Up for sale, a 1995 Gibson ES-335 Dot “Long Guard” in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and hangtags. Produced in an increasingly celebrated period of Gibson production colloquially known as the “good wood” era, this ES-335 Dot is a unique offering, ostensibly special-ordered for Gibson’s Japanese distributor, Yamano, with a 1959-spec “Long Guard,” while also offering a fast-feeling ‘60s-style neck carve. Gibson’s USA-made guitars distributed via Yamano are also often considered to be among their best, featuring the highest quality woods picked for Gibson’s discerning Japanese audience.

Tonewoods include maple body construction (maple centerblock), a one-piece mahogany neck, and bound rosewood fingerboard, delivering plenty of clear treble cut and smooth bass register breadth. The ‘57 Classic humbuckers are wound in the vein of the original PAF with Alnico II magnet construction, delivering warm, spongy lows, clear trebles, and a tailored midrange, with more focused growl at the bridge and smooth, mellow breadth at the neck, ideal for everything from complex jazz chord voicings to overdriven crunch. This ES-335 Dot weighs 8lbs 12oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany
-Shape: Slender ‘60s-style C, measuring .810” 1st fret, .890” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, faint wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-8
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”
-Tuners: Grover Rotomatics
-Serialization: Eight-digit stamp dates to ‘95

Body Specs:

-Wood: Curly flame maple (maple centerblock)
-Pickups: ‘57 Classic PAF humbucker x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: ABR-1 bridge, stopbar (nickel-plated)
-Plastics: Five-ply “Long Guard” pickguard, black bonnet knobs
-Label: Bass-side F hole, serialized

The gloss Cherry nitro lacquer finish highlights subtle curly flame figuring in the maple, most prominent on the back, with light buckle rash central to the waist and some faint marks on the body consistent with careful use. The nitro gloss on the neck profile is flawless save for one small area of palm wear through the color coat at the 4th fret on the bass-side shoulder.

The original brown tolex Gibson USA hardshell case is included, along with the Gibson/Yamano hangtags. Pre-Pack checklist serial differs from the number stamped on the guitar.