Up for sale, a 1968 Gibson ES-330TDC in excellent condition and in perfect working order. A significant and transitional year for the ES-330, 1968 was pivotal for the instrument in that the model was changed in this year to have the neck meet the body at the 19th fret (instead of the 16th as in previous years), which allowed greater access to the higher frets and a feel akin to an ES-335. This is also the only model year to boast a one-piece Honduran mahogany neck with this more player-friendly neck joint, as Gibson moved to a less desirable three-piece neck the following year! Finished in its original lustrous Cherry nitro lacquer and featuring a pair of chrome covered dog ear P-90 pickups, this ES-330TDC (“TDC” standing for Thin Double Cherry) has a warm, powerful, and articulate tone. The fully hollow maple body has the presence and attack associated with this tone wood, with the roundness and open quality generated by the lack of a center block in the body. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar and strung with fresh 11-50 strings, this ES-330 is ready for stage and studio use, with low action and solid intonation. The neck has a very desirable C shaped profile, shaped in a way that’s typically only seen on Gibsons from 1967-68. The profile starts out quite slender at the nut and grows increasingly in depth as you move up the fretboard, filling out to a robust and near “baseball bat” feel by the time you reach the octave, and continuing to increase in depth all the way to the heel. The shoulders on the profile follow suit, staying more slim at the nut and filling out with great roundness as the neck depth increases. This profile makes for effortless chording at the nut, and really gives you something hearty to hold on to as you play up the neck. The rosewood fretboard features pearloid small block inlays with original wide/flat frets that retain their full, original height. The guitar plays cleanly up the neck with no buzzing or dead spots, and the neck is arrow straight with a responsive truss rod. The frets show light wear beneath the plain strings from frets 1-9, with sparingly little wear further up the fretboard. The nut measures 1 9/16, which was the width Gibson introduced in’65 and used through the end of the ES-330’s run in’72. On the headstock, a set of vintage Kluson Deluxe double line tuners are installed and turn smoothly with original white buttons. The guitar was previously outfitted with a different set of tuners, but thankfully no additional holes were drilled, although on the face of the headstock there is a bit of light chipping around a few of the post holes. All of the electronics work as they should, with original pickups and untouched solder joints on the pots, complete with original Sprague “Black Beauty” tone capacitors visible through the F hole. All of the original hardware is intact including the chrome trapeze tailpiece, witch hat knobs, patent # bridge, and black pickguard. The original Cherry lacquer finish is in excellent shape, with a rich and unfaded shade that highlights the grain of the maple on the body and contrasts nicely with the chrome hardware. The finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, and the guitar has zero cracks or repairs. There is a bit of finish wear adjacent to the rear strap button and a bit of finish chipping at the waist on the treble side of the body, but as the photos show, this guitar is in remarkable shape. The back is particularly clean with only a few faint scuffs in the clear coat, zero buckle rash, and light vertical lacquer checking. The top is also remarkably preserved, with a few pick marks in the pick path, but that’s about it! Overall, this is an extremely well cared for, lightly played, and professionally setup instrument, complete with one of Gibson’s most iconic and desirable finishes. A modern Gibson brown tolex hardshell case is included. Check out our shop “Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar, ” and please let us know if we can answer any questions! International orders will be declared as merchandise, and the value of merchandise will be declared as the amount paid. We cannot declare anything as a gift or for a lesser value. The item “1968 Gibson ES-330TDC Vintage Hollowbody Electric Guitar Cherry ES-330 with Case” is in sale since Friday, November 10, 2017. This item is in the category “Musical Instruments & Gear\Guitars & Basses\Electric Guitars”. The seller is “mmguitarbar” and is located in Seattle, Washington. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Body Color: Cherry
- Dexterity: Right-Handed
- String Configuration: 6 String
- Soundboard Style: Archtop
- Brand: Gibson
- Model: ES-330TDC
- MPN: Does Not Apply
- Model Year: 1968
- Body Type: Hollow
- Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
- Body Material: Maple