1962 Gibson ES-355 TD – Cherry

1962 Gibson ES-355 TD – Cherry

Here we have a 1962 Gibson ES-355 TD in Cherry finish with a rather special history. It took us a while to get all the information together – thanks to our wonderful friends at Gibson! The guitar clearly had some work done to the neck(joint) – we believe it’s been re-necked in the factory before it actually ever was shipped in the end of the year 1962. According to the 1962 Gibson factory ledgers, the guitar was supposed to be shipped on March 23, 1962 from the Kalamazoo factory – but it did not happen since the guitar needed a repair. There is a “second ship date” for serial 51355 in the ledger dating to 12-5-62. This later shipping date is the reason why this guitar is equipped with a – then brand new – factory Maestro Vibrola instead of the earlier (pretty much useless) Sideways vibrato it would have had when it would have been shipped in March – so far so good! The pickups are PAF-spec no decal humbuckers, it’s right in the transition of PAF and Patent Number decals – in March they might still had the PAF label. There is no serial number on the back of the headstock – Gibson started stamping the serials in 1961 but this happened every once in a while, we seen that before. However, there is missing paint on the neck heel which leads us to the conclusion that the neck at least has been off – which makes total sense considering the second shipping date in the Gibson ledgers. It’s an original Gibson neck with all correct dimensions, binding, rolled fingerboard edges and wide nut with. The profile is on the thinner side, typical for this model and era. The guitar has been professionally refretted with jumbo frets. The Varitone unit has been removed but comes with the guitar. The saddles of the ABR-1 bridge have been replaced with newer ones. Other than that – and leaving that long description behind…it’s such a great sounding and playing 355 with magic tone! Comes in its original black Gibson hardshell case with yellow lining.