1968 GIBSON ES-335TDC FACTORY BIGSBY

A 1968 Gibson ES-335TDC with its Factory Bigsby, in very well-preseved condition.

This is a classic instrument from Gibson’s post-1965 lineup, a model universally appreciated for its versatility since its introduction in 1958… with a little bonus! This example comes in a superb Cherry finish, which took over from sunburst as the most common finish on 335s in the early 1960s; the color is perfectly preserved to this day, with very slight checking, revealing the figured patterns of the maple body underneath. The rosewood fingerboard features block-style inlays—another visual marker of the second half of the 1960s, as they were introduced in 1962 to replace the dots used previously. The instrument is equipped with its original pair of humbucking pickups bearing their Patent No. label—the touchstone of Gibson’s electric sound. These pickups are a direct descendant of the PAFs introduced at the end of the previous decade and encapsulate the essence of the ’60s sound heard everywhere on vintage recordings and live shows. Interestingly, the pickguard features the embossed Gibson logo, a feature unique to 1968 and which, among other things, helps date the guitars to a time when Gibson had an unfortunate tendency to duplicate its serial numbers from year to year. To top it all off, the model shown here is fitted with a Bigsby tremolo, a factory-available option that was widely featured on guitars produced during the period—players requested this accessory, a central element of many musical styles of the era and offered by several Gibson competitors, including Gretsch.

This guitar remains in excellent condition. All the main parts, including the Cherry finish, the pickups and their associated wiring, the vibrato, the Kluson Deluxe tuners, etc. are original. The instrument’s serial number has been erased on the label and on the back of the headstock, and we note a slight overspray on the back of the neck (old work). Another particularity, a previous owner undertook to engrave the pickup covers with inscriptions and psychedelic motifs… we try our best, when talking about guitars, to use the term mojo only sparingly, but it seems nevertheless justified in this case. We have applied ourselves to the complete restoration of the setup elements of this instrument in order to restore perfect playability: a complete refret and a new bone nut; we replaced the original Tune-O-Matic bridge, which had become concave over the decades and therefore no longer followed the fretboard radius, with a vintage-correct modern part. The original bridge is kept in the case. The electronics were thoroughly cleaned; the original harness is complete and the solder joints are intact. The instrument was fully inspected.

Sold in its original Gibson hardshell case.