A Superb Reproduction of a 1961 Semi-hollowbody Classic
How do you make the most authentic facsimile of a vintage ES-335? To create the Custom 1961 ES-335 Reissue Heavy Aged semi-hollowbody electric guitar, Gibson's master luthiers studied, scanned, and listened to rare examples of original ES guitars. And thanks to the masterful aging process from the Gibson Custom Shop Murphy Lab, you'd be hard pressed to distinguish it from an original '61 ES-335. The 1961 ES-335 Reissue's Skinny "C"-shape neck profile reproduces the exact carve of an original ES-335, while its pair of Custombucker Alnico pickups deliver iconic PAF humbucking tone. From headstock to tailpiece, the Gibson Custom 1961 ES-335 Reissue puts the sound and feel of a vintage original in your hands — and in your guitar collection.
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Artfully aged in Gibson Custom Shop's Murphy Lab
Under the leadership of Master Artisan Tom Murphy, Gibson Custom Shop's Murphy Lab performs one specific function: to craft artfully aged instruments using the most cutting-edge tools available. These guitars are targeted to one of four distinct levels of age and wear, ranging from Ultra-Light to Ultra-Heavy. This 1961 ES-335 Reissue features Heavy aging, boasting prominent checking patterns, along with lots of buckle rash, light arm wear, and neck wear. Think of it as a guitar that’s experienced 50-plus years of life on the road. Murphy Lab heavy-aged hardware puts the final touch on this exquisite instrument. Beyond that, this guitar's extra-rolled fretboard binding mimics the broken-in look and feel of a Golden-era Gibson. If you seek the authenticity and distinct character of a well-worn vintage-style instrument, there's a Murphy Lab-aged guitar that will feel like it was tailor-made just for you.
Unpotted Custombucker pickups deliver vintage PAF tone
Gibson paid just as much attention to the 1961 ES-335 Reissue's electronics as they did to its aesthetics. Beginning with CTS 500K audio taper potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors, every part of this semi-hollowbody electric guitar’s internal signal path was designed to give you absolutely dead-on 1961 ES-335 tone. Of course, it's next to impossible to find genuine '60s PAFs (even for Gibson). Instead, the 1961 ES-335 sports a pair of unpotted Custombucker humbuckers. Boasting Alnico III magnets, Gibson’s Custombuckers are one of the most historically accurate PAF copies ever. You just won't find another ES-335 that comes as close to the original look, sound, and feel of a 1961 ES-335.
Historic appointments are more authentic than ever
If you want all that an original 1961 ES-335 has to offer, you'll appreciate this superb reproduction. Its solid mahogany neck is attached using hide glue, which lasts longer than synthetic glue, and to some, even improves the guitar's sound. Gibson also re-engineered the truss rod, truss rod washer, and anchor to their original forms. They also eliminated the tubing that surrounded the truss rod — all subtle yet important changes to both the durability of the ES-335 and its overall tone. Classic Kluson double-ring tuners and Top Hat knobs are also featured on the Gibson Custom 1961 ES-335 Reissue, lending even more visual vintage vibe and style.
Gibson Custom 1961 ES-335 Reissue Heavy Aged Semi-hollowbody Electric Guitar Features:
- Superbly crafted guitar re-creation of a 1961 ES-335 semi-hollowbody electric guitar
- Masterfully aged in the Gibson Custom Murphy Lab
- Boasts vintage-accurate construction and components, plus true-to-the-original fit and finish
- Resonant maple/poplar/maple body creates vibrant semi-hollowbody tone
- Skinny "C"-shaped solid mahogany neck yields the classic ES playability you’ve been dreaming of
- Custombucker pickups are carefully designed to yield accurate PAF humbucker tone
- CTS 500K audio taper potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors give you dead-on 1961 ES-335 tone
- Classic Kluson double-ring tuners and Top Hat knobs lend even more visual vintage vibe and style
