Top-of-the-line Then — and Now!
A meticulous re-creation of Gibson’s top-of-the-line thinline semi-hollow model, this Gibson Custom 1960 ES-355 Reissue captures the brand’s celebrated Golden Age allure with maximum aplomb. Featuring exquisite 3-ply construction, this ES-355 showcases a beautifully figured top with an eye-grabbing nitro finish, elevated by a Light Aged nitro lacquer finish from the illustrious Murphy Lab. The mahogany neck brandishes a period-correct slim 1961 profile, bolstered by set-neck construction with a long tenon and topped with a bound, 12-inch-radius ebony fingerboard. Moreover, the neck also received the Murphy Lab treatment to ensure a delightfully broken-in feel. Tone-wise, this ES-355’s alnico-fueled Custombucker pickups, tied to two Volume and two Tone knobs, deliver refined PAF-flavored textures equally suited to blues, jazz, rock, and country. You also get a glorious selection of top-caliber appointments, including multi-ply binding, gold hardware, and mother-of-pearl inlays on the fingerboard and headstock. An ABR-1 Tune-o-matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and Grover Rotomatic tuners round out this divine beauty. Available in limited quantities, this Gibson Custom 1960 ES-355 Reissue delivers Gibson’s most prized thinline, elevated with premium-level details.
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The ES-355: Gibson’s flagship semi-hollowbody
Introduced in 1958 as the most luxurious model in Gibson’s ES thinline lineup, the ES-355 sits above the ES‑335 and ES‑345 as the company’s flagship semi‑hollowbody electric guitar. Melding the warmth and resonance of a hollowbody with the feedback resistance of a solidbody, the ES‑355 is distinguished by upscale appointments, such as an ebony fingerboard, multi‑ply binding, gold hardware, and the iconic split‑diamond headstock inlay — features typically reserved for Gibson’s highest‑end instruments. Thanks to a sizeable stable of influential players — most famously B.B. King, whose legendary ES-355-inspired Lucille helped define modern blues guitar tone — the ES-355 has gained lasting cultural significance that continues to this day. At Sweetwater, we believe that the 1960 ES-355 Reissue stands as a symbol of Gibson’s craftsmanship and prestige, celebrating its Golden Era heritage as one of the most elegant and enduring semi-hollowbody guitars ever produced.
Custombucker pickups deliver pure vintage PAF tone
Gibson paid just as much attention to this guitar's electronics as they did to its aesthetics. Every part of its internal signal path was designed to replicate the tone of an early-’60s Gibson semi-hollowbody. Of course, it's next to impossible to find genuine '60s-era PAFs — even for Gibson. Instead, this Gibson Custom 1960 ES-355 Reissue sports a dynamic duo of Gibson's Custombucker pickups. Armed with Alnico V magnets, the Custombucker is the most historically accurate PAF copy ever. Thanks to these pickups, this ES-355 not only nails the look and feel of an original 1960s ES-355, but it also nails the sound, too. From blues and jazz to rock and country; from chimey rhythm parts to blistering leads — and everything in between — this ES-355 delivers like nothing else.
Hair-raising vintage-style hardware
One of Gibson’s many accomplishments during the 1950s was the development of the ABR-1 — the famous Tune-o-matic bridge — which allows for precise intonation of each string. The patent for this design was granted to Gibson president Ted McCarty, a fact that has never been in dispute. However, it wasn’t until more recently that McCarty’s many innovations have been fully recognized. Since then, millions of guitars have been built with variations on this theme. This 1960 ES-355 Reissue includes an ABR-1 bridge, further enhanced by a stopbar tailpiece and Grover Rotomatic tuning machines.
Gibson Custom 1960 ES-355 Reissue Features:
- A limited-edition tribute to Gibson’s top-of-the-line early ’60s semi-hollowbody electric guitar
- Exquisite 3-ply construction with a beautifully figured top and an eye-grabbing Light Aged nitro finish from the Murphy Lab
- Period-correct slim 1961 mahogany neck, bolstered by set neck construction with a long tenon
- Easy-playing bound, 12-in.-radius ebony fingerboard
- Alnico-fueled Custombucker pickups, tied to 2 Volume and 2 Tone knobs, deliver refined PAF textures
- Multi-ply binding, gold hardware, MOP block fingerboard inlays, and a MOP split-diamond headstock inlay
- Rock-solid ABR-1 TOM bridge, stopbar tailpiece, and Grover Rotomatic tuners
- Includes a hardshell case and certificate of authenticity
