Gibson's ES-335 model electric guitar was two years old by 1960. It debuted in 1958 with what a design that straddled the line between the classic full depth archtop guitars that made the company famous and the burgeoning solid body electric market. The solid center block kept feedback to a minimum while the fully hollow wings retained warmth and character. Unlike the Les Paul models, the ES-335 has been in continuous production since '58.
As a Gibson guitar collector, I'm always on the hunt for the nicest examples of 1960 Gibson guitars. I'm particularly looking for solid and semi hollow electric guitars like the ES-335. You can contact me here to sell a Gibson.
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How many ES-335 guitars did Gibson make in 1960?
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Gibson kept relatively good records of all the guitars they shipped in the 1950s and 1960s, but the records are written by hand and aren't 100% reliable. Gibson shipped three different finishes the ES-335 in 1960: Sunburst, Cherry Red, and Natural. The surviving shipment records indicate that at least 514 ES-335 guitars were shipped in 1960. The lowest production finish of the ES-335 guitars made in 1960 is the clear finish that the company called Natural. The model name for these guitars is specifically "ES-335 TDN" where T = thinline body, D = dual pickup, and N = Natural finish. I am looking for a natural finish Gibson ES-335 from 1958, 1959, or 1960. You can contact me here if you find one: Sell a Gibson. |
How much did a Gibson ES-335 cost in 1960?
Gibson produced price lists each year which listed pricing for each model for a given production year. The May of 1960 Gibson price list lists two separate ES-335 models differentiated by the finish. The ES-335 TD with Sunburst finish was offered for $292 while the ES-335 TDN with Natural finish cost $307.50. The case for the ES-335 was $49.50 in 1960.
The value of a 1960 Gibson ES-335 has far exceeded the list price new even after accounting for inflation. The Natural finished ES-335 TDN at $307.50 in 1960 would be about $3,092.77. The value of the 1960 ES-335 is at least 10 times that today. Each 1960 ES-335 should be evaluated on a case by case basis. Click the contact me button below if you're interested in chatting about the value of an ES-335 today.
Not sure if you're ES-335 is from 1960? Check out Gibson ES-335 serial numbers.
Gibson ES-335 1960 Value
The value of a vintage Gibson ES-335 from the 1950s or 1960s depends heavily on the exact year it was made, color, tailpiece, condition, and originality. Gibson guitar collectors begin categorizing a certain model by the year it was made because it helps identify the general specifications it will have. Gibson continually updated the manufacturing process, amount of guitars, and features of each model every year. Most Gibson ES-335 guitars from 1958 will have generally similar features that will be vastly different that the average ES-335 made in 1964. Not only that, but Gibson shipped only 317 ES-335 guitars (Sunburst and Blond) in 1958, but 1201 ES-335 (Sunburst and Cherry Red) guitars in 1964. There are far more ES-335 guitars from 1964 than 1958, so Gibson guitar players will have a much more difficult time finding an example from 1958. We are likely to value Gibson ES-335s from 1958 far higher than a guitar from 1964.
The standard tailpiece for a Gibson ES-335 from 1958 until 1965 is a stop bar which holds the strings and is mounted to two studs screwed into the body just below the bridge. The model was also offered with an optional Bigsby vibrato tailpiece like this one: Gibson ES-335 1963. On average, Gibson guitar collectors will value a factory original stop tail example over one with a Bigsby tremolo.
The condition of a Gibson ES-335 has a subjective affect on its value to a Gibson collector, but the originality is more concrete. On average, each changed part will affect a guitar player's desire to buy the guitar. The pickups are very important to a guitar's value, but the tuner buttons are a commonly replaced part. Changed pickups will have a significant affect on the value of an ES-335, but tuner buttons can be replaced with exactly the same part.
I'm always on the hunt for great Gibson ES-335 guitars from the late 1950s and early 1960s. If you're curious about the value of your Gibson ES-335 then you can contact me here: Sell a Gibson.
Gibson ES-335 1960 Value
The value of a vintage Gibson ES-335 from the 1950s or 1960s depends heavily on the exact year it was made, color, tailpiece, condition, and originality. Gibson guitar collectors begin categorizing a certain model by the year it was made because it helps identify the general specifications it will have. Gibson continually updated the manufacturing process, amount of guitars, and features of each model every year. Most Gibson ES-335 guitars from 1958 will have generally similar features that will be vastly different that the average ES-335 made in 1964. Not only that, but Gibson shipped only 317 ES-335 guitars (Sunburst and Blond) in 1958, but 1201 ES-335 (Sunburst and Cherry Red) guitars in 1964. There are far more ES-335 guitars from 1964 than 1958, so Gibson guitar players will have a much more difficult time finding an example from 1958. We are likely to value Gibson ES-335s from 1958 far higher than a guitar from 1964.
The color of the Gibson ES-335 also highly affects its value. The standard color for an ES-335 in 1958 was Sunburst (fades from a dark outer band to a yellowish color), but 50 of them were made in a natural finish that many Gibson guitar collectors call blonde. Natural finished Gibson ES-335 guitars made in the 1950s and 1960s are exceedingly rare and are often valued at double the price of a Sunburst ES-335.
The standard tailpiece for a Gibson ES-335 from 1958 until 1965 is a stop bar which holds the strings and is mounted to two studs screwed into the body just below the bridge. The model was also offered with an optional Bigsby vibrato tailpiece like this one: Gibson ES-335 1963. On average, Gibson guitar collectors will value a factory original stop tail example over one with a Bigsby tremolo.
The condition of a Gibson ES-335 has a subjective affect on its value to a Gibson collector, but the originality is more concrete. On average, each changed part will affect a guitar player's desire to buy the guitar. The pickups are very important to a guitar's value, but the tuner buttons are a commonly replaced part. Changed pickups will have a significant affect on the value of an ES-335, but tuner buttons can be replaced with exactly the same part.
I'm always on the hunt for great Gibson ES-335 guitars from the late 1950s and early 1960s. If you're curious about the value of your Gibson ES-335 then you can contact me here: Sell a Gibson.
