Upon its 1958 introduction, the revolutionary Gibson ES-335 became the first “semi-hollow body” electric, representing an entirely new category of electric guitar. Designed to retain some of the open liveliness of a full hollow, without generating runaway feedback, the 335 had a secret weapon up its sleeve. On the outside, the arched-top, F-hole body had the look of a traditional archtop. Inside, a solid maple block running down the center acts like the backbone of a solid-body electric, providing a stabilizing effect, abating feedback.

Made in extremely limited numbers, this semi-hollow beauty faithfully recreates the 1964 block-marker ES-335. Finished in one of Gibson’s most stunning custom colors and lightly aged by Murphy lab, this Sparkling Burgundy bombshell will even draw in jaded old-school collectors for a double-take.

Inspired by a late ’64 transitional model, retaining the 17-degree headstock pitch and wide 1.687” nut of pre-1965 models, and the trapeze tail piece found on later models. The 12” radius rosewood board is inlaid with Gibson’s cellulose small “block-markers” over a 1-piece mahogany neck with a comfortable medium “C” carve. The long-tenon laminated neck joint is affixed with vintage-style hide glue to enhance resonance transfer and reliable stability. All hardware features aged nickel plating, including the no-retainer ABR-1 bridge, “double ring” Kluson machines, and covers adorning the matched pair of “patent number era” Alnico 3 magnet Custom Buckers.

Available only while supplies last, this example (serial number 150766) weighs just 8.3lbs. and comes with a period-correct, yellow-lined black tolex custom shop hard-shell case and Certificate of Authenticity.