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Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar - Classic White

Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar with Maple/Poplar Body, Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fingerboard, and 2 Humbucking Pickups - Classic White
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Item ID: 59ES355IGCCW

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Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar - Classic White
Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar - Classic White
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Savor the ’59 Sound with Epiphone’s Masterful ’59 ES-355

The ES-355 semi-hollowbody represents a hallmark of the blues and rock ’n’ roll. Now, you can own an extremely authentic vintage re-creation with the Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Reissue semi-hollow electric guitar. This is hardly your typical Epiphone, as it boasts numerous vintage-inspired perks, from Gibson CustomBucker pickups to hardware contributed by Gibson Custom Shop. The body is made from layered maple and poplar for a traditional sound. Two vintage-voiced CustomBucker pickups deliver open, organic, and old-school tones with remarkable fidelity. And the visual aspect is out of this world, thanks to Gibson Custom Shop! Devotees of the ES-355 here at Sweetwater have noted the authenticity of a Vintage Original Sheen finish, a gold-plated tailpiece, a period-correct “long” pickguard, and Gibson-style inlays and binding throughout. The Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Reissue is your key to revisiting the past or engineering the next great rock ’n’ roll revolution — the choice is yours!

The quintessential ES formula

When it comes to semi-hollow tonewoods, maple has been the gold standard for generations. The 1959 ES-355 Reissue utilizes a layered maple top, back, and sides blended with poplar for enhanced tone and durability. The result is a responsive sound and mellow vibrations that morph into a grittier, meaner sound when paired with a dirty amp. The ES-355’s smooth mahogany neck features a ‘50s-shaped “Medium C” profile, topped with a 24.75-inch scale ebony fingerboard for welcoming playability, and the neck is further enhanced with a long neck tenon that extends slightly into the body for added sustain and improved durability

CustomBucker pickups with upgraded wiring

Every part of the 1959 ES-355 Reissue’s electronics is built for dead-on vintage accuracy. Of course, it’s next to impossible to find genuine vintage PAF pickups (even for Gibson); however, the 1959 ES-355 Reissue sports two potted Gibson CustomBucker pickups, the most faithful substitute you can find. The CustomBucker is the most historically accurate PAF copy ever, with an open tone and incredible dynamic response that simply must be heard. Epiphone also added premium wiring components, including a Switchcraft jack, CTS potentiometers, and Mallory capacitors, for vintage-style performance that’s sure to please.

Bound for glory

If you love deluxe looks at a phenomenal price, then this Epiphone ES-355 is the guitar for you! Epiphone upgraded this ES-355’s body, fingerboard, and headstock with the help of Gibson Custom Shop. Each portion is framed by black or ivory binding; the fingerboard and headstock sport iconic block inlays; and the pickguard is similarly bound and built using the longer dimensions Gibson favored back in ’59. Lastly, top-tier hardware seals the deal, including control knobs that feature old-school nickel pointers and Grover tuning machines that support consistent performance, alongside a gold-plated bridge vintage bridge from Gibson Custom Shop.

Epiphone 1959 ES-355 Reissue Electric Guitar Features:

  • Re-creates a 1959 Gibson ES-355 with extensive upgrades courtesy of the Gibson Custom Shop
  • Layered maple/poplar body provides a warm, balanced tone with classic character
  • Long tenon mahogany neck with a supportive ’50s “Medium C” profile
  • Comfortable 24.75-inch scale length and ebony fingerboard
  • 2 Gibson CustomBucker pickups deliver masterful PAF-style fidelity with a warm, organic sound
  • Deluxe binding, inlays, and Gibson-style headstock
  • Premium hardware, including a Gibson Custom Shop Historic Reissue gold-plated aluminum tailpiece and Grover Rotomatic tuners
  • Upgraded vintage-style wiring (Switchcraft toggle, Switchcraft output jack, ’50-spec wiring, CTS potentiometers, and Mallory 150 capacitors)

