Gibson ES-330 TDN Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1959), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # S1040-13, natural lacquer finish, laminate maple body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case.
This is a rare and supremely vibey early first-generation blonde ES-330TDN from 1959, the model's debut year. This guitar remains very clean and original sporting all the earliest features including a bound dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard, rounder "Mickey Mouse" cutaway horns and black plastic P-90 pickup covers. The rarest feature is the natural finish; this option was quickly discontinued in 1960 in favor of the then-new cherry; less than 300 total of these "DN" models were made. The factory order number indicates a build date around mid 1959 suggesting this is one of the earliest examples.
Although they debuted in 1959 the ES-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. Only 79 two-pickup models made it out of Kalamazoo before the end of the year, with a further .
The ES-330TDN 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. 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 feels like a transition from the rounder "1959 style" and the flatter '60 profile; it is slimmer back-to-front than many '59s but has more dressed away on the sides than the typical '60; it even has a hint of a soft "V shape. The unbound headstock has a pearl Gibson logo; the tuners are single-unit enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons.
The two single-coil P-90 pickups are mounted under black plastic dog-ear covers, 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 rare example, absolutely the cleanest of the few blonde ES-330TDN's we have seen, an incredibly light and handy with a killer feel and sound that can't be beat; really our favorite 330 EVER!
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.).
This is a VERY clean and original guitar overall, showing some very light general wear. Along the way over the last 60+ years the guitar was played, but very well cared for. The all-original finish has some very minor dings, dents and scrapes, that's about it. Some finish is lightly worn through on the back of the neck. All hardware is complete and original; The plastic pickup covers and pickguard have some minor scuffing on the top surfaces from play. The bridge and tailpiece appear to have been polished now and then; somebody wanted to keep this guitar immaculate!
The only alteration is a correct period Gibson strap button added to the heel; unfortunately there was some indecision there, and two holes were drilled, neither on the center line! The extra has been plugged but is still visible. The original tuners have some minor corrosion on the housings and more recent buttons; 1959 is a well-known year for original Kluson buttons tending to crumble. The original frets have been crowned down a bit but plenty of meat remains, and there is some wear to the fingerboard along much of its length; this was not a "cowboy chord" guitar! Nevertheless it plays great and sounds fantastic, a beautiful blonde gloriously resplendent whether onstage or resting in the original brown HSC. Overall Excellent Condition.
