Gibson Custom Shop 1962 ES-330 Reissue Hollowbody Electric Guitar, Vintage Burst

Many Gibson models changed subtly over the years. One example is the Gibson ES-330™, which was introduced in 1959. By 1962, the model had noticeable changes compared to the earliest versions. While the ES-330 shares many similarities with its close cousin, the Epiphone Casino™, the ES-330 actually predates it; the Casino wasn’t introduced until 1961. Now, after an eight-year hiatus, Gibson Custom is proud to bring the 1962 ES-330 Reissue back to the core lineup of Gibson Custom Historic Reissues.

The 1962 ES-330 Reissue features a fully hollow thinline body crafted from three-ply maple/poplar/maple. Unlike the similar-looking ES-335, the ES-330 lacks a maple centerblock, giving it a livelier, more resonant response and much greater acoustic volume when played unplugged, making it one of the greatest “couch guitars” of all time.

The 1962 ES-330 Reissue features a one-piece mahogany neck with a SlimTaper™ 60s C profile, which is slimmer and less rounded than that of ES-330s from 1959. The one-piece, bound rosewood fretboard is equipped with 22 authentic medium jumbo frets and is adorned with cellulose small-block inlays, rather than the plainer dot inlays of earlier ES-330 models. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret, just as with the originals from 1962, resulting in an optimized bridge placement.

A pair of P-90 pickups with black Dogear covers powers the 1962 ES-330 Reissue, with the bridge pickup having standard windings and an Alnico 3 magnet, while the neck pickup is underwound and is equipped with an Alnico 5 magnet, resulting in a perfectly balanced set. Each pickup is hand-wired to individual volume and tone controls using CTS® potentiometers and paper-in-oil tone capacitors. A Switchcraft® three-way pickup selector toggle switch and 1/4” output jack complete the electronics.

Feedback? Sure. Any fully hollow guitar is more prone to feedback than a solidbody or semi-hollowbody, and isn’t an ideal choice for ultra-high gain or situations that require extreme volume levels. However, the ES-330 is still easy to control when you add some gain and overdrive, and with careful palm and fretting hand muting, it sustains and sings in a very unique and musical way that most other guitars simply can’t match. The ES-330 excels at Americana, blues, 60s pop, country, jazz, rock, and more.

Other vintage-correct features include the nickel hardware, including a Historic no-wire ABR-1 bridge and trapeze tailpiece, a nylon nut, Kluson® Deluxe tuning machines, an ES-330 multi-ply pickguard, and black Top Hat knobs with silver inserts and dial pointers. The VOS finish on the hardware and gloss nitrocellulose lacquer gives the 1962 ES-330 Reissue the mellowed aesthetic of an unused vintage guitar that time forgot.

We are pleased to bring the 1962 ES-330 Reissue back to the Gibson Custom Historic lineup and can’t wait to hear what a new generation of musicians creates with this exceptional guitar. A Lifton™ hardshell case is also included to keep this beauty safe and secure during storage and travel.

Body Material: Maple/Poplar/Maple
Neck Material: Mahogany
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 12"
Fingerboard Inlay: Small-Block
Fret: 22, Medium Jumbo
Neck Profile: SlimTaper '60s C
Scale Length: 24.75"
Tuning Machines: Kluson Deluxe with White Buttons
Nut: Nylon
Bridge Pick-up: P-90
Neck Pick-up: P-90
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3-Way Toggle Switch
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic with Trapeze Tailpiece
Finish: Vintage Burst, VOS
Case: Lifton Reissue