| Gibson ES-330 - COMING THIS SUMMER? |
| The Specs |
Year: 202x
Builder: Gibson
Series: Original
Model: ES-330
Color: Sixties Cherry
Hardware Finish: Nickel
Serial Number: 2xxxxxxxx
Body: Laminated Maple
Body Type: Hollowbody
Body Bracing: Spruce
Body Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Body Binding: Cream
Cutaway: Double
Pickguard: 5-Ply Black
Bridge: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece: Trapeze
Fretboard: Rosewood
Fretboard Binding: Cream
Fretboard Inlay: Acrylic Small Blocks
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Rounded "C"
Neck Finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose Lacquer
Nut: Graph Tech
Headstock: Gibson "Open Book"
Headstock Binding: None
Headstock Logo: Pearl Gibson Logo
Headstock Inlay: none
Tuners: Vintage Deluxe
Neck Pickup: Dogear P-90
Bridge Pickup: Dogear P-90
Pickup Switching: 3-Way
Control Knobs: Black Top Hat
Controls: 2 Volume, 2 Tone
Case: Gibson deluxe hardshell case
Body Size/Shape: ES-330
Frets: 22 Medium Jumbo
Frets to Body: 16
Fretboard Radius: 12"
Scale Length: 24.75"
Nut Width: 1.695"
Body Width: 16"
Body Depth: 1.75"
Strings: D'Addario EXL110 (.010-.046)
The Gibson ES-335 is one of my all-time favorite guitars because of it's combination of versatile tones, comfortable ergonomics, and classic good looks. Its cousin, the ES-330, might not have the same legendary status (although certainly still a classic, having debuted in 1959), but in some ways is an ever better fit for my playing style than the 335.
While the two guitars have a lot in common visually, there are significant differences that give the ES-330 a completely different tone and vibe. The 330 is a fully hollow guitar rather than a semi-hollow, and features P-90 pickups and a trapeze tailpiece instead of humbuckers and a stoptail. The neck on the 330 also joins the body at the 16th fret instead of the 19th fret, giving it a more compact playing feel despite having the same scale length.
The result is that the ES-330 has the airy, woody sound hollowbodies are known for, while the neck P-90 gives it a fat, warm, but very articulate tone. One of the best jazz tones I've ever gotten from a guitar was on a Guild T-50 slim—which was another thinline hollowbody guitar with a P-90 pickup—and the ES-330 nails that tone while also having the versatility offered by the addition of a bridge P-90.
The ES-330 was the guitar favored by by one of my favorite jazz players, Grant Green, and I've always wanted to try one. But vintage 330's were out of my budget, and Gibson had discontinued the mode—until recently. A few months after purchasing my ES-335 and J-45, Gibson announced the return of the ES-330 to their lineup, and I immediately set my sights on one (in Sixties Cherry, of course, to match my ES-335).
There's a very good chance that the ES-330 may become the favorite guitar in my collection. It looks amazing, is super comfortable to play, sounds fantastic, and has undeniable classic vibes.
