Brand: Gibson
Instrument Categories: Archtop, Electric, Guitars, SOLD, Thinline
The Gibson Memphis ES330 VOS model is now discontinued, along with the Memphis plant, but is a great re-creation of a late 1950’s ES-330. Introduced in 1959, the ES-330 took visual cues from the new and very successful ES-335, but is uses a fully hollow body without a solid center block. A pair of under-wound P-90s provide great tone.
Until about 1963, the ES330 and its cousin the Epiphone Casino set the neck joint at the 16th fret but subsequently the joint was shifted to the 19th fret, allowing easier access to higher frets. This Gibson Memphis ES330 VOS uses the 16th fret joint, which makes the guitar a bit more compact and arguably a more comfortable rhythm guitar.
There is a significant but subtle difference between this guitar and the originals. The frets extend the full width of the fingerboard. Gibson models have traditionally had the fingerboards fretted off the neck, the frets dressed flush to the edge, and then bound, which leaves a ‘nubbin’ covering the fret end. At this time, Gibson Memphis was experimenting with binding the fingerboard first, and then fretting it, which gives more fret material side to side.
This Gibson ES330 VOS was originally purchased and used for several shows in the Duke Robillard band, and then sold to its present owner. It is in very good clean condition with little wear – fret wear is very light and there are some very minor scuffs and oxidization in the finish. It plays cleanly as it was originally PLEK’d, is very resonant, and the tone – well, it has P-90’s and that’s almost always a good thing. It’s very light and comfortable to play.
The original Gibson Custom hard shell case with Charcoal Gray interior is included.
- Model: ES330 VOS
- Year: 2013
- Finish VOS Sunburst
- Class: Used
- Serial Number: T17331, built during late 2012 Memphis
- Country of Origin: USA
- Condition: Very Good
- Date Posted: 15/01/2021
- This instrument has been sold
- Consignment Item
- Including original Hard case
- Instrument Weight: 6.28lbs 2.74kg
- Scale Length: 24.75in 628.6mm
- Nut Width: 1.693in 43mm
