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1959 Gibson ES-355TD/SV, First Year

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Serial #: A-34358, orange label FON#: S-1445 Body size at lower bout: 16". Scale length: 24 3/4" Nut Width: 1 10/16" Neck depth, 1st/12th frets: .79/.92

Materials: Arched figured maple top and back; solid Honduras mahogany neck; solid ebony fingerboard.

Hardware: Original gold hardware includes twin PAF humbucking pickups; Grover Pat Pending Rotomatic tuners; factory original gold Bigsby vibrola; ABR-1 Tuneomatic bridge with metal saddles and wire retainer; stereo Varitone tone selector; black bell volume and tone knobs. Vintage correct long contour 5 ply bound tortoise pickguard with gold support bracket.

Notes: Introduced in 1959, the ES-355 TD/SV was the pinnacle of Gibson's new Thinline series, combining cutting-edge innovation with classic traditional design. The thin body was easier for players to hold than conventional archtops, the inner block enhanced sustain and reduced feedback, and the revolutionary 'Varitone' electronics added an unprecedented tonal palette, with cutting edge technology: stereo sound. Small wonder that the 355 became an instant classic, and has remained one of the worlds' most innovative electric guitars to this day. (BB King's 355 is named Lucille, of course, and other notable players include Eric Clapton, Chuck Berry, and Keith Richards.)

Gibson went top-drawer with the appointments on the 355, including the Super 400 style peghead inlay, solid ebony fingerboard, multi-bound tortoise pickguard, and all gold hardware throughout. The earliest ES-355s were supplied with Bigsby vibrolas as standard equipment, and equipped with the Pat. Pending Grover Rotomatic tuners, along with the twin original PAF sticker pickups. With the addition of a recent vintage correct multi-bound long tortoise pickguard, the instrument is a true masterpiece of elegant design.

This handsome guitar is one of just 123 of the stereo versions made in its debut model year. Supplied by its owner of many years, she's been kept in fine shape, with no cracks, pick, buckle or fingerboard wear. A bandstand veteran, the neck shows fairly expensive thumbwear along its length, a testament to its long and productive career, with typical scattered spider checking ensuring the originality of the lustrous cherry lacquer finish, the exclusive color for this catalog topping model. Apart from a small nick on the peghead, and some normal oxidation on the gold plating, the instrument remains much as it left the Gibson factory in the penultimate year of the Eisenhower administration.

The twin PAF pickups produce a smooth, high output signal with lots of snap and sustain, and the Varitone supplies a range of tonal colors unmatched in any other Gibson electric. The medium C profile neck is one of the most coveted: neither too skinny or overly clubby, just right in the hand, with smooth low action over fine pro medium jumbo frets, and a fresh high precision setup. The original Lifton arched hardshell case with pink plush lining is included, painted black some decades ago.

An ideal choice for the player or collector looking for true late 50's tone and feel, in an instrument of exceptional historic importance. From the dawn of Gibson's Golden Age of the modern electric guitar: one only, call now.

Setup: Trussrod tension and neck relief adjusted; bridge height adjusted; bridge compensation set; bridge wheels and tuners lubricated; fingerboard and bridge conditioned; body and neck cleaned and hand polished. String action is set at 4/64" to 5/64" at the 12th fret, with slight relief, and light guage nickel roundwound strings. The action may be lowered or raised to your requirements with the adjustable bridge.

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