Up for sale is an incredibly rare, player-grade 1980 Gibson ES-335TD in its sought-after, factory-original Ebony (Black) finish. Built at the historic Kalamazoo, Michigan plant on February 27, 1980 (Serial Number: 80580027), this guitar has aged with incredible player character. The natural wear on the back beautifully exposes the underlying wood grain beneath the custom factory color. [1, 2]

Based on your serial number (contact info removed)7, your guitar is a 1980 Gibson ES-335TD manufactured at the historic Kalamazoo, Michigan plant on February 25th, 1980 (the 56th day of the year), and it was the 27th instrument stamped that day.

Because it features a factory Ebony (Black) finish and retains all original parts, it is a highly desirable

"player-collector" piece from the end of the Norlin era.

Current Market Valuation

While standard Sunburst or Walnut ES-335s from 1980 generally trade between $4,500 and $5,500, a factory black finish carries a significant rarity premium. Assuming the guitar has no structural cracks or headstock repairs, its current value breaks down as follows:

• Private Party / Player-to-Player Sale: $5,800 - $6,800
• Vintage Dealer Retail Value: $7,000 - $8,000+

Why "All Original" Matters for a 1980 Model

• The Pickups: A 100% original 1980 model likely contains late-era "T-Top" humbuckers or very early Tim Shaw "PAF" reissues. These pickups alone are highly sought after by musicians and are worth significant money on the secondary market.

• The Kalamazoo Factory Factor: 1980 was right on the cusp of Gibson shifting all operations to Nashville. Instruments coming out of the original Kalamazoo plant during this final window are highly regarded for their build quality.
• No Modifications: Many owners in the 1980s swapped out hardware for brass components or changed the tuners. Keeping your original tuners, bridge, and untouched wiring harness preserves its top-tier pricing.

Please Note: The asking price for this instrument has been adjusted upward to accurately reflect newly verified historical details regarding its production. While initially estimated at standard Walnut finish value tiers, closer authentication confirms this is a highly coveted, scarce Factory Ebony (Black) finish from the legendary Kalamazoo plant.Because late-70s and 1980 custom black configurations are exceptionally rare on the ES-335 layout, they command a significant collector premium over common finishes. The price now fairly reflects this scarcity, even taking the authentic player-grade wear into account. Thank you for your understanding.