Gibson ES-330TD Cherry w/ Factory Gold Hardware (1966)
Hollow-Body/Archtop · P90s Pickups · Vintage
Get a load of this! Shipped on November 10, 1966, this Gibson ES-330TD left the factory with custom ordered gold hardware, a Bigsby B7 vibrato tailpiece, and Kluson "waffleback" tuners! This 330 joins the ranks of the VERY few- Gibson themselves assume only a small handful of ES-330s were ever outfitted with gold hardware from the factory.
Now, the tuners, ABR-1, and Bigsby could theoretically be transplants from any of the fancier models of the era- ES-345, SG Custom, etc. But the real truth of this crazy rare ES-330 lies in its pickups...
For the record, Gibson did not have a model in its electric lineup that featured gold-plated dogear P90 covers. These covers would have to be special ordered for them to land on a guitar. Combine that with the tuners, which were the only machines installed on this guitar, and you've got a bonafide custom ES-330TD! Another little aesthetic wrinkle is in the knobs. With Gibson using black or gold reflector top knobs depending on the model and finish, this Cherry 330 would typically get the former. However, those knobs were almost always outfitted with silver reflector inserts. These reflectors have gold inserts!
Though so much of the deserved attention is tied to the look, its natural wear would tell you that it was likely prized for its tone and feel just as much. The neck is fantastic, filling out the first position with a bit more depth than is typical of the era, with a slightly less aggressive taper. Think of it like some of the 63/64 neck profiles, if you will. We LOVE the way this neck feels!
The pickups are strong, but still sweet and dynamic, allowing for a multitude of styles. When you add in the Bigsby, too, you've got a bit more mass on the top. That seems to push the fundamentals forward a touch.
Custom order Gibsons from this period do not come along all that often. If memory serves us, it's only the second one that would qualify as such. This is a special guitar that would easily find a home atop a great vintage collection.
Paired with a vintage period-correct Ess & Ess hardshell case. Expedited Shipping Required.
| Style | Hollowbody |
| Body | Laminated Maple |
| Finish | Nitrocellulose |
| Color | Cherry |
| Pickups | Original Gold-Plated P90s | 8.23k Neck / 8.64k Bridge |
| Electronics | Original CTS Harness |
| Controls | Volume (x2) / Tone (x2) / 3-Way Toggle |
| Bridge | ABR-1 w/ Bigsby B7 Tailpiece |
| Tuners | Original Kluson Waffleback |
| Pickguard | Original |
| Knobs | Original Black/Gold Reflector |
| Neck | Mahogany |
| Binding | White |
| Carve | Medium C | .83-.96" |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Radius | 12" |
| Inlays | Small Blocks |
| Frets | Original |
| Nut | Original |
| Scale Length | 24 3/4" |
| Serial # | 842141 |
| Weight | 6lb 13oz |
| Case | Vintage Ess & Ess HSC |
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