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Gibson 335-S Guitar
Solid body Gibson electric guitar


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PART 1 Description | PART 2 Catalogue appearances | PART 3 Part list

  Gibson 335-S Deluxe Gibson 335-S Custom Gibson 335-S Standard
Model Gibson 335-S Deluxe Gibson 335-S Custom Gibson 335-S Standard
Available 1980-1982 1980-1981 1980-1981
Pickups 2 x "Dirty Fingers". Two volume and tone controls, pickup selector switch. Coil tap switch. 2 x "Dirty Fingers". Two volume and tone controls, pickup selector switch. Coil tap switch. 2 x humbuckers. Two volume and tone controls, pickup selector switch.
Scale 24 3/4"
Body Solid mahogany. Length 17 1/8", width 13 7/8", thickness 1 1/2". Solid maple. Length 17 1/8", width 13 7/8", thickness 1 1/2".
Neck Three piece mahogany. Width at nut 1 11/16". Bound ebony fingerboard with dot inlays. 22 frets. Brass nut. Pearl inlaid headstock logo. Three piece mahogany. Width at nut 1 11/16". Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays. 22 frets. Three piece maple. Width at nut 1 11/16". Rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays. 22 frets.
Hardware Chrome plated throughout. TP-6 tailpiece. Chrome plated throughout. TP-6 tailpiece. Chrome plated throughout.
Finishes Tobacco sunburst, Silverburst, Cherry. Natural mahogany. Autumn maple.

ProfessionalCustomno entry
Standardno entry
Deluxe335-S Deluxe
FirebrandCustom335-S Custom
Standard335-S Standard
Deluxeno entry
SonexCustomno entry
Standardno entry
Deluxeno entry
Gibson 335-S - A Shape You
Gibson 335-S - A Shape You've Seen. The Sound You're Looking For.
Meet the Gibson 335-S. You've seen the same good looking shape on Gibson thin line electrics. ...
The 335-S was Gibsons solid-body version of the semi-acoustic ES-335TD. Although it was approximately the same shape, it was actually smaller and thinner, though the same scale and with the same controls as a 1980 ES-335TD.

Around this time, Gibson were planning big changes with regard dealer authorisation. Models were to be placed in a 'series'; either Professional, Firebrand, or Sonex [Not to be confused with the older models of the same name]. There had long been a waiting list to become a Gibson dealer, and the Sonex series was to be a separately authorsied line, (and branded as Gibson Guitar Co. rather than just Gibson) presumably to allow more dealers. Each series followed the good (Deluxe), better (Standard), best (Custom) concept. So theoretically any instrument could have nine versions. This system was never fully adapted, but it does explain why, in the case of the 335-S, the Custom (traditionally the top of the range) is a lesser instrument to the Deluxe, and why many 335-S have the word PROFESSIONAL on the truss rod covers.


On its launch in mid-1980 it was described as follows:

Gibsons new 335-S Series combines a familiar shape with the playability and sustain of other legendary Gibson solid bodies. Shaped much like a diminutive ES-335, these double cutaway instruments allow players added sustain capabilities due to increased body mass and density.

Individually, the 335-S Standards contoured maple body features two high output Gibson Humbucking exposed coil pickups with one cream and one black coil. A rosewood finger-board is mounted to a three-piece maple neck. Gibsons new Autumn maple finish, available only on this model, exudes an earthiness that separates it from all other guitar finishes.

The Custom version of the 335-S utilizes the unmatched power of Gibsons "Dirty Fingers" pickups with a coil tap switch mounted in a sculptured mahogany body. The three-piece mahogany neck features a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays and corresponding side dots. Gibsons incredible TP-6 tailpiece insures fine-tuning capabilties with fingertip ease. An outstanding Natural Mahogany finish tops this high energy instrument.

The 335-S Deluxe is offered in Tobacco Sunburst, Cherry or Silverburst finish on a mahogany body with a neck that features a bound ebony fingerboard. Pearl inlayed Gibson peghead, "Dirty Fingers" pickups with coil tap, TP-6 tailpiece, the new-ultra safe Gibson "Posi-Lok" strap button, and polished brass fingerboard nut for added sustain.

Launch prices were $499 (Standard), $599 (Custom) and $699 (Deluxe). Perhaps a Professional series 335-S Standard or Custom would have been manufactured, had the instrument been more sucessful. The Standard had disappeared from price lists by April 1981, and the Custom by June 1982. No 335-S models were shown in the January '83 price lists.

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