1972 Gibson ES-335 TDC Vintage Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar Cherry w/ Pat # T Tops & Case

Up for sale, a 1972 Gibson ES-335 TDC in perfect working order, retaining the original pair of patent stickered T Top humbuckers. An honestly played example with a vibrant original Cherry nitro lacquer finish and stoptail conversion, this Gibson delivers the goods, with the big barking acoustic voice of a guitar that’s been played consistently for decades, balancing the immediacy and snap of maple with the open, airy quality of the semi-hollow construction.The T Top pickups are a perfect compliment to the 335s construction and tonewoods, with a bridge pickup that is clear, defined, and plenty warm, offering a surprising amount of chime. With both pickups engaged, it's easy to dial in an ideal rhythm tone that has ideal percussive cut and roundness, and with the neck pickup singled out, things fatten up nicely, yet stay clear. The guitar weighs 7lbs 10oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action and accurate intonation.The mahogany neck has an extremely slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut, with notable heft and roundness in the higher registers, filling out to a baseball bat-worthy shape from the 9th fret and beyond, measuring .760" deep at the 1st fret and .970" at the 12th. The bound rosewood fretboard features pearl small block inlay and a professional refret with medium jumbo fretwire, leveled and crowned in the guitar’s lifetime, and currently in “fretless wonder” territory in the lower registers, showing moderate wear beneath the plain strings on frets 3-11. The guitar plays well in every register with a straight neck and optimally adjusted truss rod. The nut width is 1 9/16"; the more slender width used by Gibson from '65 through the 1970s on most ES models. On the headstock, the guitar features a set of modern chrome Grover Rotomatic tuning machines that offer a very smooth and reliable response.The headstock does exhibit a professional and invisible repair, smooth to the touch with opaque nitro lacquer overspray across the volute. The "Made in USA" stamp and a partial serial number is still faintly visible on the back of the headstock.All of the electronics work as they should, with original T Top humbuckers and individual Volume and Tone controls for each pickup. The humbuckers both have their patent stickers on the baseplates. The wiring harness features original pots and tone caps, and visible through the bass side F hole, the original Norlin-era "Union Made" label is intact. The guitar has been converted from the original trapeze tailpiece to the more widely desirable stoptail configuration, complete with the original patent number ABR-1 bridge and a similar vintage chrome stopbar. Plastics include the original pickguard and pickup rings, with a modern quartet of witch hat knobs.The gloss Cherry nitro lacquer finish exhibits heavy “shattered glass” lacquer checking across the entire body, and the body binding is deeply ambered. There are light impact marks around the input jack (completely stable), and a finish reaction and pick wear through the clear coat on the treble-side body cutaway. Further wear includes buckle rash central to the back, and some nicks and scuffs consistent with honest use. The neck profile is quite smooth, with palm wear through the gloss on much of the profile carve.A vintage Gibson-branded hardshell case with red plush interior is included. There is some separation on the lid at the headstock end, and the case is structurally sound with the original latches and handle.