Gibson Electric ES-330 Sixties Cherry Original

An iconic ES, between vintage heritage and catalog revival

A close cousin of the Epiphone Casino, the ES-330 belongs to the great tradition of Gibson ES thin-body models, designed to offer the "hollow body" feel with the ergonomics of an electric guitar. Its classic aesthetic and fully hollow construction make it a reference for guitarists seeking an ES with a very lively character, a true sonic personality, and immediately familiar playability.

Who it's for, and the styles where the ES-330 excels

The Gibson ES-330 is especially aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists who want an expressive guitar sensitive to attack and playing volume. It shines in blues, vintage rock, pop, indie, soul, and jazz roots; it is also an excellent songwriting tool thanks to its natural projection and "couch guitar" comfort, ideal for working on ideas without necessarily turning on the amp.

The sound

Fully hollow and constructed with 3-ply maple/poplar/maple, the ES-330 delivers an open attack, a woody warmth, and a beautiful sense of air around the notes. The trapeze tailpiece enhances this "acoustic" response and very present resonance, with a more organic sustain than a semi-hollow with a center block. The two P-90 Dogear pickups provide the typical grain: detailed and snappy cleans, rich mids, then a raspy and aggressive saturation when pushing the amp. The hand-wired electronics with 500k potentiometers and Orange Drop capacitors maintain clarity and excellent smoothness on volume and tone controls.

Recommended compatible accessories

To get the most out of this hollowbody, you can opt for a set of electric guitar strings (gauge of your choice depending on your touch), a standard strap, and a quality 6.35 mm jack cable to preserve the dynamics of the P-90s. A set of picks in various thicknesses also helps explore the full range of attack and nuances of the instrument.

Technical specifications

Shape	ES-330	Inlay	Acrylic Small Block
Material	3-ply maple/poplar/maple	Bridge	ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic
Binding	single-ply cream, top, back, and fingerboard	Tailpiece	Trapeze
Neck	mahogany	Knobs	black Top Hat
Profile	rounded "C"	Tuners	Vintage Deluxe with white buttons
Nut width	43.053 mm / 1.69"	Plating	nickel
Fingerboard	Indian rosewood	Neck pickup	Dogear P-90
Scale length	24.75" / 628 mm	Bridge pickup	Dogear P-90
Number of frets	22	Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone; hand-wired with 500k potentiometers and Orange Drop capacitors
Nut	Graph Tech	Finish	Tobacco Sunburst