Gibson Custom ES-330 1962 Reissue 60s Cherry HR

The Essentials to Know About the Gibson Custom ES-330 1962 Reissue 60s Cherry HR Guitar

• True thinline hollow body (without center block) for a very "acoustic" resonance and a great vibration sensation under the fingers.


• Two hand-wired P-90 Dogear pickups, with a pair designed for balance (Alnico 3 bridge, underwound Alnico 5 neck).


• Early 60s style comfort: mahogany neck with Authentic 1961 Thin D profile, neck joint at the 16th fret, and rosewood fingerboard with a 12" radius.


• Historic/VOS finish: glossy nitrocellulose lacquer and slightly aged-looking hardware, delivered in a Lifton hard case.

A "1962 year" ES-330: the return of a Historic model in the Gibson Custom catalog

Introduced in the late 1950s, the ES-330 evolved incrementally up to the early sixties specifications. This 1962 ES-330 Reissue fits precisely into this pivotal period: it retains the ultra lively thinline spirit of the 330 while adopting lutherie and ergonomic choices typical of the 1962 vintage. After a several-year hiatus, Gibson Custom reintroduces it as a "core" model of the Historic Reissue Collection, with a collector-oriented level of detail but designed for everyday playing.

Who is this ES-330 for: from home playing to studio work, with a true personality

This ES-330 is aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists who want an inspiring, responsive, and expressive electric guitar, but it can also appeal to a passionate beginner ready to tame a fully hollow body. Its big everyday advantage: it already sounds loud and rich unplugged, perfect for practicing, composing, or simply playing "on the couch" without turning on the amp.

In terms of styles, its palette naturally covers Americana, blues, 60s pop, country, jazz, and rock. Note: like any hollowbody, it will react faster to feedback than a solidbody or a semi-hollow with a center block. In return, with moderate overdrive and good control of right/left-hand muting, it offers a tone and dynamics that are hard to reproduce otherwise.

The sound: hollow body resonance + P-90 bite, from woody clean to edgy crunch

The core of its character comes from the 3-ply maple/poplar/maple thinline construction, here in a fully hollow body format. Unlike the visually similar ES-335, the absence of a center block allows the top and body to breathe more: you get a more "open" response, a more organic attack, and a projection reminiscent of a small acoustic... but with the sharpness of a true electric.

The two P-90 Dogear pickups provide that blend of grain and definition that makes the model magical: present but never cold highs, lively mids, and bass that remains clear. The bridge pickup, with Alnico 3 and standard winding, emphasizes bite and precision for punchy rhythms and leads that cut through the mix. The neck pickup, underwound and equipped with an Alnico 5, balances everything: more air, controlled roundness, and ideal articulation for jazz chords, blues double-stops, and singing melodies.

The electronics respect the Historic spirit: 2 volumes, 2 tones (one pair per pickup) to finely shape output level and high-end openness, with a 3-position selector. Hand wiring, CTS potentiometers, and Paper-in-Oil capacitors contribute to a progressive feel under the fingers: you can move from woody clean to expressive crunch by playing both the amp and the guitar controls.

Recommended compatible accessories

To respect its very dynamic response, a quality electric guitar string set (ideally in "standard" gauge) is perfectly suitable, as well as a sturdy strap to secure standing play with the trapeze tailpiece. The instrument comes with a Lifton hard case, so you already have a reliable solution for transport and storage.

Technical specifications

Category	Hollow body	Nbr of strings	6
Left handed	No	Color	Red
Strings	Steel

Type	hollowbody (fully hollow body)	Inlays	small-block
Shape	ES-335	Nut	nylon
Construction	3-ply maple/poplar/maple	Bridge	ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic (Historic no-wire)
Binding	single ply on top and back	Tailpiece	trapeze
Finish	VOS nitrocellulose lacquer	Tuners	Kluson Deluxe, white buttons
Wood	mahogany (one piece)	Knobs	Black Top Hats with silver inserts and "dial pointer" markers
Profile	Authentic 1961 Thin D	Pickguard	ES-330 multi-ply
Joint	long neck tenon	Pickup covers	black P-90 Dogear
Neck/body joint	at the 16th fret	Neck pickup	P-90 (underwound, Alnico 5 magnet)
Scale length	24.75" / 628.7 mm	Bridge pickup	P-90 (standard winding, Alnico 3 magnet)
Fingerboard	rosewood (one piece)	Controls	2 volumes, 2 tones
Fingerboard binding	single ply	Selector	3-position toggle (Switchcraft)
Radius	12" / 304.8 mm	Components	CTS potentiometers, Paper-in-Oil capacitors
Frets	Reissue Medium Jumbo (22)	Output	1/4" / 6.35 mm jack