Gibson Custom ES-330 1962 Reissue Vintage Burst HR

The Essentials to Know About the Gibson ES-330 1962 Reissue Vintage Burst HR Guitar

• True hollow thinline body without center block: more air, more resonance, an astonishing acoustic presence even when unplugged.


• Faithful 1962 spirit: neck-body joint at the 16th fret for optimal bridge placement and a very "vintage" response.


• Two complementary P-90 Dogear pickups: bridge pickup with Alnico 3 (standard winding) + underwound neck pickup with Alnico 5 for natural balance.


• VOS finish and historical details: aged nickel hardware, glossy nitrocellulose lacquer, and included Lifton hard case.

The Return of a Hollowbody Icon in the Historic Collection

The ES-330 is one of those models whose subtle evolutions tell the story of Gibson. Launched in 1959, it reached maturity in the early 60s, and the 1962 version became a benchmark for its more modern comfort and immediate musicality. Although it shares an obvious kinship with the Epiphone Casino, the ES-330 preceded it and retains its own personality: a thin, fully hollow electric guitar designed to vibrate freely.

After a break of several years, Gibson Custom reintroduces this 1962 ES-330 Reissue at the heart of the Historic Reissue range. The idea is not just to "make vintage again," but to recapture that rare sensation of a living instrument: light, resonant, inspiring, and capable of being just as enjoyable on a couch as in a band setting.

Who Is This ES-330 1962 Reissue For?

This ES-330 is aimed at guitarists seeking an expressive electric guitar with a true acoustic response under the fingers. The neck profiles and 60s-style ergonomics will particularly suit musicians used to slim necks or those who want a quick grip without a "blocky" feel.

It shines in styles where dynamics reign: Americana, blues, 60s pop, country, jazz, rock, and anything that requires switching from soft playing to more biting tones without losing definition. However, like any fully hollow guitar, it demands a minimum of mastery when pushing volume or gain: it's a guitar that rewards right-hand control, clean muting, and intelligent stage management.

An Open, Singing, and Ultra-Responsive Tone (P-90 + Hollow Body)

The sonic heart of this ES-330 is its fully hollow construction: a thin three-ply maple/poplar/maple body, without a center block. Where a semi-hollow with a center block smooths and stabilizes the response, here the guitar breathes more: notes have a very organic attack, the midrange is lively, and the instrument immediately reflects what you put into your playing. Unplugged, it offers a surprising presence, ideal for practicing or composing without necessarily turning on the amp.

The P-90 Dogear pickups provide that broad and straightforward grain we love: sharp highs without acidity, full midrange, and a bass that remains clear. The choice of magnets enhances balance: the bridge pickup (Alnico 3, standard winding) delivers articulation and bite for riffs, chording, and cutting leads, while the neck pickup (underwound, Alnico 5) maintains clarity, air, and beautiful definition on rich chords. The result: a palette ranging from woody clean to expressive crunch, with that "singing" sensation as soon as you work on attacks and silences.

The electronics are old-school but highly effective: one volume and one tone per pickup to precisely sculpt the blend, CTS potentiometers and Paper-in-Oil capacitors for smooth tone variations, and a 3-position toggle switch inviting quick changes during live play. Note: on stage, a hollowbody can feedback faster than a solidbody or semi-hollow at extreme volume; conversely, at moderate gain, the guitar becomes very controllable and incredibly expressive with good muting.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To fully exploit this ES-330, you can pair it with a high-quality 6.35 mm (1/4") instrument cable and a set of electric guitar strings suited to your touch (gauge of your choice). A stable guitar stand is also a good idea for a thin hollowbody to limit daily shocks. Since the Lifton hard case is included, transport protection is already perfectly ensured.

Technical specifications

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

Type	hollow body	Frets	Reissue Medium Jumbo
Shape	ES-335	Inlays	Small-block
Materials	maple / poplar / maple	Nut	nylon
Binding	single ply on top and back	Bridge	ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Finish	VOS nitrocellulose lacquer	Tailpiece	Trapeze
Material	mahogany	Tuners	Kluson Deluxe with white buttons
Profile	Authentic 1961 Thin D	Knobs	Black Top Hats with silver inserts and markers
Joint	long neck tenon	Pickup covers	Black Dogear
Scale length	24.75" / 628.7 mm	Neck pickup	P-90
Fingerboard	rosewood	Bridge pickup	P-90
Fingerboard binding	single ply	Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone
Radius	12" / 304.8 mm	Selector	3-position toggle