1971 Gibson ES-330 TDW Vintage Hollowbody Electric Guitar Walnut, Embossed Covers & Case

Up for sale, a 1971 Gibson ES-330TDW in exceptional condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. A rare iteration of the ES-330 with a particularly uncommon Walnut gloss nitro lacquer finish and Gibson-embossed chrome P-90 covers, this model boasts the 19th fret neck joint only seen post-1967, allowing easier access to the higher registers of the fretboard than on earlier ES-330 iterations.Highlighting both the sonic immediacy 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 original clear bobbin P-90 pickups have a glassy sparkle and dynamic, cut with a rich, textured midrange character and plenty of bark when you dig in. And while the bridge pickup has a snappy growl and chewy aggression, the neck pickup is big and broad, retaining the percussive clarity necessary for complex chording. The guitar is featherweight at 6lbs. Professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar and strung with fresh 10-46 strings, this ES-330TDW is dialed in for low action and spot-on intonation.The three-piece mahogany neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut with appreciable depth and generous shoulder as you travel up the fretboard, measuring .825" deep at the 1st fret and .970" at the 12th. On the rosewood fretboard, the guitar boasts a professional refret with slender 6230-size fretwire. The frets have ample height and flawless crowns, playing cleanly in every register up the straight neck. The nut measures 1 9/16" in width, upgraded to a hand-carved piece of bone for optimal note clarity and sustain. The headstock retains the original Gibson Deluxe double line white button tuners which turn smoothly and hold pitch well.The electronics are completely stock, with untouched solder joints and original pots and tone caps. The pickups have clean transparent bobbins, with sparingly little patina on the chrome covers. The covers are also embossed with the Gibson name, a feature only seen from 1971-72 when production totals for the model were particularly low. Hardware includes the original ABR-1 bridge with patent number base, 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 original "Union Made" label is visible through the treble-side F hole.The Walnut gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, and a finish rarely seen on the ES-330 model. Cosmetic wear is limited to a few isolated spots of broad lacquer checking across the body, one area of wear through the nitro around the forward strap button, likely from a finish reaction with a strap, and a few light finish scratches central to the back, but shy of “buckle rash.” There is also light pick scuffing across the guard and extending beyond the knobs. The neck profile gloss is extremely clean, free of palm wear with only one very shallow nick of note on the treble side shoulder at the 5th fret.The original black tolex hardshell case with purple plush interior is included. The case is equally as clean as the guitar, with a Gibson silkscreen on the lid, functional latches and the original handle.