Gibson ES-330TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966)
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Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 854173, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This is a truly spectacularly clean all-original example of a cherry finish ES-330TDC from 1966. this guitar shows typical features for the period including chrome pickup covers, tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic bridge with nylon saddles. The nut is the narrow hair-over 1 1/2" width sometimes seen this year, although 1 5/8" was the technically correct standard. 1151 cherry ES-330TD's shipped from Kalamazoo in 1966, the model's grandest total to date though that would more than double the next year. While not particularly rare these were still not built in enormous quantities compared to many period instruments.
The single bound body has a brilliant cherry finish overall and is fully hollow, unlike the semi-hollow 335-355 series. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret and has a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons. The two P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the older 60's style silver-capped plastic tone and volume knobs.
The ES-330 is a great sounding and 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 used by legions of professional players and heard on countless classic records in many styles 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 it 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 groups, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. The American garage band era players who took inspiration from these bands made extensive use of the model as well. This 1966 guitar shows only the most minor wear and is a superb example with the expected "Fab" sound 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 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This guitar is in extremely well preserved original condition overall, looking minimally played and very well cared for over the past 55+ years. The original deep cherry lacquer finish is clean and bright overall with some very minor checking and virtually no fade, retaining a strong bold red hue. There are some VERY minor dings and chips but no serious wear; the headstock face has one noticeable dink and the back has a couple of dings through the finish on the upper horn.
The original hardware is intact and complete; The chrome plating shows only very minor wear on the pickup covers and bridge. The guitar is a superb original example and a super friendly player, especially if you like a narrow neck. It sounds great and resides in the original yellow lined black HSC. Overall Excellent + Condition.
This is a truly spectacularly clean all-original example of a cherry finish ES-330TDC from 1966. this guitar shows typical features for the period including chrome pickup covers, tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic bridge with nylon saddles. The nut is the narrow hair-over 1 1/2" width sometimes seen this year, although 1 5/8" was the technically correct standard. 1151 cherry ES-330TD's shipped from Kalamazoo in 1966, the model's grandest total to date though that would more than double the next year. While not particularly rare these were still not built in enormous quantities compared to many period instruments.
The single bound body has a brilliant cherry finish overall and is fully hollow, unlike the semi-hollow 335-355 series. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret and has a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons. The two P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the older 60's style silver-capped plastic tone and volume knobs.
The ES-330 is a great sounding and 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 used by legions of professional players and heard on countless classic records in many styles 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 it 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 groups, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. The American garage band era players who took inspiration from these bands made extensive use of the model as well. This 1966 guitar shows only the most minor wear and is a superb example with the expected "Fab" sound 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 1/2 in. (38 mm.).
This guitar is in extremely well preserved original condition overall, looking minimally played and very well cared for over the past 55+ years. The original deep cherry lacquer finish is clean and bright overall with some very minor checking and virtually no fade, retaining a strong bold red hue. There are some VERY minor dings and chips but no serious wear; the headstock face has one noticeable dink and the back has a couple of dings through the finish on the upper horn.
The original hardware is intact and complete; The chrome plating shows only very minor wear on the pickup covers and bridge. The guitar is a superb original example and a super friendly player, especially if you like a narrow neck. It sounds great and resides in the original yellow lined black HSC. Overall Excellent + Condition.