❌SOLD❌ Gibson ES-335TDC Thinline Cherry Red, 1969

Here is a very nice Gibson ES-335TDC in a classic Cherry finish and the reliable Thinline semi-hollow design, built during 1969 at Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The Thinline concept was introduced in 1955 to produce a more compact hollowbody archtop electric instrument less prone to feedback. For the 1958 model year, this was combined with a solid, very feedback resistant center block to create the revolutionary semi-hollow ES-335 – which also carried Gibson’s new humbucking pickups. The next year, the 335 was joined by the more elaborate ES-345 and ES-355. These new designs won immediate acceptance and have been in production ever since.

The full name of this model, as described on the label is “Gibson ES-335TDC”, meaning an Electric Spanish (not Hawaiian) model 335, Thinline, Double Pickup, Cherry finish. However, all 335’s are Thinline with Double pickups, so the lettering is a bit redundant and often is left off the label. In that case, so is the finish designation, here C for Cherry but sometimes “W” for Walnut.

The construction includes Laminate Maple for the top, back and sides, with a bound rosewood fretboard accentuated with smaller block-marker inlays compared to the full blocks used on the ES-355 or the 2018 “ES-335 Big Block Retro”

All hardware including the trapeze tailpiece is original. While the ES-3xx line originally used a combination ABR bridge and stop tailpiece, from 1965 to 1981 the Trapeze took the place of the stop tailpiece. Starting in 1966 until 1973, Gibson reduced the headstock pitch to 14 degrees from 17, as is seen here. The 17 degree pitch was restored during the 1980’s and has been a key element of the Gibson descriptions since then.

This wonderful Gibson ES-335TDC is equipped with its original Gibson ABR-1 Tunomatic adjustable bridge and its two original patent decal numbered pickups. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish has some natural oxidization and checking, and expected wear from decades of use as intended. Fret wear is light to moderate, and the guitar plays well and cleanly.

This is a beautiful, well preserved example of an all-original Gibson ES-335TDC in very good shape.

The original arched-top hard shell case is included.