Gibson ES-335TDC Cherry Red, 1966

Here’s a very nice Thinline, Double Pickup, Cherry finish Gibson ES-335TDC, Union Made during 1966 in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

The Thinline concept was introduced in 1955 to produce a more compact hollowbody archtop electric instrument less prone to feedback. For the 1958 model year, this was combined with a solid, very feedback resistant center block to create the revolutionary semi-hollow ES-335 – which also carried Gibson’s new humbucking pickups. The next year, the 335 was joined by the more elaborate ES-345 and ES-355. These new designs won immediate acceptance and have been in production ever since.

While the full name of this model, as described on the label is a Gibson ES-335TDC, all 335’s are Thinline with Double pickups, so the lettering is a bit redundant and often is left off the label. In that case, so is the finish designation, here C for Cherry but sometimes W for Walnut.

The construction includes Laminate Maple for the top, back and sides, with a Maple center block and sometimes Spruce pads to conform to the top and back arch. The neck is Mahogany, and during 1966 the head tilt-back angle was reduced to 14 degrees from 17. Also in 1966 Indian Rosewood displaced Brazilian for the fingerboard material. Position markers were small blocks from mid-1962. From 1965, the original stop tailpiece was changed to a Trapeze style tailpiece, as seen here, and the use of nylon saddles ran from 1962 up to as late as 1970.

This is a beautiful, well preserved example of an all-original 1966 Gibson ES-335TDC. The finish has light, natural lacquer checking and only minor wear. The hardware is chrome plated with no real corrosion or plating wear-through. The frets are in decent shape with light wear, but have not been serviced for some time.

The original arched-top hard shell case is included.