Stunning Cherry 1966 ES-335TDC in amazing condition. A superb example of a 60s ES-335 with two killer sounding original PAT No. pickups, original chrome hardware and a fast playing slim taper neck. The guitar has been very well maintained and cherished by the previous owner since the mid-nineties when it was purchased on a trip to the USA. It looks fantastic with its vibrant cherry finish that showing a lovely figuring to the Maple body.
The guitar features a single piece Mahogany neck with pearl inlayed Gibson logo and Crown to the headstock face, the Rosewood fingerboard is punctuated with small pearl block markers. The nut and frets are original, tuners are double line/double ring Kluson Deluxe. The serial number matches the 'Union Made' label. The original finish is excellent throughout, there are no breaks, repairs of touchups. There is minimal fading, very little checking and despite being a played instrument the guitar has been very well cared for. Electronics are stock, the two Pat. No sticker pickups have never had the chrome covers removed and inside the wiring is very neat and undisturbed. The hardware is in great condition with next to no tarnishing to the chrome plating and the 3-ply bevel edged pickguard has resisted warping or curling. The witch hat knobs are synonymous with this trapeze tailpiece era of 335 production. The original tailpiece is the only tailpiece to have been fitted. The chrome ABR-1 is the correct Patent number version used for this era and still has it’s nylon saddles fitted.
The neck profile is a rounded C with a hint more shoulder towards the body that suits this guitar perfectly. Gibson guitars released between mid-1965 and 1969 feature a slimmer neck and were advertised as faster playing. The nut width although narrower than the traditional Gibson nut width feels far less restrictive than it can on some other instruments. Nut width is 40.28mm and the neck measures 21.47mm at the 1st fret and 25.49mm at the 12th. The original frets have plenty of height and play well. The D and G string tuners have slightly bent shafts but still function perfectly.
A great looking and playing package, do not underestimate 3 series guitars from this era! This guitar sounds excellent; the Pat. No Sticker Humbuckers are are consistently great sounding pickups and it has a loud, resonant acoustic ring that translates into a powerful amplified voice.
The guitar comes with its original Gibson case in equally good condition.