SOLD! - 1962 Gibson ES-350TD Sunburst PAF

In 1955 Gibson developed a line of thin-bodied electric guitars to appeal to players who wanted a smaller, more comfortable instrument, yet objected to the weight and tone of a solidbody instrument. This line consisted of three guitars: The top-of-the-line Byrdland, the mid-priced ES-350T, and the economy ES-225T.
 
The Byrdland was designed with the input of famous Nashville session guitarists Hank Garland and Billy Byrd. It was meant to be a thin-bodied L-5 CES with a shorter 23 1/2" scale (instead of the L-5’s 25 1/2" scale). These same innovations were carried out on the full-bodied ES-350, making it the ES-350T.
 
With its laminated maple top, back, and sides, the ES-350T was meant to be a more affordable version of the Byrdland. (The Byrdland originally cost $550, while the ES-350T was $395.) The rosewood fretboard with split parallelogram inlays and crown headstock inlay were carried over from the original full-sized ES-350.
 
The 1962 Gibson catalog describes many other details: “Matching the all-around excellence of Gibson performance, this distinctive instrument has a thin, narrow, short-scale neck. The choice of many professionals who acclaim these design features, which permit the use of many chords previously beyond reach. Beautifully finished arched top and back of highly figured curly maple with matching curly maple rims, ivoroid binding and gold-plated metal parts.”
 
The 1962 ES-350TD for sale has all the features associated with the final incarnation of the model before it was discontinued in 1963. These include two original unopened Patent No. sticker PAF Humbucking pickups (PAF's replaced the P90's in 1957), a deep Florentine cutaway (replacing the rounded Venetian style in 1961), and a three-piece maple neck (replacing the original two-piece in mid-1962). Lovely faded Tobacco Sunburst with some beautiful weather checking and play wear. The guitar has the original electronics, wiring, pots and and pickups that sound so so sweet!
Original plush lined croc case included.
 
The 1962 Gibson price list shows a sunburst finish ES-350TD priced at $485. A 603 Faultless plush-lined case cost an extra $56.