Few guitars occupy the same orbit as the Gibson ES-335. First introduced in 1958, the ES-335 changed the electric guitar world by giving players the warmth and air of a hollowbody with the sustain, focus, and feedback resistance of a solidbody. It became one of the most versatile electric guitars ever built, equally at home in blues, jazz, rock, country, soul, and studio work.
Now, Gibson has expanded the ES lineup with two new decade-inspired models: the Gibson ES-335 50s and Gibson ES-335 60s. Both are handcrafted in Nashville, Tennessee, and built around classic ES-335 semi-hollow construction with a three-ply maple/poplar/maple body and a solid maple centerblock. Gibson notes that these models use the original ES laminate press from Kalamazoo, connecting the new release directly to the golden-era instruments that helped define the ES-335 legacy.
The ES-335 50s is designed to capture the spirit of the earliest ES-335s from the late 1950s. It features a Rounded C mahogany neck profile, acrylic dot inlays, a longer 1950s-style pickguard, and Custombucker Alnico 3 pickups. The result is a guitar aimed at players who want the open, articulate, vintage-leaning response associated with the first generation of ES-335 design.
The ES-335 60s shifts the spacecraft forward into the next decade. It features a SlimTaper mahogany neck, acrylic small block inlays, a shorter 60s-style pickguard, Grover Rotomatic tuners, and calibrated T-Type humbuckers with Alnico 5 magnets. Where the 50s model leans rounder and earlier in feel, the 60s model brings a faster neck shape and the look and response associated with early-to-mid 1960s ES-335s.
Both models are finished in gloss nitrocellulose lacquer and ship with a Gibson hardshell case. The ES-335 50s is available in Vintage Natural, Vintage Tobacco Burst, and Ebony, while the ES-335 60s is available in Vintage Burst, Sixties Cherry, and Dark Walnut.
For players, the choice comes down to feel, response, and era. The 50s model gives you the earlier dot-neck aesthetic, a fuller Rounded C neck, and Custombuckers with Alnico 3 magnets. The 60s model brings the small-block look, a slimmer neck, and T-Type humbuckers with Alnico 5 magnets for a punchier, more focused 60s-inspired voice.
At Interstellar Guitars, we love releases like this because they make the ES-335 story easier to navigate. Rather than treating the 335 as one universal thing, Gibson has given players two historically inspired launch paths: one rooted in the late-50s origin point, and one aimed at the faster, sharper 60s evolution.
Whether you are chasing blues phrasing, classic rock sustain, jazz warmth, or a do-it-all semi-hollow that can move from clean to overdriven without leaving orbit, the new Gibson ES-335 50s and ES-335 60s models continue the legacy of one of the most important electric guitars ever made.
Gibson ES-335 50s vs ES-335 60s: Key Differences
|
Feature |
Gibson ES-335 50s |
Gibson ES-335 60s |
|
Era inspiration |
Late 1950s ES-335 models, inspired by the earliest dot-neck 335s introduced in 1958 |
1960s ES-335 models, inspired by the small-block era of Gibson semi-hollow design |
|
Neck profile |
Rounded C |
SlimTaper |
|
Neck feel |
Fuller, rounder vintage feel |
Slimmer, faster-playing feel |
|
Fingerboard inlays |
Acrylic dot inlays |
Acrylic small block inlays |
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Pickups |
Custombucker Alnico 3 humbuckers |
Calibrated T-Type humbuckers with Alnico 5 magnets |
|
Pickup voice |
Vintage PAF-inspired response with an open, dynamic, airy character |
Focused, articulate, punchy 60s-style humbucker tone |
|
Pickguard |
Longer 1950s-style pickguard with wide bevel |
Shorter 60s-style black 5-ply pickguard |
|
Tuners |
Vintage Deluxe tuners with Keystone buttons |
Grover Milk Bottle / Rotomatic-style tuners |
|
Available finishes |
Vintage Natural, Vintage Tobacco Burst, Ebony |
Vintage Burst, Sixties Cherry, Dark Walnut |
|
Shared construction |
Semi-hollow maple/poplar/maple body, solid maple centerblock, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, Gibson hardshell case |
Semi-hollow maple/poplar/maple body, solid maple centerblock, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, stopbar tailpiece, gloss nitrocellulose lacquer, Gibson hardshell case |
Legendary Guitarists Who Used 1950s Gibson ES-335 Guitars
Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton is closely associated with a beloved 1959 Gibson ES-335 in Cherry. Gibson specifically references Frampton’s story of acquiring his ’59 ES-335 in its ES-focused artist coverage.
Kirk Hammett
Metallica’s Kirk Hammett owns a rare factory black 1959 Gibson ES-335, described by Gibson as a “vanishingly rare” example and highlighted in Gibson TV’s The Collection.
Alvin Lee
Ten Years After guitarist Alvin Lee made his modified 1958/1959-style Gibson ES-335 “Big Red” famous, most notably through his explosive Woodstock-era performances. Gibson later recreated his “Big Red” concept with an Alvin Lee ES-335 tribute model, cementing the guitar’s place in 335 history.
Legendary Guitarists Who Used 1960s Gibson ES-335 Guitars
Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton purchased a cherry red 1964 Gibson ES-335 TDC and used it throughout major periods of his career, including The Yardbirds, Cream, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Blind Faith, and his solo career. Christie’s documented the guitar for auction and noted its long-running Clapton provenance.
Larry Carlton
Larry Carlton, famously known as “Mr. 335,” is deeply associated with his 1969 Gibson ES-335. Premier Guitar notes that Carlton’s relationship with the ES-335 began in 1969, and Guitar Player describes his sunburst 1969 ES-335 as a primary session instrument across his career.
B.B. King
Before the ES-355 became permanently tied to the “Lucille” name, B.B. King used a custom ES-335-style Gibson in the early 1960s. Reverb’s historical guide notes that by the early ’60s King was playing a sunburst ES-335 with a Bigsby, Varitone switch, and stereo wiring, and that it was almost certainly the guitar used for Live at the Regal in November 1964.