2001 Epiphone Japan '63 ES-335 Dot Vintage Sunburst Pre-Elitist w/ Case & Tag, Terada

Up for sale, a 2001 Epiphone '63 ES-335 in showroom-clean, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and hangtags. Produced at the Terada factory in Japan, this rare pre-Elitist ES-335 was produced in particularly small quantities, notable for its "open book" Gibson-style headstock shape, a feature that wouldn't carry over to subsequent Elitist models. Rare outside its country of origin, this '63 ES-335 features exceptional craftsmanship, easily competing with its USA-made counterparts and not to be confused with lesser Epiphone ES iterations.With the crisp attack of maple and the sweet, airy qualities of the semi-hollow body, the tonal range and detail of this guitar is exceptional, and the original PAF-style pickups cover a broad sonic spectrum. Each position on the three-way toggle has a distinct, vital tone, with ample warmth, richness and growl on tap. This ES-335 weighs 8lbs 6oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 11-49 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.The one-piece mahogany neck has a medium C-shaped profile carve with good shoulders and ideal heft in every register, measuring .835” deep at the 1st fret and .900” at the 12th. The bound rosewood fretboard is a dark cut with pearloid block inlay, and the fretwire is practically perfect, with well-rounded crowns. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4“ scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod, and the bone nut measures 1 11/16” in width. The headstock sports an Epiphone logo and crown inlay, with a “Gibson” truss rod cover, and the Kluson-style tuning machines have greened keystone buttons.The electronics all function as intended, and the nickel-plated hardware is positively gleaming, including the pickup covers, ABR-1 bridge and corresponding stopbar. The individual pairs of Volume and Tone controls are topped with gold reflector cap knobs, and the amber switch tip and raised four-ply black pickguard round out the plastics. There's barely a mark on the Vintage Sunburst gloss body finish, and the smooth gloss on the neck profile is similarly immaculate.The original hardshell case is included, along with the factory paperwork.