Gibson ES330 1962 Reissue Sixties Cherry VOS

Many Gibson models evolved subtly over the years. One example is the Gibson ES-330, which was introduced in 1959. By 1962, the model had undergone several noticeable changes compared to the earliest versions. Although the ES-330 shares many similarities with its close cousin, the Epiphone Casino, the ES-330 actually came first; the Casino wasn't introduced until 1961. After an eight-year hiatus, the 1962 ES-330 Reissue has returned to the core lineup of Gibson Custom Historic Reissues.

The 1962 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 has no maple centre block. This gives it a livelier, more resonant response and considerably greater acoustic volume when played unplugged, making it one of the greatest couch guitars of all time.

The 1962 ES-330 Reissue features a one-piece mahogany neck with a SlimTaper 60s C profile, which is slimmer and less rounded than the necks found on 1959 ES-330 models. The one-piece, bound rosewood fingerboard is equipped with 22 authentic medium jumbo frets and adorned with cellulose small-block inlays, rather than the simpler dot inlays found on earlier ES-330 models. The neck joins the body at the 16th fret, just like the original 1962 models, allowing for an optimised bridge position.

A pair of P-90 pickups with black Dogear covers powers the 1962 ES-330 Reissue. The bridge pickup features standard windings and an Alnico 3 magnet, while the neck pickup is underwound and 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-inch output jack complete the electronics.

Feedback? Certainly. Any fully hollow guitar is more prone to feedback than a solidbody or semi-hollowbody, and isn't the ideal choice for ultra-high gain or situations requiring extreme volume levels. However, the ES-330 remains easy to control when adding gain and overdrive. With careful muting from both the picking and fretting hands, it sustains and sings in a unique, musical way that few other guitars can match. The ES-330 excels at Americana, blues, 60s pop, country, jazz, rock and much more.

Other vintage-correct features include 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 black Top Hat knobs with silver inserts and dial pointers. The VOS finish on the hardware, combined with the gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, gives the 1962 ES-330 Reissue the mellowed aesthetic of an unused vintage guitar that time forgot.

The return of the 1962 ES-330 Reissue to the Gibson Custom Historic lineup makes this model an interesting addition to the collection. It offers a new generation of musicians the opportunity to experience this exceptional design. A Lifton hardshell case is also included to keep the guitar safe and secure during storage and travel.

This guitar has been carefully inspected for condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.