Superb 1966 Gibson ES-335TD, an excellent example of a mid-60’s ES-335 with two great sounding original PAT. No Sticker pickups, original chrome hardware and a fast playing slim taper neck. This guitar was converted to stoptail back in 2017 but comes with the original tailpiece and otherwise remains in excellent, original condition throughout.
The guitar features a single piece Mahogany neck with pearl inlayed Gibson logo and Crown to the headstock face, the dark Rosewood fingerboard is punctuated with pearl block markers. The nut and frets are original as are the double line/double ring Kluson Deluxe tuners. The guitar left the factory with a “2” denoting a factory second, but after 50 years it’s hard to see why. The finish is excellent throughout; there are no breaks, repairs or 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. 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 little tarnishing to the chrome plating and the wide bevel pickguard has resisted warping or curling. The original tailpiece is retained in the case and the fitted studs and Stoptail are modern repro parts. The chrome ABR-1 is the correct Patent number version. Should the next owner wish, the guitar is easily reverted back to factory spec.
The neck profile is a rounded C, the nut width, although narrower than the traditional Gibson nut width feels very comfortable and far less restrictive than it can on some other instruments. The nut width is 40.05mm and the neck measures 20.77mm at the 1st fret and 24.41mm at the 12th. Gibson guitars released between mid-1965 and 1969 feature a slimmer neck and were advertised as faster playing necks. About the same time the necks changed the Thinline ES Series would see the Stop tailpiece replaced with a trapeze tailpiece. The fitting of the Stop tailpiece has been completed to a high level and whilst devaluing the guitar against an original example it can increase its desirability amongst many players. The guitar comes with its original orange lined Gibson case and weighs a respectable 8.1 lbs. A superb looking and playing, orange label 335!