of the 330's had just gotten underway. A total of 270 sunburst two-pickup models made it out of Kalamazoo before the end of the year priced at $250 (plus case) of which this is one.
The ES-330 has a classic set of mid-line Gibson features, but a distinctive feel. While grouped with the semi-solid 335 range it is actually a very different instrument to play. The slim single-bound body is fully hollow without any center block, making it much lighter than the 335-355 series. This also led to another distinguishing feature of the 330, the neck joining the body farther in at the 16th fret to allow the joint to be stronger.
The neck profile is the rounder "1959 style" that Gibson used right around this time; it is not as chunky as some but has a solidly round backed feel. The bulk of dot-neck ES-330s shipped in 1960 and '61 were made with the much flatter 1960 profile, which some players are not as fond of. The headstock has a pearl Gibson logo; the tuners are single-unit enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons.
The two P-90 pickups are mounted under black plastic dog-ear covers, which would be replaced with metal in the early '60s. The y are controlled by the standard Gibson 4-knob one switch wiring rig, with amber plastic bonnet knobs and the "classic" '50s amber switch tip. The sonic balance between the two pickups on this guitar is better than most we have had, with a nice strong signal from the bridge unit.
Early ES-330TDs are great-sounding, extremely versatile guitars and have been heard in many styles of music since the instrument was introduced. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early 1960s recordings. Slim Harpo relied on one for his deep swamp blues. The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were featured in countless '60s British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, and many more. This is a super example, the earliest ES-330TD we have seen, light and handy with a killer feel and sound.
Overall length is 39 3/4 in. (101 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.).
Overall this is a very nice original guitar showing some fairly light wear but no major damage or heavy wear. It remains original except for a very well done refret with correct style wire, with a new nut as part of the package. Some minor fills were done to the first position on the fingerboard, fairly discreet but visible on close inspection.
The finish is mostly relatively clean with typical checking, some scuffing and small dings, mostly noticeable on the back of the neck. The back of the body shows some heavier belt-buckle scratching into but not through the lacquer and an area of deeper checking and some minor finish loss in the center which appears moisture related. All hardware is original and complete with some minor plating wear.
The edges of the headstock are a bit banged up with a small chip off the forward treble side corner. A correct vintage Gibson strap button was added on the back of the heel, possible when the guitar was originally sold; ES-330s lacked this useful fitting for some years, and nearly all have since been fitted with one. The frets are in excellent shape, this is a fine-playing and sounding guitar, very light and super comfortable. It is still complete with the very nice original pink-lined brown HSC, often not originally purchased with this model as it added $47.00 to the price! Overall Excellent Condition.