Mahar's Vintage Guitars

Vintage Guitar Buyers and Sellers Since 1995, Serving the Planet from Northern California

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Gibson ES-330TD 1965 Sunburst with Original Hardshell Case

No sales tax for customers outside California.

New shipping policy as of 5/17/23.

Three day UPS air shipments will be automatic for buyers including these states and those to the east of them: Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to sales@maharsvintageguitars.com. Less than 2% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.

With just 1318 of these 330s produced in 1965, a year of spec transitions, it is really nice to find one with the earlier specs in such amazing condition.

Transitions in the model in 1965 included a change from nickel hardware to chrome. This guitar has nickel hardware. The ABR-1 bridge changed to chrome in '65 as well, dropping the GIBSON ABR-1 label for the newer Gibson "Patent Number" bridge. The older style, nickel ABR bridge is on this guitar. Nut widths changed in 65 as well, having the most influence on the guitar's value, from the prior a 1 11/16" nut, to a transitional 1 5/8", then to 1 9/16". This guitar has a 1 5/8" nut.

So, it has all the more desirable specs of the era and it comes with a valuable, original Gibson hardshell case that you'll usually see with an ES-335.

The only change from original is a very professional (perfect really) refret. The new frets are appropriately sized in stainless. They feel incredible and are perfectly polished with neat ends - lovely.

Some model history:

The Gibson ES-330 is a semi-hollow electric guitar that has been played by a wide range of notable musicians across various genres. Its unique design and tonal characteristics have made it a popular choice among guitarists looking for a versatile instrument with a distinct sound.

One of the most well-known players of the Gibson ES-330 is blues legend B.B. King. King's signature guitar, named "Lucille," was based on the ES-330 design. He used the ES-330 to create his iconic bluesy tone, characterized by its warm and smooth sound. King's expressive playing style and use of vibrato made the ES-330 a perfect match for his playing technique.

In the realm of jazz, the Gibson ES-330 has been embraced by notable musicians like Grant Green and Wes Montgomery. Green's soulful jazz playing style was complemented by the warm and mellow tones of the ES-330, allowing him to create melodic and expressive solos. Montgomery, known for his innovative approach to playing the guitar, used the ES-330 to achieve his signature "thumb picking" technique, producing a distinctive sound that blended elements of jazz, blues, and bebop.

Furthermore, indie rock musician Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys has been associated with the Gibson ES-330. Turner's use of the guitar in the early days of Arctic Monkeys helped shape the band's gritty and energetic sound. The ES-330's versatility allowed Turner to transition seamlessly from clean and jangly tones to gritty and overdriven sounds..

Color: Cherry Burst
Weight: 6lbs 5.3ozs
Top: One Piece Solid Maple
Body: Maple Sides, One Piece Solid Maple Back
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Brazilian Rosewood
Inlays: Mother Of Pearl Blocks
Frets: Stainless Steel
Fret count: 22
Nut material: Bone
Nut width: 1 5/8"
Scale: 24 3/4"
Radius: 10"
Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.82"
Neck thickness at 12th fret: 1.07"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: .040"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: .045"
Total length: 40 3/4"
Lower bout: 16 1/4"
Waist: 9 1/16"
Upper bout: 11 1/8"
Body depth/thickness: 1 11/16"
String gauge: .010-.046"
Hardware Color: Nickel
Bridge Pickup Brand: Gibson
Bridge Pickup Reading: 7.88k
Pickup Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup Brand: Gibson
Neck Pickup Reading: 8.12k
Pickup Original?: Yes
Pickguard: Original
Bridge: Original
Tuners: Original
Switch: Original
Pots: Original
Case: OHSC
Notes: Re-fretted with Stainless Steel.

"The guitar arrived yesterday late afternoon. It is clearly a special instrument, virtually blemish free (I haven’t found any)! I am very pleased. The entire experience has been great! Thanks Again!

"I recently made a guitar purchase through Mahar's. Initially, I had a problem but a phone conversation with Chuck cleared it up. He was very helpful and quickly sorted it out. The shipping was quick and the packaging was excellent. Great experience. Highly recommended."

"I purchased a R7 Goldtop and had a great buying experience. Shipping was fast and the guitar was packaged really well. Would definitely recommend Mahar’s Vintage Guitars."

"Great communication, solid packaging and quick shipping. Thanks very much!!!"

"Amazing guitar from a top notch seller at an amazing price!"

"Hands down the best communication and customer service I have ever had while buying a guitar. I found exactly what I wanted and had excellent support throughout the entire process. I will be a repeat customer in the future for sure. Thank you again!"

"Great service! I will be back for more - thank you!"

"I'm very happy with my purchase from Mahar's! Guitar was carefully and professionally packed. Shipped almost immediately! Guitar looked even better than pictures made it
seem. Buy with confidence people, this seller is legitimate!"

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