Gibson ES-335 Review

Written by vintage on March 29, 2009 – 6:19 am -

Gibson ES-335 Guitar (1958 to present )
Thinline Semi-hollow Electric Archtop Guitar Also Known As The ES-335 TD

In 1958 Gibson introduced a guitar with a wood block that was glued to the top and back of the body which ran through the guitars' center leaving the sides empty. The guitar was the Gibson ES-335, the first semi-hollow body guitar. The wood block not only made the ED-335 guitar more solid but it also enhanced its woodiness warm sound and sustain.

Its ingenious body design structure plays a major role in Gibson's history and paved the way for many Gibson legendary guitars to come. Cherished by many artists such as B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, George Harrison and Richie Blackmore just to name a few.

In 1958 when Gibson first launched the ES-335 at a list price of approximately $270 the guitar became an instant success and continued its historical journey until this very day. The ES-335 is coined by many as the best all around guitar in the world because of its versatility.

The first year in production the ES-335 had the following features:
Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays,
two humbuckers,
bigsby vibrato or stop tailpiece,
bound top and back,
the neck joins the body at the 19th fret,
4 knobs ( 2-vol 2-tone ),
tune o-matic bridge,
pickguard extends below the bridge,
large fat neck, and
sunburst or natural finishes.
The 1958 ES-335 is highly desirable and sought after by collectors.

1959 : Cherry finishes were added
1960 : The ES-335 had shorter pickguards and thinner necks
1961 : Natural finishes were discontinued
1962 : Dot inlays on the fingerboard were replaced with block inlays
1965 : Trapeze tailpiece replaced the stop tailpiece 12 string version also introduced
1966 : Indian rosewood fingerboard instead of Brazilian
1969 : walnut finishes were available

In 1981 the Gibson ES-335 was discontinued and replaced with the Gibson ED-335 dot which was a reissue of the original 1960 ES 335 with dot inlays. The Gibson ES-335 dot was discontinued in 1990 and replaced with the Gibson ES-335 reissue in 1991 which are still in production today.

From 1981 to present Gibson also introduced more variations of the Gibson ES-335 such as the
Gibson es-335 artist. The artist had a large headstock logo, metal truss rod plate, gold hardware with 3 knobs.

Gibson ES-335 Dot CMT (1983 - 1985) like the ES-335 dot but with curly maple top and back, gold hardware, and were made in various colors.

Gibson es-335 Studio (1986 - 1991) No f-holes , 2 dirty finger humbuckers , cherry or ebony finishes .

Gibson ES-335 Showcase Edition (1988) black hardware, emg pickups, white or beige finishes and only 200 were made.

Gibson ES-335 Centennial (1994) Gold medallion on the headstock, came in cherry colors, diamond inlays in tailpiece, and also had limited production. (not more than a 100 were made).

Gibson ES-335 '59 Historic Collection (1998) basically a replica of the original 1959 model with dot inlays.

Gibson ES-335 '63 Historic Collection (2000) based on the original 1962 model with block inlays.

Gibson also made es-335 custom shop guitars during the 80s and 90s with a custom shop logo on the back of the headstock.

Vintage Price Value For 2008 :
1958 > $60,000,to $75,000 (Natural)
1958 > $50,000 to $60,000 (Natural-Bigsby)
1958 > $34,000 to $41,000 (Sunburst)
1958 > $32,000 to $39,000 (Sunburst-Bigsby)
1959 > $75,000 to $100,000 (Natural)
1959 > $50,000 to $65,000 (Natural-Bigsby)
1959 > $40,000 to $55,000 (Sunburst)
1959 > $35,000 to $40,000 (Sunburst-Bigsby)
1960 > $25,000 to $35,000 (Cherry)
1960 > $35,000 to $50,000 (Natural)
1960 > $25,000 to $35,000 (Sunburst)
1961 - 1962 > $26,000 to $32,000 (PAFs)
1961 - 1962 > $25,000 to $32,000 (Pat #)
1963 - 1964 > $19,000 to $27,000 (prices vary according to specs & color )
1965 - 1969 > $4,500 to $9,000 (prices vary according to specs & color )
1970 - 1976 > $3,500 to $4,600
1977 - 1981 > $2,000 to $3,200

1965 - 1971 > $2,600 to $3,000 (ES-335-12 string)
1981 - 1990 > $2,300 to $ 2,950 (ES-335 Dot)
1981 - 1982 > $2,300 to $2,600 (ES-335 Artist)
1981 - 1999 > $2,700 to $3,000 (ES-335 Custom Dhop)
1983 - 1985 > $2,700 to $3,000 (ES-335 Dot CMT)
1986 - 1991 > $1,100 to $1,400 (ES-335 Studio)
1988 - 1989 > $2,300 to $3,500 (ES-335 Showcase edition)
1994 - 1995 > $4,000 to $4,200 (ES-335 Centennial)
1998 - 1999 > $2,200 to $2,700 ('59 historic collection)
2000 - 2001 > $2,700 to $3,000 ('63 historic collection)
1991 - 2000 > $1,700 to $2,300 (ES-335 reissue)

Since 2000 Gibson ES-335 guitars made between 1958 and 1969 increased in value 21% a year on average. Those made from 1970 thru 1981 increases in value an average of 9% a year
1970 - 1981 > 9% (does not include the ES-335 dot reissue).