I purchased this 1963 Gibson ES-335 from We Buy Guitars on 48th Street in Manhattan. It’s a real vintage instrument in terms of age, but I would describe it more as a player’s guitar than a collector’s piece.

At some point in its life the serial number was scratched out, and the original tuning machines were replaced with upgraded tuners. The guitar also had a neck repair many years ago. From what I was told, that repair has held for over 55 years and has remained completely stable during my time with the instrument.

Despite these changes, the guitar plays wonderfully and has that classic ES-335 tone warm, resonant, and full of character. The semi-hollow maple body really lets the guitar sing. Cosmetically it shows normal wear you would expect from a guitar that’s been around since 1963, but nothing unusual for its age.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking for a genuine early-60s Gibson ES-335 that’s meant to be played and enjoyed rather than kept in a display case.