Gibson ES-330TC Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1960), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # R5071-5, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original brown chipboard case.

This is a really clean early example of a first-generation cherry-finish Gibson ES-330TC from 1960, the first year of production. The ES-330T (with no "D") was the relatively short-lived single pickup version of the popular double-pickup ES-330TD, itself one of Gibson's big successes in the early-mid 1960s.

In comparison to its twin pickup sibling the cherry-finished single-pickup ES-330 is a rare guitar with only 582 total produced from 1960-'63. The "R" prefix ink-stamped factory order number under the treble side f-hole dates this guitar to 1960. All of 37 cherry finish 330Ts are listed as having been shipped that year, as this option replaced an even rarer natural version over the last few months. It is of course possible this guitar was not shipped until 1961, which would make it one of 214 registered as leaving Kalamazoo that year.

Regardless of exactly when it was sent out into the world, this guitar shows all the first-generation 330 features including the bound dot inlaid rosewood fingerboard, rounder "Mickey Mouse" cutaway horns on the body and a black plastic P-90 pickup cover. The nickel-plated ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge is the first "no-wire" pattern with metal saddles. The single-bound body is fully hollow with a deep cherry finish and the neck joins at the 16th fret, in common with all early ES-330 variants.

The distinctive feature of the original ES-330T is the single P-90 pickup mounted right in the middle of the body. This center pickup placement was used by Gibson on just two midline models, the ES-225T and ES-330T as a sort of tonal compromise between the standard neck or bridge placement options. It gives the guitar a smooth midrange-rich tone, obviously not as versatile as the twin pickup ES-330TD, but with a distinctive sound all its own. When not pushed too hard through an overdriven amp it has an interesting acoustic-y character; we have found some players used to gigging with an amplified flat-top have been quite taken with this model.

This early 330TC is also simply a superbly easy-handling and great-playing guitar, super lightweight and comfortable in any context. The neck has the slim, flat profile seen on most 1960-61 Gibson guitars specific to this period. While not one of the most collected of vintage Gibsons this is a super clean, all original example and just very friendly instrument to play.

Overall length is 43 1/8 in. (109.5 cm.), 16 1/8 in. (41 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).

Overall this is very well-preserved original 65 year old guitar showing really very little wear. The finish has minimal checking a few tiny dings, scrapes and chips overall but no really serious finish loss, and retains the bright cherry hue with hardly any fading. Even the oft-dinged up headstock edges are pretty clean.

The hardware remains original except for the baseplate and cradle of the tailpiece; this part is prone to shearing and was replaced with a later chrome plated unit sometime along the way. The crossbar and retainers are still the original nickel plated pieces, so this is fairly inconspicuous. The strap button was changed from plastic to metal at the time and another period strap button was added on the heel, an almost ubiquitous addition on this model. There is light wear to the nickel plating and plastic parts but nothing too serious.

This is a fine-playing and cool sounding ES-330TC, one of the cleanest we have had. It is complete in a very clean original heavy-duty brown chipboard case, a cool oddity specific to this era with some case candy (the "Professional's Attention" and "Sonomatic strings" tags) still in the pocket. Overall Excellent Condition.