{"product_id":"gibson-es-330td-thinline-hollow-body-electric-guitar-1960-12750","title":"Gibson ES-330TD Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960)","description":"Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # R4559-29, sunburst top, dark back and sides finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown hard shell case. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis first-generation sunburst ES-330TD was built in 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 likely happened before the middle of the year.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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 through the decade. In 1960 1198 of these sunburst finish, 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe 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, with the 1950s style \"uncapped\" plastic bonnet knobs but the newer white plastic switch tip.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDespite 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 early example is a superbly light and handy guitar with a killer feel and sound.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOverall 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.). \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOverall this is a relatively clean and original guitar, showing some wear for its 65+ years on the planet and an older refret. The original finish is relatively clean with virtually no fade and only some light checking, mostly to the sides. The only added finish is some small touch-ups along the front edges of the headstock, including a chip at the top of the bass side face. There is some light scuffing and mostly small dings and dents, most notably to those headstock edges and some checks around the tuner ferrules. The back of the neck has no large areas worn through the finish, just some small dings and dents and a couple of feelable chips behind the 7th fret. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOverall the guitar remains nicely original, including the black plastic-covered P-90 pickups, wiring, knobs, switch, pickguard and bracket, no-wire ABR-1 bridge and plastic-button Kluson Deluxe tuners. The white (not amber) plastic switch tip MAY be a bit later, but it is an older Gibson piece. There is a vintage Gibson a strap button added (a little off-center) on the heel, which is not original but almost ubiquitous by now on 330's.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe guitar was neatly refretted with correct style wire some time back now showing hardly any wear, the bone nut is a replacement as well. 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. This is quite well-worn but intact, with the internal marks showing it is original to this guitar. Overall Excellent - Condition.","brand":"Gibson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51538178375820,"sku":"12750","price":13500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0672\/8702\/3756\/files\/01_84baa155-1f3c-45c5-b2bb-0b7b9ff073fe.jpg?v=1784763475","url":"https:\/\/retrofret.com\/products\/gibson-es-330td-thinline-hollow-body-electric-guitar-1960-12750","provider":"RetroFret","version":"1.0","type":"link"}