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1958 Gibson ES-350T

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Serial #: A-28523, orange oval label

Body size at lower bout: 17". Scale length: 23 1/2" Nut Width: 1 10/16" Body depth: 2 1/4"

Materials: Arched flame maple top, back and sides; solid figured maple neck; solid Brazilian fingerboard; mother of pearl fingerboard inlay and thistle peghead inlay; triple bound body, bound neck and f-holes..

Hardware: 100% original gold hardware includes twin Patent Applied For humbucking pickups, Kluson Deluxe tuners with tulip keys; loop style trapeze tailpiece with engraved crossbar; compensated Tunematic bridge with rosewood base; beveled 5-ply pickguard; gold bell knobs; 3 way control switch.

Notes: At a disc jockey convention in Nashville in 1955, Gibson reps met with ace session guitarists Hank Garland and Billy Byrd. By the time the three had finished brainstorming, a new guitar was born.

Hank had been playing a custom Stromberg with a slimmer body depth, and asked Gibson to match it. Starting with the 17" thinline body of the L-5CT (George Gobel) model, both the scale length and nut width were shortened, to create Gibson's fastest neck ever, specifically tailored to facilitate stretch chord voicings and lightning fast leads. And thus the legendary Byrdland came to be.

So popular was this innovative design that Gibson rushed another new model into production within weeks. Christened the ES-350T, the new guitar retained the specs of the Byrdland, but added a figured arched maple body to reduce feedback and increase sustain and durability. After a pair of prototypes were built late in 1955, Gibson put the new ES-350T models into very limited production. Prized by performers such as Chuck Berry and Danny Gatton, the ES-350T became icons of the brave new world of rock 'n roll. Just 104 of these beauties were completed in this model year, and we suspect that few are more handsome that the guitar presented here.

Built in 1958, the first full year for the humbucking pickup, this outstanding example has 100% original gold hardware, including twin unopened gold PAF pickups, gold ABR-1 no-wire Tuneomatic bridge, and engraved ES-350 logo tailpiece. She's in superb condition, with highly figured maple back and neck, all original sunburst finish, with no pick, buckle, thumb or fingerboard wear. Smooth low action over fine original frets, and a comfy gentle C neck profile, and the unique scale length makes wide voicings a snap, regardless of hand size. A crack on either side of the endpin and along the bass side has been solidly and immaculately resealed, and the guitar has been given a detailed pro setup to precision tolerances. The twin PAF pickups are sweet and warm, making this guitar an unusually versatile performer, equally at home with styles from bebop to rockabilly.

The instrument is supplied with its original Faultless "California Girl" plush lined hard shell case in outstanding condition. A rare and striking example of a landmark in the evolution of the modern electric guitar, at a simply unequaled price.

Setup: The frets have been precision leveled, recrowned and polished as required; trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; string slots at nut and bridge inspected and recut as necessary; bridge foot contour inspected and fit to top as necessary; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge oiled; body and neck cleaned and hand polished.

This instrument is strung with medium gauge nickel flatwound strings (.012-.054). The guitar will accommodate lighter or heavier gauge strings, according to preference. String action is set at 5/64" to 6/64" at the 12th fret, with moderate relief for acoustic playing with medium strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

Case: Original brown Gibson Lifton plush lined hardshell case.

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