Gibson ES-330TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960)
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Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # R4110-35, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is first-generation sunburst ES-330TD is from early 1960, the model's first full production year. It retains all the earliest features including a bound dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard, rounder "Mickey Mouse" cutaway horns and black plastic P-90 pickup covers. The dark shaded sunburst still has a 1950s look to it, and the factory order number stamped on the inside back indicates production around the middle of the year.
The ES-330T And ES-330TD debuted in late 1959 as lower-budget additions to the ES-335 line launched the year before. The initial announcement in the October/November '59 GIBSON GAZETTE described them as "Thrilling modern instruments...Double cutaway body and thin silhouette make it wonderfully east to hold and play". The single pickup 330T only lasted into the early 1960s, but the more versatile double pickup "TD" prospered. In 1960 1198 of these sunburst finished, two pickup 330s were shipped out of Kalamazoo priced at $250 (plus case) The ES-330 was regarded as a very successful model as it would remain for much of the 1960s.
This 1960 ES-330TD has a classic set of mid-line Gibson features, but a distinctive feel. While grouped in the catalog with the thin-line semi-solid 335 range this is actually a very different instrument to play. The slim single-bound body is fully hollow without any center block, making it much lighter and more resonant than its fancier sisters. 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 quite slim, flatter 1960 style specific to this period. The headstock has just 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 a couple of years along. They are controlled by the standard Gibson 4-knob one switch wiring rig, still with the 1950s style plastic bonnet knobs and amber switch tip.
Despite being intended as "amateur" instruments early ES-330TDs are great-sounding, extremely versatile guitars that have been heard live and on record in many styles of music. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early 1960s recordings, while Slim Harpo relied on one for his deep swamp blues. The ES-330 and its nearly identical sister the Epiphone Casino were featured by countless '60s British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, and many more. Now, as then this is a superbly light and handy guitar 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 relatively clean and original guitar, showing some wear for its 60+ years on the planet and one piece of repro hardware, the pickguard. The all original finish is relatively clean with virtually no fade and only some minimal checking. There is some light scuffing and mostly small dings and dents, most notably to the headstock edges and back rim. The back of the neck has a large area worn through the finish down to the wood between the second and sixth frets; this has been lightly sanded down and is not a major distraction when playing. There are some other small dings and dents and some very minor finish touchup in a few spots below this.
Overall the guitar remains nicely original, including the black-covered P-90 pickups, wiring, knobs, switch, ABR-1 bridge and plastic-button Kluson Deluxe tuners. The pickguard and bracket are nicely done proper style repros, the guard has some scuffing on the top surface. There was never a strap button was added at the heel, which is original but unusual by now on 330's.
The guitar was neatly refretted some time back now showing very light wear in the lower positions. This is a simply superb playing and sounding guitar, very light and super comfortable. It still resides in the original pink-lined brown hard case which many 330's were never ordered with even at the time. Excellent - Condition.
This is first-generation sunburst ES-330TD is from early 1960, the model's first full production year. It retains all the earliest features including a bound dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard, rounder "Mickey Mouse" cutaway horns and black plastic P-90 pickup covers. The dark shaded sunburst still has a 1950s look to it, and the factory order number stamped on the inside back indicates production around the middle of the year.
The ES-330T And ES-330TD debuted in late 1959 as lower-budget additions to the ES-335 line launched the year before. The initial announcement in the October/November '59 GIBSON GAZETTE described them as "Thrilling modern instruments...Double cutaway body and thin silhouette make it wonderfully east to hold and play". The single pickup 330T only lasted into the early 1960s, but the more versatile double pickup "TD" prospered. In 1960 1198 of these sunburst finished, two pickup 330s were shipped out of Kalamazoo priced at $250 (plus case) The ES-330 was regarded as a very successful model as it would remain for much of the 1960s.
This 1960 ES-330TD has a classic set of mid-line Gibson features, but a distinctive feel. While grouped in the catalog with the thin-line semi-solid 335 range this is actually a very different instrument to play. The slim single-bound body is fully hollow without any center block, making it much lighter and more resonant than its fancier sisters. 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 quite slim, flatter 1960 style specific to this period. The headstock has just 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 a couple of years along. They are controlled by the standard Gibson 4-knob one switch wiring rig, still with the 1950s style plastic bonnet knobs and amber switch tip.
Despite being intended as "amateur" instruments early ES-330TDs are great-sounding, extremely versatile guitars that have been heard live and on record in many styles of music. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early 1960s recordings, while Slim Harpo relied on one for his deep swamp blues. The ES-330 and its nearly identical sister the Epiphone Casino were featured by countless '60s British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, and many more. Now, as then this is a superbly light and handy guitar 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 relatively clean and original guitar, showing some wear for its 60+ years on the planet and one piece of repro hardware, the pickguard. The all original finish is relatively clean with virtually no fade and only some minimal checking. There is some light scuffing and mostly small dings and dents, most notably to the headstock edges and back rim. The back of the neck has a large area worn through the finish down to the wood between the second and sixth frets; this has been lightly sanded down and is not a major distraction when playing. There are some other small dings and dents and some very minor finish touchup in a few spots below this.
Overall the guitar remains nicely original, including the black-covered P-90 pickups, wiring, knobs, switch, ABR-1 bridge and plastic-button Kluson Deluxe tuners. The pickguard and bracket are nicely done proper style repros, the guard has some scuffing on the top surface. There was never a strap button was added at the heel, which is original but unusual by now on 330's.
The guitar was neatly refretted some time back now showing very light wear in the lower positions. This is a simply superb playing and sounding guitar, very light and super comfortable. It still resides in the original pink-lined brown hard case which many 330's were never ordered with even at the time. Excellent - Condition.