Vintage Gibson ES-355 Stereo - USA 1967

The ES-355 is the Cadillac of Gibson's semi-hollow line - the no-expense-spared, top-of-the-range model that bridged the gap between the workhorse ES-335 and the full archtop tradition. Part of the reason it became so widely used was because it never really forced players into one sound. BB King found warmth and sustain in them for his soulful lead lines, while players like Johnny Marr and Noel Gallagher leaned into the brighter, more cutting side of their rhythm playing. That flexibility is a large part of why the model remained relevant across such different styles of music for so long.

This example remains in very well preserved condition overall. While fitted with a factory-style Vibrato unit, there is evidence the guitar originally left Gibson with a trapeze tailpiece, visible through three small screw holes near the rear strap button. The Grover tuners appear to have been installed later in the guitar's life, with traces of the original Kluson footprint visible on the rear of the headstock. The pickups have similarly been replaced at some point - the current humbuckers carry signed baseplates with serial numbers consistent with Gibson Custom Shop production circa 2004. They are well-matched to the instrument and perform beautifully, though the original Patent humbuckers are not with the guitar.

Previously owned by American singer-songwriter Eli 'Paperboy' Reed, the guitar still carries his handwritten details on the underside of the case, adding an interesting piece of provenance to the instrument's history.

Tonally, the guitar delivers the wide, warm response characteristic of a late-60s ES-355, while the Varitone circuit opens up a surprisingly broad range of sharper and more scooped sounds. The center block construction keeps feedback under control while still retaining the openness expected from a semi-hollow Gibson. Combined with the Vibrato system, it remains one of Gibson's most ambitious and distinctive designs from the period.

Specifications:

Action at 1st Fret: 0.4mm / 0.015"
Action at 12th Fret: 1.5mm / 0.059"
Neck Depth at 1st Fret: 21.1mm / 0.83"
Neck Depth at 12th Fret: 25.6mm / 1.00"
Nut Width: 39.9mm / 1.57"
Width at 12th Fret: 51mm / 2.00"
Weight: 4.49kg / 9.89lb
Scale Length: 628.7mm / 24.75"
Fingerboard Radius: 304.8mm / 12"
Lower Bout Width: 450mm / 17.7"
Body: Maple Semi-Hollow Construction with Centre Block
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
Inlays: Pearl Block
Pickups: Gibson Custom Shop Humbuckers, Replacement
Electronics: Original Varitone Circuit
Bridge: ABR-1
Tailpiece: Vibrola
Tuners: Grover Pat Pending Aftermarket Tuners
Hardware: Gold Plated
Case: Non-Original Hardshell Case
Crafted In: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA