Gibson ES-330TDC Model Thinline Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1967), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 094709, cherry lacquer finish, laminated maple body, mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

This is a beautiful original example of a cherry finish ES-330TD from 1967, with the optional factory-installed Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. It shows typical features for the period including chrome pickup covers, tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic bridge with nylon saddles. The nut is the narrow 1 9/16" width used after 1965, although 1 5/8" was the technical standard. A total of 2563 cherry ES-330TD's shipped from Kalamazoo in 1967, the model's grandest total to date but only a small proportion would have been ordered with a Bigsby. While not particularly rare these were still not built in enormous quantities compared to many modern instruments.

The single bound body has a brilliant cherry finish overall and is fully hollow, unlike the semi-hollow 335-355 series. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret and has a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay. The tuners are single enclosed Kluson Deluxe with plastic buttons. The two P-90 pickups are mated to the standard Gibson wiring rig, with the newer late 60's style "witch Hat" amp-style plastic tone and volume knobs and white switch tip.

The ES-330 is a great sounding and very versatile guitar at home in many musical situations. Despite being intended by Gibson as an "amateur" instrument (the least expensive of the double-cutaway thinlines) the 330 has been used by legions of professional players and heard on countless classic records in many styles since its introduction in 1959. Jazz great Grant Green used this model extensively on his most well-regarded early-1960's recordings. A number of period bluesmen have been spotted with it as well, including B.B. King, Chuck Berry and most notably Slim Harpo, who is nearly always pictured with one.

The 330 and its nearly identical sister guitar the Epiphone Casino were featured in countless '60's British invasion groups, including the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Kinks, Manfred Mann, the Merseybeats and many more. The American garage band era players who took inspiration from these bands made extensive use of the model as well. This early 1967 guitar shows only minor wear and is a very nice example, superbly playable and vibrato-ready with the expected "Fab" sound in spades!

Overall length is 40 1/4 in. (102.2 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 11/16 in. (4.3 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 9/16 in. (40 mm.).

This nearly 60-year-old guitar is in beautifully preserved original condition overall, looking only lightly played since the Johnson/Nixon years and obviously very well cared for since then. The all-original cherry lacquer finish is clean and bright with hardly any checking or fade, retaining very strong vibrant color. There are some very minor dings, scuffs and chips overall, mostly on the headstock but no heavy wear.

The original hardware is intact including the factory original Bigsby, confirmed by the lack of any other tailpiece screw holes on the rim (yes we looked) and the original included hangtag marked "Special Bigsby"! The original nylon bridge saddles were replaced with harder facsimiles, but are preserved in the case pocket. The chrome plating shows only very minor wear on the pickup covers and bridge. The guitar is not only beautiful but a super friendly player, especially if you like a narrower neck. It sounds great and resides in the original ES-335 style yellow-lined deluxe black case, which few period buyers of this model shelled out for (most 330's originally came in chipboard!). Overall Excellent Condition.