Up for sale, a 1963 Gibson ES-335 TD in excellent condition and perfect working order, complete with the original Patent # pickup pair and Lifton hardshell case. This golden age Gibson ES-335 is a factory stoptail example which has never been fitted with a Bigsby, boasting many of the model’s most coveted features, with small block inlay on the bound Brazilian rosewood fretboard, a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck with long tenon joint, and nickel-plated hardware.
At the heart of this guitar are a pair of early Patent # humbuckers, both retaining their original windings and metering at 7.65k ohms in the neck position and 8.1k ohms at the bridge. The direct descendants of the venerable PAF and identical in construction, these humbuckers offer bloom, chirp and honk at the bridge, while the neck position has a woody, textured sound, smooth yet clear and balanced across the strings. Extremely sensitive to picking dynamics, there’s a sweet, round quality to single notes as they sustain. The middle position on the three-way switch is in-phase, and backing the neck pickup Volume off a hair yields a very complimentary sound that highlights the character of both pickups. Weighing 7lbs 14oz and benefitting from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, we’ve dialed in this ES-335 TD with fresh 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Honduran mahogany
-Shape: Slender C, modest shoulder, measuring .800” 1st fret, .950” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Brazilian rosewood, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo (refret), hint of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, nylon
-Tuners: Kluson Deluxe single line, double ring
Body Specs:
-Wood: Maple
-Pickups: Pat # humbucker x2, untouched solder on covers, 8.1k Bridge, 7.65k Neck
-Harness: CTS pots date to 33rd week of ’63
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Wired ABR-1 bridge with metal saddles, nickel-plated stopbar (era-correct, originally gold-plated), strap buttons
-Plastics: Four-ply wide bevel pickguard, gold reflector cap knobs, white switch tip, M-69 pickup rings
-Serialization/Factory Markings: Orange oval label, serial dates to ’63
The Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray. There is broad vertical checking across the top, very light buckle wear at the waist favoring the bass side, and some small marks and light finish scratches indicative of decades of very careful use. The neck profile retains its gloss on its length, with a few shallow marks worn smooth through subsequent play, mostly on the treble-side shoulder.
The original black “pebble” Lifton hardshell case with gold plush interior is included. The case features functional latches, the original handle, and the Lifton badge outside the case pocket.