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Picture this: it’s the late ’50s, Elvis is shaking those hips, and the Gibson ES-335 is making its debut. Fast forward to today, and the Gibson Custom Shop has whipped up a time-traveling masterpiece—the 1958 ES-335 Reissue. It’s like Doc Brown met a rock ‘n’ roll legend and said, “Hey, let’s build a guitar that’ll make people’s socks roll up and down.”
The Anatomy of Cool
The 1958 ES-335 Reissue wears its vintage heart on its semi-hollow sleeve. The body is a three-ply maple/poplar/maple sandwich, just like they did it back in the day. And that maple center block? It’s the secret sauce that gives this guitar its sweet sustain and resonance. Imagine a maple pancake with a poplar filling—only way cooler.
Aging Like Fine Vinyl
Now, let’s talk about the aging. These guitars have been through the Gibson Murphy Lab, where relicing wizards work their magic. The result? A finish that screams, “I’ve seen things, man.” Some folks might say it’s like your grandpa’s favorite leather jacket—worn, weathered, and full of stories. Others might say it’s like a vintage vinyl record—scratches, grooves, and all the soul.
Neck Goals
The necks on these beauties are mahogany, with an Indian rosewood fretboard. Sure, the originals had Brazilian rosewood, but that’s rarer than a unicorn riding a rainbow. So, Gibson did the next best thing. The fretboard boasts 22 vintage narrow-tall frets, perfect for sliding into those bluesy bends. And the nitrocellulose dot inlays? They’re like little breadcrumbs leading you to rock ‘n’ roll nirvana.
Age Before Beauty
Now, let’s talk finishes. Tri-Burst, Dirty Blonde, and Faded Tobacco Burst—all with their own personality. The heavy-aged ones? They’ve got more wrinkles than a jazz saxophonist’s sheet music. But the lightly-aged Tr-Burst? It’s like a rockstar who moisturizes daily. And yes, there’s an upcharge for that extra character. Because, you know, vintage vibes don’t come cheap.
The Sonic Sorcery
Under the hood, you’ll find a pair of unpotted Custombucker humbuckers. These babies sing like they’ve got a backstage pass to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Wired up with CTS 500K Audio Taper potentiometers and Paper-in-Oil capacitors, they’re the secret sauce to your sonic stew. And the control layout? It’s the classic twin volume, tone, and three-way switch setup. Simple, like a power chord.
Hardware Heaven
Last but not least, the hardware. We’ve got a lightweight aluminum stop bar, an ABR-1 bridge (because bridges matter, man), and Kluson Single Line, Single Ring tuners. It’s like the guitar equivalent of a vintage muscle car—fast, sleek, and ready to hit the open road.
So, whether you’re jamming in your garage, gigging at the local dive, or just strumming by the campfire, the Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue: Murphy Lab Aged is your ticket to retro-rock bliss. Get ready to channel your inner Chuck Berry, because this guitar is more timeless than a jukebox playing “Johnny B. Goode.”