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Tech Specs

  • General
  • Model 1959 ES-355
  • Number of Strings 6
  • Left-/Right-handed Right-handed
  • Body
  • Body Type Semi-hollowbody
  • Body Shape ES
  • Body Material 5-ply Maple/Poplar
  • Top Material 5-ply Maple/Poplar
  • Body Finish Vintage Original Sheen
  • Color Classic White
  • Neck
  • Neck Material Mahogany
  • Neck Shape '50s Rounded Medium C
  • Neck Joint Set Neck
  • Radius 12"
  • Fingerboard Material Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay Blocks
  • Number of Frets 22
  • Scale Length 24.75"
  • Nut Width 1.692"
  • Nut Material GraphTech
  • Hardware
  • Bridge/Tailpiece ABR-1 style bridge, Gibson Historic Reissue Aluminum Stop Bar tailpiece
  • Tuners Grover Rotomatic, 18:1
  • Electronics
  • Neck Pickup Gibson Custombucker Humbucker
  • Bridge Pickup Gibson Custombucker Humbucker
  • Controls 2 x volume, 2 x tone
  • Switching 3-way toggle pickup switch
  • Miscellaneous
  • Strings Gibson, .010-.046
  • Case/Gig Bag Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: EC35559CWVGH1

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Reviews

Awesome guitar!!!
This guitar was flawless. Super smooth fret work, just perfect in every way. That chunky neck is perfect. Somehow it seems alot easier to play with arthritic hands. The tone is absolutely beautiful. If you're on the fence about this guitar I highly recommend it. Quality case is also included. Mike Ramey is absolutely awesome to work with.
Very, Very Pleasant Surprise
So, I've alway wanted an ES-335/ES-355 but I've always been a little unsure if I would like it. When I saw this Inspired by Gibson Custom Shop release it looked like an entry point I could be comfortable with, so I pulled the trigger on one. Went for the Classic White since it gave me the whole Alex Lifeson vibe. In the past with Epiphone, I've seen some pretty average fret work, which is not that unexpected for guitars built overseas. For this reason, took some extra cash and opted to have Sweetwater plek my guitar. So glad I did. This guitar really took me by surprise when I opened the case, it's really beautiful. More importantly, it played marvelously! The Custombucker pickups are a great add to this guitar and give it a little more premium sound and feel. Mine has a really dark ebony fingerboard, which I just love. Throw in the rest of the USA hardware, mother-of-pearly inlays, and the bound neck and headstock and you have a winner. Plays, feels, sounds really nice. I'm very happy with my purchase. I would recommend the plek and setup if you have the extra cash, I really noticed the results of this from the get go in how the guitar felt and played. Great guitar and glad I own it!
Great guitar all around!
Just received this guitar a few days ago and I can't say enough good things about it. It looks great, sounds great and plays great. I only recently got into ES style guitars about a year ago (been playing for about 45 years now) and this is by far the best of my 5 ES style guitars. I would highly recommend this to anyone.
Music background: Been playing for 45 years or so and have 34 guitars in my collection.
Fantastic Guitar!!!
I've had this for awhile now and I've got to say I am totally satisfied. Everything from the finish, to the Grover tuners,and Gibson Custombucker Pickups make this an excellent guitar. Epiphone really upped their game on this one. I did put out the extra money for the Pleck Pro service. It was well worth it. There was a quality issue with the one that was shipped, but a hassle free return and exchange from Sweetwater saved the 5 star rating. The neck is pretty meaty but thats fine with me. This thing shines with the cleans and also growls when you want it to. Rock, country, or blues this is the guitar you want.
Music background: Blues, Classic rock
Fantastic guitar, awesome value
This summer, 2024, I bought three ES guitars: an ES Supreme (bought directly from Gibson), an ES 345, and this Epiphone ES 355 (both bought from Sweetwater). I know this will be difficult to believe, but the Epiphone is the best of the three. I had the Epiphone PLEKed; the Supreme came PLEKed from the factory, and the 345... ...well, I'll just say that I now plan to send the 345 back and have that one PLEKed as well.

With the PLEK job and the Sweetwater setup, this guitar plays like an absolute dream. The fit and finish are impeccable; I couldn't find a single thing to complain about. The only thing I would point out is that its neck is CONSIDERABLY chunkier than the Supreme or the 345. Personally, I actually prefer a beefier neck, but if you prefer a thinner neck, this may not be the guitar for you. Other than that one caveat, I recommend this guitar (and the PLEK process) without hesitation, and all the more so considering the price point. If you're OK with the beefy neck, buy one of these while you can - it's a BEAST!
Music background: 45+ years semipro, ~50 basses and guitars as of october 2024