Introduced in 1959 as the successor to the ES-225 and the budget thinline alongside the ES-335, the ES-330 bridged the gap between the new centre block arch top guitars and Gibson’s classic arch tops of the previous decades becoming a firm favourite with players such as BB King and Grant Green not to mention the rhythm guitar of choice for many.

There's no hiding with this guitar round your neck. The vibrant cherry finish has kept a good colour that really accentuates the grain pattern of the maple. There is some fade and there are a few dings here and there but nothing structural. 

The neck shows some more wear. The fretboard is good with some signs of wear. The frets have recently been replaced and are in perfect condition, ready to rock, swing, jazz or whatever you like for another 60 years!

The plastics are in good shape as is the nickel though the plating has dulled on the pickup covers with some corrosion on the bobbins. This doesn’t detract from the look of the instrument.

Electronically the guitar looks to be correct, original harness, pots caps etc. The pickups have at least been out of the guitar with a sign that the bridge pickup might have been rewound as the tape has been changed. Straplocks are fitted.

The guitar comes with a hardshell case.

Acoustically this guitar has a pleasantly warm tone that certainly tips the hat to Gibson’s archtop heritage. Plugged in the guitar runs the gamut from warm neck pickup to a more honky, biting bridge pickup tone. 1963 saw Gibson revert back to fuller neck profiles and this is a fine example of that, being very comfortable in the hand

If 330’s are your thing and why would they not be, don’t let this one get away…