Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body; mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black chipboard case.
A nice original example of a cherry ES-330 from 1966. This guitar has typical period features including a bright, rich cherry red finish overall, bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay, and chrome-plated hardware including a Tune-O-Matic bridge with nylon saddles. The single-bound body is fully hollow, unlike the semi-hollow 335-355 series, and the neck joins at the 16th fret. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson deluxe with plastic buttons. Two P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with '60s-style "capped" plastic tone and volume knobs (replaced the next year with the less attractive "witch hat" knobs) and white switch tip.
The ES-330 is a great sounding, 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 heard on countless classic records in many styles of music since its introduction in 1959. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early 1960s recordings. A number of period bluesmen have been spotted with one 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 '60s British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats, and many more. This is a nice example, fitted with a period Bigsby with a "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 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Super clean, all original condition -- only some very light play wear to the finish and frets, but no repairs or alterations. They really don't come that much cleaner than this 50 years on; a fabulous example of this well-loved Gibson classic complete with the original chipboard case. Excellent + Condition.
