Up for sale, a 1968 Gibson ES-330TD in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Finished in Sparkling Burgundy, this particular example is very bold and unfaded in its presentation, with sparingly little of the oxidation and color shifting emblematic of how this finish ages. A rare iteration of the ES-330 with features spanning only 1968-69, this guitar boasts a one-piece mahogany neck and 19th fret neck joint, allowing easier access to the higher registers of the fretboard than the 16th fret joint seen on all pre-68 ES-330s.

Highlighting both the clarity and note attack of maple and the smooth, airy quality of the fully hollow construction, this Gibson has a sweet natural acoustic tone that translates well through the pickups. The P-90s have a glassy sparkle and dynamic, percussive cut with a rich, textured midrange character and plenty of bark when you dig in. And while the bridge pickup has a snappier, slightly more aggressive quality, the neck pickup is big and broad, retaining the articulation necessary for complex chording. The guitar is featherweight at 6lbs 3oz. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar and strung with fresh 11-48 strings, this ES-330TD is dialed in for low action and spot-on intonation.

The one-piece mahogany neck has a medium C-shaped profile carve at the nut with plenty of depth and heft higher up the fretboard, boasting full shoulders in every register and proper ‘baseball bat’ chunk by the 9th fret and beyond, measuring .840" deep at the 1st fret and an impressively hearty 1.020" at the 12th. On the rosewood fretboard, the original medium jumbo frets retain their full factory height and well-rounded crowns, showing only light wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3. The nut measures 1 9/16" in width, and on the headstock, the guitar retains the original Kluson Deluxe double line tuning machines.

The P-90 pair has immaculate bobbins, and the electronics all function as intended. Hardware includes the original ABR-1 bridge with nylon saddles and correct foundry stamp on the underside, as well as the stock trapeze tailpiece. The chrome hardware is stunning in its uniform preservation and clean plating, and the plastic parts are equally well kept with gleaming witch hat knobs and the stock pickguard.

The Sparkling Burgundy gloss nitro lacquer finish is one of Gibson's more coveted custom colors, exhibiting a bit of sporadic broad lacquer checking and just a hint of bronzing on the body horns. Cosmetic wear is limited to a few light finish scratches central to the back, and just a few additional exceedingly minor marks on the body as a whole. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, free of palm wear with some very faint oxidation of the metallic finish central to the carve.

The original black tolex hardshell case with gold plush interior is included.