Gibson ES-330TD Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1968), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 523923, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck, black hard shell case.
This is a very nice example of the final original version of Gibson's classic double cutaway thinline hollowbody, the ES-330. By the end of the 1960's this popular instrument underwent a major design modification; the neck joint was shifted from the 16th to the 19th fret, making it feel and play more like the semi-solid ES-335. This guitar has a lovely dark cherry finish, the neck is the narrower-nut style in use in 1967 but still has a substantial, deeper feel back-to-front. These " long neck" 330's were only in production for a few years and are fairly rare compared to earlier examples. With the extend fretboard access, this style 330 is actually preferred by some players over the more common earlier versions�one of the few cases of a late '60's Gibson having extra appeal! All other features are standard for the late 1960's-chrome plated metal parts, thin 1 5/8" neck, nylon saddle bridge and "witch hat" amp-style knobs.
The ES-330TD in general is a great sounding very versatile guitar, one of Gibson's most adaptable designs. This model been heard in many styles of music since the instrument was introduced in 1959: Jazz great Grant Green used ES-330's extensively on his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings, as did many other jazz, blues and R&B artists. The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were featured in countless '60's British invasion bands, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann and many more.
Overall length is 42 in. (106.7 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.). This guitar is nice and clean overall, with some typical play wear overall and light checking to the finish, but only small areas of finish loss-mostly the bottom edge of the fingerboard. The cherry finish is beautiful with very little fade and the guitar remains all original except for a recent professional refret. An excellent playing and sounding instrument, very lively sounding complete with a later (1970's) hard shell case. Excellent - Condition.
