Gibson ES-330TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960)
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Item # 11268
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Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # R4562-19 (FON), sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a super nice example of a first-generation sunburst ES-330TD from 1960, the model's first full production 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 1960-coded factory order number is under the treble side F-hole; when new these were not considered enough of a pro-grade guitar to merit a "real" serial number
Although they debuted in 1959 the ES-330 models were not officially offered for sale until very late in the 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); in 1960 1198 were shipped marking this as a very successful model, as it would remain for much of the 1960s.
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 on this guitar is the slim, flatter 1960 style, a new feature specific to this period. The headstock has a pearl Gibson logo, the tuners are single-unit enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons. Two P-90 pickups are mounted under black plastic dog-ear covers, which would be replaced with metal in the early '60s. They are controlled by the standard Gibson 4-knob one switch wiring rig, with amber plastic bonnet knobs. 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, one of the cleanest the early ES-330TD's 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 superb nice original guitar showing only the lightest wear for 60+ years on the planet. It remains original except for an old Gibson strap button added at the heel. The finish is very clean with no fade and only minimal checking; there is some scuffing and tiny dings, with wear mostly noticeable on the top/back edge of the headstock. The back of the body shows some light scuffing, the top has a couple of small dings. All hardware is original and complete with some minor plating wear.
The correct vintage plastic Gibson strap button added on the back of the heel has possibly been since the guitar was originally sold; ES-330s originally lacked this useful piece, and nearly all have since been fitted with one. The original frets look to have been crowned a bit but remain in excellent shape, this is a very fine-playing and sounding guitar, very light and super comfortable. It is still complete with the original pink-lined brown Gibson HSC, well more worn than the guitar but still solid. This is fairly rare as 330's were often not originally purchased with this (many came housed in chipboard!) as it added $47.00 to the price! Overall Excellent Condition.
This is a super nice example of a first-generation sunburst ES-330TD from 1960, the model's first full production 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 1960-coded factory order number is under the treble side F-hole; when new these were not considered enough of a pro-grade guitar to merit a "real" serial number
Although they debuted in 1959 the ES-330 models were not officially offered for sale until very late in the 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); in 1960 1198 were shipped marking this as a very successful model, as it would remain for much of the 1960s.
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 on this guitar is the slim, flatter 1960 style, a new feature specific to this period. The headstock has a pearl Gibson logo, the tuners are single-unit enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons. Two P-90 pickups are mounted under black plastic dog-ear covers, which would be replaced with metal in the early '60s. They are controlled by the standard Gibson 4-knob one switch wiring rig, with amber plastic bonnet knobs. 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, one of the cleanest the early ES-330TD's 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 superb nice original guitar showing only the lightest wear for 60+ years on the planet. It remains original except for an old Gibson strap button added at the heel. The finish is very clean with no fade and only minimal checking; there is some scuffing and tiny dings, with wear mostly noticeable on the top/back edge of the headstock. The back of the body shows some light scuffing, the top has a couple of small dings. All hardware is original and complete with some minor plating wear.
The correct vintage plastic Gibson strap button added on the back of the heel has possibly been since the guitar was originally sold; ES-330s originally lacked this useful piece, and nearly all have since been fitted with one. The original frets look to have been crowned a bit but remain in excellent shape, this is a very fine-playing and sounding guitar, very light and super comfortable. It is still complete with the original pink-lined brown Gibson HSC, well more worn than the guitar but still solid. This is fairly rare as 330's were often not originally purchased with this (many came housed in chipboard!) as it added $47.00 to the price! Overall Excellent Condition.