Gibson ES-359 Limited Edition Inverness Green, 2010

The Gibson ES-359 is related to the ES-339 in the same way that the ES-355 relates to the ES-335 – in the most part, more complex binding, an Ebony fingerboard, and mother of pearl block position markers. Structurally, they use the same core design and construction.

Like the other ES-3×5 and 3×9 models, the ES-359 uses a thinline body of Maple laminate with a Maple center block to suppress feedback. The neck is Mahogany, with a bound Ebony fingerboard. The body and head binding are more elaborate than the lower models, with multi-layer binding on the top (7 layer) and front of the head (5 layer), while the back gets 3-layer binding treatment.

Here we’re looking at a model built as a limited edition Gibson ES-359 sporting a lovely, slightly metallic Inverness Green nitrocellulose lacquer finish. This limited edition was apparently 100 units and available after the 2010 NAMM show.

The rarely-used Inverness Green finish is quite distinctive, and works well with the Chrome hardware and black knobs. For hardware, the tuners are standard Grover Roto-Matic models, there is a standard Tune-O-Matic and Stop Tailpiece, and a pair of 57 Classic humbuckers feed through standard Gibson wiring.

Built at the now-closed Gibson Memphis plant, this guitar is in excellent condition with almost no wear. It is quite lively, plays very well, and the smaller ES-359 body is very comfortable.

The original black, Gibson – branded hard shell case is included.