The Guitar

The Trini Lopez Standard is the guitar Dave Grohl fell in love with, and the one Gibson reworked into the DG-335 because of it. That association has pushed demand on original 1960s examples considerably, and it is not hard to understand why once you have one in your hands.

This is a 1967 Trini Lopez Standard in Cherry Red. Gibson built it on the ES-335 platform and then changed nearly everything that gives a 335 its identity. The f-holes became bound diamond soundholes. The block inlays became split diamonds, an inlay pattern that had never appeared on a Gibson fingerboard before these models. The open book headstock became a six-on-a-side Firebird peghead, which in 1964 was unlike anything else in the catalog. The stop tailpiece became a trapeze with a raised diamond. The result looks like nothing else Gibson has ever built, and it still turns heads sixty years later.

Underneath the styling it is a proper mid-'60s Gibson semi. Laminated maple top, back and sides with a maple center block, bound top and back, double rounded cutaways, a mahogany set neck with a bound rosewood board, 22 frets, and the 24.75" scale.

The neck is the slim C profile with the narrow 1 9/16" nut that 1967 Gibsons are known for. It is a fast, comfortable neck, and for a lot of players it is specifically the late-'60s spec they go looking for.

Gibson shipped roughly 2,000 Trini Lopez Standards across the model's entire run from 1964 to 1971, against many times that number of ES-335s in the same period. These do not turn up the way a 335 does.

Condition: Honest & Detailed

We'd grade this good. It has been played and it carries the wear you would expect from a guitar of this age, all of it best assessed through the photos.

Structurally and functionally it is sound, and it plays as it should.

Additional photos are always available on request, and we're happy to answer any question before you buy.

Originality & Modifications: Full Disclosure

This guitar is all original with one exception: the tuners.

It currently wears Gotoh locking tuners. The original tuners are included with the sale and are fully functional.

The important part, and the part we want to be explicit about: no modification was made to the wood of the headstock to fit the Gotohs. No holes were reamed, enlarged, drilled, or filled. The original tuners can be reinstalled exactly as they came off, and the headstock is untouched.

Everything else, including the patent number humbuckers, the electronics, the ABR-1 bridge, and the trapeze tailpiece, is original to the guitar.

The Case

The original case is not with the guitar. It ships in a Gibson Lifton historic case, which fits the guitar perfectly and is a high quality period correct style case rather than a generic aftermarket box.

Who Is This For?

This is for the player who wants a genuine 1960s Trini Lopez Standard rather than a reissue or a DG-335. Cherry Red, diamond soundholes, split diamond inlays, the Firebird headstock, patent number humbuckers, and the slim late-'60s neck.

Additional photos available on request, just send a message.

Specifications

∙ Year: 1967

∙ Model: Gibson Trini Lopez Standard

∙ Country of Origin: USA (Kalamazoo)

∙ Finish: Cherry Red

∙ Body: Semi-hollow, laminated maple top, back and sides with maple center block; double rounded cutaways; bound top and back; bound diamond shaped soundholes

∙ Neck: Mahogany, set neck, six-on-a-side Firebird headstock

∙ Neck Profile: Slim C

∙ Fingerboard: Bound rosewood, split-diamond inlays

∙ Frets: 22

∙ Nut Width: 1 9/16"

∙ Scale Length: 24.75"

∙ Pickups: Two Gibson patent number humbuckers

∙ Electronics: Two volume, two tone, three-way selector

∙ Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-o-matic

∙ Tailpiece: Trapeze with raised diamond

∙ Tuners: Gotoh locking tuners currently installed; original tuners included with the sale, fully functional. No modification to the headstock wood

∙ Hardware Finish: Nickel

∙ Modifications: Tuners only. Originals included. No wood modification of any kind

∙ Production Note: Approximately 2,000 Trini Lopez Standards shipped between 1964 and 1971

∙ Case: Gibson Lifton historic case, fits the guitar perfectly (not the original case)

Shipping

Local pickup in Snohomish, Washington is always welcome. All instruments shipped by KanaLei Guitars are shipped using Reverb's Safe Shipping option, so your purchase is protected from the moment it leaves our hands to the moment it arrives at yours.