The Gibson ES-330 has always occupied a very special place in Gibson's lineup. At first glance, it resembles the ES-335, but underneath the surface it is a completely different instrument. Being fully hollow and equipped with two P-90 pickups, the ES-330 offers a liveliness, acoustic resonance, and immediacy that its semi-hollow sibling simply cannot replicate.
Its reputation was cemented during the British Invasion years, with John Lennon and George Harrison both famously playing Epiphone Casinos—the sister model to the ES-330, built in the same Gibson factory on the very same fully hollow platform. That unmistakable airy bite and vocal midrange became part of the soundtrack of an entire generation.
Offered here is a lovely 1967 Gibson ES-330 in Cherry finish.
Originally, this guitar left the factory with a trapeze tailpiece. Very early in its life, however, it received a Bigsby B3 vibrato. Judging by the blacklight inspection, there are no visible signs indicating the guitar ever carried a trapeze tailpiece, making it very likely that the conversion happened at the original dealership before the instrument was sold.
The electronics remain original and date to 1967. Both original P-90 pickups were potted during their lifetime, while the bridge pickup was professionally rewound using the correct wire. Andreas Kloppmann of Kloppmann Electrics later removed the wax from both pickups and installed a spacer plate beneath the bridge pickup, bringing it closer to the strings and balancing its output beautifully with the neck pickup.
And the result is exactly what you hope an ES-330 will be.
The guitar is wonderfully dry and resonant, with plenty of bite and that unmistakable sweet hollowness that only a fully hollow Gibson can produce. The neck pickup is deep and rich, yet carries a beautiful vocal "whistle" on the top end, while the bridge pickup delivers excellent attack, authority, and the kind of raw character that makes these guitars so addictive to play. It is a lively, expressive instrument with tremendous personality.
At some point in its life, the guitar received a different set of tuners, leaving behind enlarged post holes and additional screw holes on the back of the headstock. It has since been fitted with period-correct tuners, which function flawlessly and hold tuning well.
This is not a museum piece—it is a wonderfully sorted, honest vintage Gibson that has been sympathetically maintained where necessary while preserving everything that truly matters.
Comes with its original case.
1967 Gibson ES-330 TDC
Specs & Overview
Impressions: A wonderfully resonant ES-330 full of mojo, with the dry, airy voice these guitars are loved for.
Nut Width: 40.01 mm
Pickups: Original Gibson P-90s Bridge pickup professionally rewound Wax potting removed by Kloppmann Electrics
Weight: 2.85 kg
Finish: Cherry
Originality / Mods: Originally fitted with trapeze tailpiece, converted early in its life to a Bigsby B3 Bridge pickup professionally rewound Previous tuner installation left enlarged shaft holes and additional screw holes Period-correct tuners installed
Case: Original case

