SOLD! - 1963 Gibson ES-355 TDSV PAF Cherry Red Sideways Vibrato Tremolo
This stunning beauty is an all original Sideways Vibrato Cherry Red Stereo ES-355 and weighs in at only 3.8Kg!
In the early days the ES-355 was the epitome of luxury guitars and this amazing example from early '63 is nothing short of exactly that. The lush appointments like an ebony fingerboard with block inlays, bound headstock and split diamond inlay, gold hardware, stereo "Varitone" wiring and a sideways tremolo, this guitar represents the height of guitar design in the mid 60's.
The original PAF pickups (1 x PAF sticker humbucker and 1 x PAT NO sticker humbucker, which in 1963 basically is the same PAF with the same magnet, wire, bobbins etc. with just another sticker on the bottom) and "varitone" switch allow for a huge array of great sounds, leading to the ES-355 being a guitar seen with legendary players like Chuck Berry, BB King, Keith Richards and Marty McFly in Back To The Future! :-)
To make things easy this 355 was wired to mono so we can all use it without the illusive Gibson GA79RVT stereo amplifier or a custom made stereo-to-mono cable. However, it can easily be converted into Stereo again if you please. It is all original from the vibrant Cherry Red finish to the tuners, vibrato, electronics, knobs, pots, pickguard, plastics and black pebble hardshell case with yellow/gold plush lining. Has had a refret somewhere in the past and it plays butter sweet.
It plays ever so smooth and has a super easy neck that fits in your hand very comfortable. The neck pickup is perfect for leads with powerfull mids and produces glorous overtones when plugged in a amp on the brink of overdrive. The neck pickup is smooth, soft, warm and jazzy and perfect for jazz, blues and lovesongs.