1961 Gibson ES-335 TDC, Cherry, Ex-Martin Barre

A superb dot neck 1961 Gibson ES-335 in Cherry, formerly owned and played by Martin Barre of Jethro Tull. This particular guitar carries not only the classic early-sixties ES-335 spec but also a remarkable documented history, having appeared on recordings, in print, and in the hands of one of Britain’s most respected guitarists.

Finished in its original Cherry red, the guitar presents beautifully and remains a very clean, vibrant example overall. Electronics are centred around a pair of original PAF humbuckers, both retaining their covers with solder that appears undisturbed. These pickups deliver the warm, open and harmonically rich voice that has made early ES-335s a mainstay of both studio and stage for more than six decades.

The control assembly remains correct for the period, with Centralab pots dating to the 20th week of 1961. Hardware includes the correct 'rocker' ABR-1 bridge, a period stop tailpiece, it's been refretted and the nut appears to have been replaced at some point in its life, entirely expected for a professional instrument that has seen genuine use over the years.

Originally this guitar left the Gibson factory fitted with a sideways Vibrola, and “Custom Made” plate configuration. At some stage a stop tailpiece was fitted, and there is some very localised overspray around the strap button area associated with this conversion. The work has been very neatly executed and importantly, the original sideways Vibrola and Custom Made plate are retained in the case, along with a few shrunken tuner tips.

The provenance of this guitar is exceptional. It comes with a signed letter from Martin Barre confirming his ownership... twice! There is also documentation from Southworth Guitars dated November 1998 describing the instrument as all original at that time.

Martin purchased the guitar in the early 2000s and commented that it sounded better than the Bursts he owned at that time, which ultimately led him to sell them and keep this ES-335. High praise indeed from a player who has spent decades performing at the highest level.

Martin used this guitar extensively on a number of Jethro Tull recordings before eventually parting with it. Many years later, around the time of his 70th birthday, he was unexpectedly reunited with the instrument after discovering it in a local guitar shop. Recognising it immediately, he promptly bought it back and later used it on his solo album Roads Less Travelled.

The guitar’s documented history extends beyond ownership. It appears in the authoritative reference book Gibson Electrics – The Classic Years by Andre Duchossoir, where it is pictured (in black and white) showing the instrument with its original sideways Vibrola configuration. Only 420 ES-335s were shipped in 1961, placing this guitar among a relatively small group from a very desirable year of production. The guitar was also featured in the Classic Gear section of Guitarist Magazine in June 2017 which is included.

Early ES-335s are among the most versatile and musically inspiring electric guitars Gibson ever produced, and examples with this level of documented history are seldom encountered. With its original PAF pickups, early-’60s dot neck specification and outstanding provenance, this is a superb vintage ES-335 that bridges the worlds of collectible instrument and artist-owned memorabilia perfectly.