A Near Mint PAF Cherry Red ES-335

This 16-inch-wide semi-hollow body guitar, with a solid maple block running lengthwise down the center, weighs just 8.40 lbs. and has a nice, meaty nut width of 1 11/16 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches. Laminated maple body with single binding on the top and back edges, one-piece mahogany neck with a medium profile, and bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard with 22 jumbo frets and inlaid pearl block position markers. Headstock with inlaid pearl "Gibson" logo and pearl crown inlay. Two-layer (black on white) plastic truss-rod cover. Serial number ("51995") impressed into the back of the headstock. Individual single-line Kluson Deluxe tuners with double-ring Keystone plastic buttons and "D-169400 / PATENT NO." stamped on the underside. Oval orange label inside the bass f-hole with the style "ES-335TD" written in black ink and the serial number "51995" stamped in black. Two original "PAF" humbucker pickups with outputs of 7.57k and 7.94k. The solder joints on the pickup covers are untouched, the black rectangular "PAF" label on the bridge pickup has disintegrated (as is often the case), the label on the bridge pickup is intact. The black plastic pickup rings are stamped on the underside "MR491 / M-69 7" and "MR490 / M-69 8" respectively. Five-layer (black/white/black/white/black) 'short' plastic pickguard with beveled edge. Four controls (two volume, two tone) plus three-way pickup selector switch, all on lower treble bout. Black plastic bell-shaped knobs with white markings and metal tops. ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic retainer bridge with nylon saddles and specially ordered factory Bigsby tailpiece. Rectangular three-layer black/white/black plastic cover with "Custom Made" engraved in white over the original 'stud-holes'. This plaque is secured by two small nails. The 'stud-holes' have never been used and still have the original polishing compound in the screw-thread.

The cherry red color is rich and vibrant and shows none of the usual fading that one would expect after forty-seven years. There is virtually no fret wear - in fact this guitar has hardly ever been played and has just a miniscule amount of fine 'finish checking'. The only reason that we will give this a (9.25) near mint rating instead of the full (9.50) is because of a tiny 'flaw' in the finish just by the neck pickup tone control - and if we had not mentioned this - you probably would have missed it! Housed in its original Gibson four-latch black hardshell case with orange plush lining (9.00).

"Introduced in 1958, the ES-335T (originally no final D) truly ranks among the all-time Gibson classics, not only because of its enduring popularity but also because of its semi-solid construction which pioneered a new style of electrics" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 231).

"There were indeed a number of firsts in the early days of the electric guitar, but in retrospect only few of them can be considered as true milestones. The double cutaway thinlines pioneered by Gibson in 1958 genuinely rank amongst the great original designs. Their graceful shape was truly innovative at the time and spawned several imitations such as Gretsch's revamped Chet Atkins series or the Guild Starfire. But perhaps the most important hallmark of the new thinline was their semi-solid construction. Indeed Gibson's prime objective was to design an instrument that would combine the advantages of both solid and hollow body electrics and therefore appeal to a variety of players, regardless of their musical style" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 77).