Among vintage guitar enthusiasts, 1959 is considered a monumental year in Gibson history, as some of the world’s most beloved electric guitars originated from that year. One example is the Gibson ES-330™, which was introduced in 1959. While the model shares many similarities with its close cousin, the Epiphone Casino™, the ES-330 actually predates it; the Casino wasn’t introduced until 1961. Now, after an eight-year hiatus, Gibson Custom is proud to bring the 1959 ES-330 Reissue back to the core lineup of Gibson Custom Historic Reissues.
The 1959 ES-330 Reissue features a fully hollow thinline body crafted from three-ply maple/poplar/maple. Unlike the similar-looking ES-335, the ES-330 lacks a maple centerblock, giving it a livelier, more resonant response and much greater acoustic volume when played unplugged, making it one of the greatest “couch guitars” of all time.
The 1959 ES-330 Reissue features a one-piece mahogany neck with an Authentic 1959 profile, which is C-shaped and substantial in the hand without being overly large or cumbersome. The one-piece, bound rosewood fretboard is equipped with 22 authentic medium jumbo frets and adorned with simple cellulose dot inlays. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret, just as with the originals from 1959, resulting in an optimized bridge placement.
A pair of P-90 pickups with black Dogear covers powers the 1959 ES-330 Reissue, with the bridge pickup having standard windings and an Alnico 3 magnet, while the neck pickup is underwound and is equipped with an Alnico 5 magnet, resulting in a perfectly balanced set. Each pickup is hand-wired to individual volume and tone controls using CTS® potentiometers and paper-in-oil tone capacitors. A Switchcraft® three-way pickup selector toggle switch and 1/4” output jack complete the electronics.
Feedback? Sure. Any fully hollow guitar is more prone to feedback than a solidbody or semi-hollowbody, and isn’t an ideal choice for ultra-high gain or situations that require extreme volume levels. However, the ES-330 is still easy to control when you add some gain and overdrive, and with careful palm and fretting hand muting, it sustains and sings in a very unique and musical way that most other guitars simply can’t match. The ES-330 excels at Americana, blues, 60s pop, country, jazz, rock, and more.
Other vintage-correct features include the nickel hardware, including a Historic no-wire ABR-1 bridge and trapeze tailpiece, a nylon nut, Kluson® Deluxe tuning machines, an ES-330 multi-ply pickguard, and True Historic gold Top Hat knobs with dial pointers. The VOS finish on the hardware and gloss nitrocellulose lacquer gives the 1959 ES-330 Reissue the mellowed aesthetic of an unused vintage guitar that time forgot.
We are excited to bring the 1959 ES-330 Reissue back to the Gibson Custom Historic lineup and can’t wait to hear what a new generation of musicians creates with this exceptional guitar. A Lifton™ hardshell case is also included to keep this treasure safe and secure during storage and travel.
Highlights
- Three-ply maple/poplar/maple body
- One-piece mahogany neck with an Authentic 1959 profile
- One-piece rosewood fretboard with 22 authentic medium jumbo frets and cellulose dot inlays
- Gibson Custom black dogear P-90 pickup
- Historic no-wire ABR-1 bridge and trapeze tailpiece
- Lifton hardshell case
Specifications
BODY
Body Shape: ES-335
Body Style: Hollow Body
Body Material: Maple/Poplar/Maple
Binding: Single-Ply Top and Back
Body Finish: VOS Nitrocellulose Lacquer
NECK
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Joint: Long Neck Tenon
Neck Profile: Authentic 1959
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius: 12" (304.8 mm)
Inlays: Dot
Scale Length: 24.75" (628.7 mm)
Fret Size: Reissue Medium Jumbo
Nut Material: Nylon
ELECTRONICS
Bridge Pickup: P-90
Neck Pickup: P-90
Pickup Configuration: SS
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone
Pickup Selector: 3-Way Toggle Switch
HARDWARE
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece: Trapeze
Tuners: Kluson Deluxe
Hardware Finish: Nickel
Pickup Covers: Black Dogear
Control Knobs: Gold Top Hats
Plastic Parts: Black
MISCELLANEOUS
Model: 59ES330VOVNNH1
Case: Hardshell Lifton Reissue Case Included
Accessories: Certificate of Authenticity Included
Factory Strings: .010–.046 (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046)
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