Gibson ES-330TD Special order - ES-175 Tailpiece and Grovers 1960

No sales tax for customers outside California.

This 1960 Gibson ES-330TD Special Order is a remarkable vintage hollowbody that stands apart from standard production models of the era.  Gibson made 1198 ES-330TDs in 1960.  This is the only one configured like this - truly a one-of-a-kind piece!

Outfitted from the factory with an ES-175-style trapeze tailpiece and nickel, patent pending Grover tuners, this custom-order guitar combines the airy resonance and lightweight build of the ES-330 with enhanced tuning stability and sustain.  The Grover tuners are a vast improvement over the usual Klusons. 

To authenticate the custom ordered features - the tuners and bridge, each were removed.  Doing so is important with such a guitar to verify that these aren't just changes that someone made along the way.  In the process, the screws that attached the tailpiece to the guitar sheared off and were replaced. They were quite thin and, having never been removed, they were solidly locked into the body of the guitar. 

With a neck thickness of .81" at the first fret, this ES-330 is a little fatter than a late 1960 version, and slimmer than an early 1960.  Gibson slimmed up the neck throughout the course of the year from the hefty 1959 profile, which is usually around .89" at the first fret.

The frets were replaced on this guitar, and the work was very well done.  The nut was replaced in the process.  The guitar plays extremely well, and it set up nicely for us.  There is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments.  The rest of the instrument is original.

Included with this guitar is the original, brown Lifton case - the same one that was offered with last 50s ES-335s, ES-345s, ES-355s and didn't find its way with many ES-330s.  The case is extremely valuable on its own.

We had a a 1960 ES-330 here when this guitar arrived, one with the stock configuration.  The guitars were very similar, but the tailpiece on this one did impart a slight difference in the lower register, perhaps a bit more like an ES-175.  The difference was slight, and it could be just the uniqueness of the guitar versus the other. 

At Mahar’s Vintage Guitars, we specialize in used and vintage Gibson guitars, from iconic ES models like the ES-335 and ES-175 to rare custom orders such as this. Explore our collection of vintage amplifiers to pair with this timeless hollowbody for authentic vintage tone.

• Color: Sunburst
• Weight: 6lbs 7oz
  
• Top: Maple
• Body: Mahogany
  
• Neck: Mahogany
  
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Inlays: Mother of Pearl Dot
• Frets: Original
• Fret Count: 22
• Nut: Non Original
• Nut width: 1-11/16"
• Radius: 12"
• Scale: 24.75"
• Neck thickness at 1st fret: .81"
• Neck thickness at 12th fret: 1.25"
• Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32
• Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
• Overall length: 39 11/16"
  
• Lower bout: 16 1/16"
  
• Waist: 9 3/16"
  
• Upper bout: 11 7/16"
  
• Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 3/4"
  
• String gauge: .010-.046"
  
• Hardware Color: Nickel
  
• Bridge Pickup/Brand: Gibson P-90
• Bridge Pickup Reading: 8.54k
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Neck Pickup/Brand: Gibson P-90
• Neck Pickup Reading: 8.96k
• Pickup Original?: Yes
• Pickguard: Original
• Bridge: Original
• Tuners: Grover
• Knobs: Original
• Switch: 3 Way Toggle, Original Tip
• Pots/Codes: Original
• Case: OHSC
• Notes:

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