1961 GIBSON ES-335TD

Exceptional 1961 Gibson ES-335TD in superb original condition.

Here we are dealing with something almost sacred to all those who hold Gibson dear. Since its introduction in 1958 as the founding model of a new generation of Kalamazoo-made electric instruments, the Gibson ES-335 represents the quintessence of the semi-hollowbody electric guitar. It is indeed the culmination of a decade of progress and reflection on the ultimate form an electric guitar could take. According to Ted McCarty, Gibson’s director throughout the golden age of electric guitars, Kalamazoo luthiers and engineers had noted the popularity of the solidbody models introduced in the early 1950s because of the sustain their construction offered. They had also learned from the limitations highlighted by the early thinline models, which, despite their lightness, still suffered from some drawbacks: their persistent susceptibility to feedback when the amplifier was pushed to high volumes, and the limited access to the upper frets since the neck joint was located at the 14th fret. Therefore, the Gibson ES-335TD was designed as an ideal compromise between the size and reduced weight of thinline guitars and the physical characteristics of solidbody guitars, since the body features a central beam on which the two humbucker pickups, the bridge, and the tailpiece are mounted, with cavities on either side that largely preserve the instrument’s acoustic quality. When you add to that a 22-fret neck made fully accessible by the guitar’s double cutaway, the beautiful figured maple chosen for the top, sides, and back, the Brazilian rosewood fingerboard topped with the headstock featuring the Gibson logo and characteristic crown inlaid in mother-of-pearl, (almost) everyone would agree that the 335 is the quintessential electric model produced by Gibson, and one of the most elegant guitars of all time.

The instrument presented here comes from the first generation of ES-335s and is of great interest in many respects: firstly, it features its original pair of humbucker pickups bearing their Patent Applied For label, the famous “PAFs” that would permanently establish the Gibson sound in international musical culture – one cannot help but appreciate the incredible character of these pickups, still largely produced semi-artisanally in the early 1960s before the standardization of manufacturing methods later in the decade – in this respect, each pair of PAFs has its own particular sonic characteristics, and this one does not disappoint. It has never been separated from the instrument, and all the wiring and associated components remain unaltered to this day. It is interesting to note that this ES-335 bears an Artist serial number used by Gibson from 1947 to 1961, indicating that the guitar left Kalamazoo in January or February 1961 (for reference, the last Artist serial number is A36147, applied on February 21, 1961, and preceding our guitar’s serial number by only a few dozen units). The FON (Factory Order Number), a number stamped on the guitar allowing Gibson to track the production of batches of instruments at the factory, corresponds to the very end of 1960. These two serialization elements allow us to pinpoint the date of manufacture and shipment of the example presented here with considerable precision.

466 ES-335TDs in Sunburst finish were produced in 1961, the peak production for this variant, though in quantities that remain quite modest compared to the production of similar professional models today. Interestingly, production totals declined the following year in favor of the Cherry 335, a new color that had become very popular since its introduction a few years earlier on the ES-355TD. Another sign of the model’s evolution is the guitar’s original pickguard, which is no longer the long pickguard of the early era, modeled after those found on archtop models, but a shorter pickguard introduced in early 1961. The original Kluson Deluxe tuners are also present, as well as the original stop-bar tailpiece typical of the 335 until 1965 – paired with the original ABR-1 adjustable bridge. The only minor modification is that three of the four potentiometer knobs have been replaced.

This rare guitar has been completely refretted and set up for playing in our workshop, with frets matching the original type. A bone nut has been crafted and fitted to the instrument to ensure perfect playability. This meticulous work was carried out with great care to preserve the instrument’s patina and impeccable condition. Furthermore, we have undertaken a thorough examination and expert appraisal of the instrument, which comes with a certificate of authenticity issued by Jérôme Casanova, guaranteeing the guitar’s originality.

Sold in its original Lifton hardshell case.