Original Collection ES-335 '50s

The ES-335 returns in its original 50s-era form

At Gibson, we understand that not everyone has the same tastes in guitars. Some prefer one model over another, and even within models, players may prefer a specific year or range of years, depending on changes to the model over time, such as color variations, different pickups, subtle feature variations (e.g., pickguards, inlays, and plastics), and different neck profiles. Our Les Paul Standard 50s and 60s models have been a huge hit with players, in part because they offer the opportunity to find the guitar that best fits their preferences and needs. Now, Gibson is providing the same option to ES-335 fans with the introduction of the ES-335 50s and ES-335 60s models.

The ES-335 50s delivers the classic features of the earliest ES-335 models, first introduced in 1958. The ES-335 50s features a semi-hollow, thinline body crafted from three-ply maple, poplar, and maple, with a solid maple centerblock that increases sustain while also greatly reducing feedback. For a touch of added style, the body has single-ply cream binding around the top and back.

Like those early ES-335 models, the mahogany neck sports a beefier Rounded C profile that feels satisfyingly substantial in the hand. The bound rosewood fretboard is equipped with 22 medium jumbo frets and adorned with simple acrylic dot inlays, mirroring the look of the early “dot neck” ES-335 models. The headstock is equipped with Vintage Deluxe tuners with keystone buttons, which, in partnership with the Graph Tech nut, help to keep the tuning nice and stable. The headstock is also adorned with a mother-of-pearl Gibson logo and crown inlay.

The other ends of the strings pass over an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and anchor to an aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece. They add to the guitar’s excellent sustain while allowing for comprehensive adjustment of action height and individual string intonation.

The ES-335 50s is powered by a pair of Custombucker pickups with Alnico 3 magnets. These pickups are renowned for their ability to deliver the tonal magic of those early, highly prized Patent Applied For humbucker pickups from the late 1950s. Each is paired with individual hand-wired 500k volume and tone controls, which, along with a three-way pickup selector toggle switch, provide the wide range of tonal versatility for which the ES-335 is famous.

A ’59-style, five-ply long pickguard and gold Top Hat knobs with dial pointers complete the 50s vintage-inspired look. Available in your choice of Vintage Tobacco Burst, Vintage Natural, and Ebony gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finishes, a Gibson hardshell case completes the package. This is the ES-335 for you if you prefer the larger neck profile and cosmetics of those earliest ES-335 models that players have loved for over 60 years.

• Serial Number

  201260245

• Brand Name

  Gibson

• Model

  ES-335 '50s

• Finish Color

  Vintage Tobacco Burst

• Finish Type

  Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer

• Weight

  7.86 lbs.

• Top Wood

  3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple

• Body Wood

  3-ply Maple/Poplar/Maple

• Binding

  Single-ply Cream on Top, Back, and Fretboard

• Neck Dimensions

  .860 1st. - .970 12th

• Neck Wood

  Mahogany

• Neck Shape

  Rounded C

• Fingerboard Wood

  Indian Rosewood

• Fingerboard Radius

  12"

• Fingerboard Inlays

  Acrylic Dots

• Frets

  22 Medium Jumbo

• Scale Length

  24 3/4"

• Headstock

  Black, Mother-of-Pearl Gibson Logo and Crown Inlay

• Nut Material

  Graph Tech

• Pickups

  2 Calibrated T-Type AlNiCo 3 Humbuckers

• Controls

  2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3-Way Selector Switch; Hand-wired With 500K Potentiometers and Orange Drop Capacitors

• Tailpiece

  Aluminum Stopbar

• Hardware

  Nickel

• Tuners

  Vintage Deluxe with Keystone Buttons

• bridge

  ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic

• Pickguard

  '59s-style Long, 5-ply Black

• Case

  Gibson Brown Hardshell