Used Vintage 1968 Gibson ES-335 TD

Condition Report

This ES-335 is a killer player-grade vintage guitar! Some parts have been swapped out, but the important stuff is still original. It shows typical vintage wear (dings, scratches, chips, and checking), and it looks awesome--mojo for days. It underwent a refret at some point, and they show extremely light signs of wear, measuring .106 inches by .032 inches. The pickups and pots are original, and the Patent Number humbuckers measure 8.01k in the bridge and 7.80k in the neck.

The tuners are non-original Grovers, and the original trapeze tailpiece has been swapped for a Tune-o-Matic and stopbar with studs (the original trapeze is in the case). The knobs are also non-original, and look more modern, although the bridge tone knob looks a little older. The pickguard, pickup rings, switch tip, and truss rod cover look original, though. Finally, a previous owner upgraded the original nut to one made of bone, boosting resonance and sustain.

It comes with its original hardshell case, too! All in all, this is a beastly player-grade vintage ES-335, and it will bring some lucky guitar picker a lifetime of inspiration!

Sonic Evaluation

Great instruments like this ES-335 have the power to make you feel new feelings. It's like seeing a slightly different shade or hue of a familiar color, and just as that familiar-but-new color might inspire a painter, this guitar inspired me to have a few "Whoah, did I play that?" moments. It's ridiculously responsive, first off. The difference in tone between when you barely kiss the strings and when you attack hard is night-and-day, which means this guitar has an unbelievably wide dynamic range. It's almost impossible to NOT play expressively!

Frequency-wise, the first thing that jumps out at you is how lush and sweet the overtone profile is, especially in the top end and the midrange. It's one of those guitars that makes a regular G chord sound like a choir of angels through a distorted amp! The low-end is warm and present but not overbearing, and the midrange is complex rich. The top-end is open and replete with sparkle, too! The attack is woody and percussive, but it's almost as if the guitar sands off all the rough edges and strident frequencies to help your pick strike come through with plenty of presence without any harsh frequencies.

I'm utterly in love with this ES-335, and I have no doubt you'll feel new feelings just like I did if you take it for a spin!