❌SOLD❌ Gibson ES-350T Thinline Archtop Electric Wine Red, 1978

The Gibson ES-350T (or ES-350TD to the early 1960s) is a thin-bodied, single cutaway fully hollow archtop electric built from 1955 to 1963 with a 23.5 inch scale length, and from 1977 to 1993 with a 25.5 inch scale. It started as the full-bodied, single-cutaway, 25.5 inch scale length single P-90 ES-350 Premiere in 1947. The ES-350 models were used by a number of top artists in the 1950s, most notably Chuck Berry.

At introduction in 1955, the Gibson ES-350T shared several things with the also-new Byrdland, particularly the 23.5 inch scale length. This short scale was at the request of Billy Byrd and Hank Garland, both Nashville session players at the time, to ease complex and wide chord fingerings. The higher-priced Byrdland, however, often has a Spruce top and the ES-350T body is all Maple Laminate. Both models have Maple necks. The ES-350T has a Rosewood fingerboard, while the Byrdland’s is Ebony.

Here we’re looking at an Gibson ES-350T in Wine Red, dating to August 23, 1978 at the (Unionized!) Gibson shop on Parsons Street in Kalamazoo, Michigan. It sports a wine red finish and gold plated hardware, including the engraved ES-350T trapeze style tailpiece. Tuners are Gibson branded Schaller models with ‘tulip’ style buttons. The bridge is an ABR Tune-O-Matic The electronics are typical Gibson for the period, with a pair of ‘Patent Number’ humbucking pickups, selector switch, individual volume and tone controls and an output jack. The finish is Gibson’s distinctive ‘Wine Red’ nitrocellulose lacquer finish and that is in good condition with expected play wear.

Overall, this guitar is in good condition and good playing condition. It has been cared for but definitely used as intended, with moderate fret wear, heaviest in the low positions and some wear to the fingerboard. As a 1970’s model, there is a Volute between the neck and headstock, intended to improve resistance to breakage.

This Gibson ES-350T is a very nice, very classy  guitar, and its light weight makes it very comfortable for long playing sessions.

The original Gibson arched top hard shell case is included.