The Shop’s Take (TL;DR)
Here is a 1988 Gibson ES-335 in Cherry with an ebony fingerboard, verified Tim Shaw humbuckers, and an unusually compelling Bay Area music history. This guitar comes directly from the personal collection of Steve Masters, one of the defining voices of San Francisco’s Live 105 during the station’s formative modern-rock years. Steve has personally confirmed that he used this ES-335 for live performances around the Bay Area, often alongside his Telecaster. Beyond the story, this is a particularly appealing late-1980s 335 in its own right. The ebony fingerboard is a less commonly encountered specification for the era, and the Tim Shaw humbuckers give the guitar the open, articulate PAF-inspired character associated with some of Gibson’s most sought-after 1980s pickups. The original hardshell case is included and is covered with backstage passes accumulated during Steve’s years in the Bay Area music scene, making the case an unusually personal record of that period.

Full Description
This 1988 Gibson ES-335 pairs the classic semi-hollow 335 architecture with several details that make this particular example stand apart.
The guitar is finished in Cherry and features a semi-hollow maple body with center block construction, a set mahogany neck, and an ebony fingerboard with dot inlays.
The ebony board is notable. Rosewood was the more familiar fingerboard material on ES-335s, but documented late-1980s examples do exist with ebony boards. The result is a smooth playing surface with a particularly immediate feel under the fingers.
The guitar is equipped with a verified pair of Tim Shaw-designed Gibson humbuckers.
Shaw was tasked by Gibson in the early 1980s with developing a pickup that returned more closely to the construction and response of the company’s original late-1950s PAF humbuckers. These pickups became known for their clarity, dynamic response, and relatively open character compared with many higher-output humbuckers of the period.
In this ES-335, that translates into a broad range of usable sounds, from clear and dimensional clean tones through warm edge-of-breakup sounds and fuller driven textures.
The traditional control layout provides two volume controls, two tone controls, and a three-way pickup selector.

Steve Masters Provenance
This guitar comes directly from the personal collection of Steve Masters, whose work at San Francisco’s Live 105 helped define the station’s modern-rock identity during the late 1980s and 1990s.
Steve has personally confirmed that this ES-335 was part of his working musical life and that he used it for live performances throughout the Bay Area, often alongside his Telecaster.
That history is reflected most visibly in the original hardshell case.
The case is covered with backstage and event passes accumulated during Steve’s years in the Bay Area music scene, creating an unusually personal visual record of the musical environment surrounding the guitar.

Among the passes visible on the case are:

• Deee-Lite — The Warfield, 1991
• Depeche Mode — World Violation Tour, 1990
• Eurythmics — World Revival Tour, 1989
• Front 242 — Tyranny Tour, 1991
• Jesus Jones — The Warfield Aftershow, 1991
• Peter Murphy — Deep Tour, 1990
• Ramones — Mondo Bizarro / Greek Theatre, 1992
• The Charlatans UK — The Warfield Aftershow, 1991
• The Church — Gold Afternoon Fix Tour, 1990
• The Fixx — Calm Animals / The Warfield, 1991
• Ramones — The Fillmore Aftershow, 1989
• The Replacements — All Shook Down Tour, 1991
• The Sisters of Mercy — Merciful Release, 1991

The case is not simply memorabilia added later. It accompanied the guitar through Steve’s own years in the scene, which gives the instrument and case a direct and unusually personal Bay Area provenance.

Condition
Excellent vintage condition.
The guitar shows light, honest playwear consistent with age and use while remaining exceptionally well preserved overall.
The neck is straight, the frets are healthy, and the electronics operate cleanly. No structural issues are known.
Please review all photographs carefully, as they show the actual guitar, its cosmetic condition, pickups, hardware, and the original case with its backstage passes.

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Gibson
• Model: ES-335
• Year: 1988
• Serial Number: 83388555
• Finish: Cherry
• Body: Semi-hollow maple construction
• Center Block: Maple
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Inlays: Dot
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Frets: 22
• Pickups: Verified Tim Shaw Gibson humbuckers
• Bridge: Tune-O-Matic
• Tailpiece: Stopbar
• Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3-way selector
• Hardware: Nickel

Included

• 1988 Gibson ES-335 in Cherry
• Original hardshell case with Steve Masters’ period backstage and event passes

           👉🏼 Functionality = 10/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
           👉🏼 Cosmetic = 8/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
           📦 Los Gatos Music Exchange prefers to ship within the continental US (and possibly Hawaii)
           🌎 Message us directly for international shipping
           🏘 Local pickup is also welcome 

** As this item is considered VINTAGE/USED, it is in the condition described and sold 'As-Described' with no returns. Images are of the actual item(s) and may contain AI generated backgrounds and are for illustrative purposes only **