The semi-hollow maple body gives the guitar both the quick attack of this classic tone wood, and also a warmer, more airy response than a solidbody. The instrument has a commanding, clear acoustic voice, and weighing in at 9lbs 6oz, this guitar delivers a host of classic Gibson tonalities while still being kind to your back for long sessions and gigs. The original patent number T Top humbuckers are intact, with great power, growl, and cut in the bridge position, and plenty of warmth and articulation when you switch to the neck humbucker. The Varitone allows for five distinct sounds that can range from midrange boosted snap, to nasally quack, to hollowed out twang. These sounds can really bring out fingerpicking dynamics, as well as uniquely voicing your favorite tube amp or fuzz box. Professionally setup and strung with 11-50 strings, this ES-355TD has low, comfortable action and solid intonation. 

The three-piece maple neck has a fairly slender C shaped profile down at the nut, and the depth of the profile grows considerably as you move into the higher registers of the fretboard, filling the palm. The walnut gloss nitro lacquer finish on the profile is subtly transparent, and there's some very nice flame figuring in the maple on the central portion of the neck in particular. The profile does have nice, full shoulders too, with a solid and substantial feel. The bound ebony fretboard boasts original fretwire, which firmly belongs to the wide/flat variety Gibson was known to use in this era. These frets still have plenty of height and crown, with more substance than your typical "fretless wonder." The guitar plays well up the neck with no buzzing or dead spots, and the fretwire shows light wear beneath the plain strings in the first position, with some modest flattening of the fret crowns on the treble side of the board until roughly fret 13, with virtually no wear further up the neck or on the bass side. The nut width is 1 9/16", and the stock plastic nut is intact. On the headstock, the original Gibson-branded gold tuning machines with metal tulip buttons are present, turn smoothly, and hold pitch as they should.

The stock electronics work as they should, and the original wiring harness is intact, albeit reworked for standard mono operation. Since the Varitone is also designed to split the signal for stereo use, only one half of this circuit needed to be utilized to offer all five of the Varitione sounds (the sixth setting is a bypass). All of the original metal parts are intact, including the stock gold pickup covers, Nashville bridge, and Maestro Vibrola tailpiece. Easily one of the best vibrato units ever designed for guitar, this Maestro responds with great subtlety and nuance, perfect for warbles, dives, and flutters, all while jumping back to the original pitch with ease. Visible through the bass side F hole, the original purple and black rectangular "Union Made" Gibson label is present, noting the ES-355TD model.

The pickguard is a brand new piece of celluloid that utilizes the original multi-ply binding. These pickguards are notorious for "off gassing," a process that causes the original pickguard to crumble and disintegrate, which ages the adjacent hardware, and leaves the majority of 355s on the market without their stock guards. Thankfully, the original guard was kept far from the body while it decomposed, and the original binding was salvaged so that we could cut a new piece of celluloid that doesn't have the same chemical composition as the original guard, but does have a gorgeous brownish-red transparent appearance that's faithful to the vintage look. The other plastic parts on the guitar consist of a set of original witch hat knobs with gold inserts, stock Varitione chicken head knob and gold plate, the original bridge pickup ring, and a newer neck pickup ring that matches vintage spec.

Cosmetically, this guitar shows some honest playwear, but has also been very well cared for with no structural issues or repairs of any kind. There is moderate targeted buckle rash on the back, as well as various small finish scratches, mostly on the back, but also in the pick path and near the knobs. There is light wear through the gold plating on the edges of the pickup covers and front edge of the Vibrola as well, while the gold tuners remain remarkably clean with only light surface patina. There are also a few extremely tiny inconsequential nicks on the neck profile, but nothing that affects playability in the slightest.

This ES-355TD is clean, complete, and dialed in for the discerning player who wants all the versatility this model can provide, with more conventional mono operation.

The original Gibson hardshell case is included. This case shows notable wear on the exterior, while still retaining the original Gibson silkscreen logo. The stock latches are present, but the original handle is missing. The case is structurally sound, with a red plush interior.