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| This '61 vintage ES-355TD-SV (TD denotes Thinline, Dual pickups, while SV denotes Stereo with Varitone) is the nicest Gibson have ever had the pleasure of playing, and has finally (and possibly temporarily) been released from my long-term private collection for sale. These Gibsons are VERY exclusive! In 1961, for instance, only 174 ES-355TDSV Gibsons were sold in total. Annual production numbers right through the 1960s varied between 97 (in 1963) and 198 (both in 1964 and 1967), and the total number sold in the 1960s was 1589. Dating from 1961 (one of only 174 ES-355TDSV Gibsons sold that year) is this flagship of the ES-335, 345 and 355 series. These were Bigsby equipped as standard at the factory (and later with Gibson's own - and unpopular - sideways vibrato), as well as being wired in stereo, and with the full range of tones offered by the Varitone circuitry (a series of chokes and capacitors selected by the 6-position rotary switch to give a range of notch filters). This guitar has had the wiring reverted to mono by Jim Cargill, but it is a simple matter of re-soldering one wire (from the tip to the stereo 'hot' sleeve on the jack socket) to bring it back to stereo operation. But of course the main feature of this guitar is the fact that it has the original pair of gold-plated PAF humbuckers, the holy grail of all humbuckers. These really are wonderful, with nice power but with unbelievable clarity and bite. I've simply never played a humbucker-equipped guitar that sounds this good! (see the bottom photograph in the 'more pictures' link below) Serial number both on the back of the headstock and on the paper label is 40293. This vintage Gibson is in extremely original, well-played condition. Until the mid 1990s it was part of the vintage guitar collection of an extremely high-profile Australian rock group (Midnight Oil). The original multi-bound scratchplate had become brittle and was breaking up, so a correct new replacement was fitted. Frets have also been professionally replaced (extremely well, with little or no evidence of the refret on the original neck binding), and also the nut. The adjustment screws in the bridge PAF are non-original, as are the screws attaching the truss rod cover. The strap lug had at one stage been re-located onto the inside of the bass horn, and the hole remains (barely visible - see the 'more pictures' link below). The finish is all original, with delightful age checking and wear to the edges, and the original clear lacquer has yellowed beautifully with age. You will never find a guitar with a better action or playability. This neck is divine! Weight is 4.2 kg, or 9.24 pounds. This guitar is quite unusual in that is has stop tailpiece mounts and the 'Custom Made' plaque factory fitted. These plaques were used to cover the stop tailpiece mounting holes if an ES-335 or ES-345 was custom-ordered with a Bigsby. As the ES-355 had a tremolo arm fitted as standard, most do not have the mounts and plaque. However, it is not unknown for a 355 to be factory-fitted with the plaque, obviously for instruments made to order with the mounts installed. I checked this detail with a well-known authority in the USA, and he replied saying, "All 335's and 345's 59-64, except for a rare few were drilled for stop tail regardless of factory Bigsby. 355's are little inconsistent but stop anchors are still found on some 59-64 355's. I've owned a '60 and '64 355's that had factory stop and original Bigsby. You are correct that 355's are an exception and many tend to have no anchor holes from the factory because the 355 was designated to have a Bigsby as standard appontment. All I can tell you is that it did happen and it's not that rare." Comes in its original (and well worn) Lifton case. The ES-355 has provided BB King with his distinctive tones for decades. Let this beautiful example provide you with unbelievable tones for the next few decades! Finally released from my long-term private collection at a very realistic price that represents great investment potential. $ not recently valued for the present market but feel free to make a serious offer.
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