Hear It First
The Gibson ES-335 is not just a guitar. Its a piece of music history that happens to still be in production. BB King. Eric Clapton. Larry Carlton. Chuck Berry. The list of players who built their identity around this guitar is basically a hall of fame. The 60s Cherry finish on this Dot model is the classic ES-335 look and it is absolutely stunning.
At £2,639 this is a serious investment. But when you understand what you’re getting – a USA-made semi-hollow from the factory that invented the format – the price starts to make a lot of sense. This is what Gibson guitars are at their best.
Build Quality – Made in USA, Feels Like It
The moment you pick up a USA-made Gibson you feel the difference. The weight, the resonance through the body before you even plug in, the way the neck feels in your hand. This is a guitar built by people who have been doing this for decades in Kalamazoo and Nashville traditions.
The semi-hollow maple construction with center block gives you the best of both worlds – the warmth and resonance of a hollowbody with the feedback resistance of a solid body. Its a design Gibson invented in 1958 and it has never been bettered. The tonal properties of maple are perfectly suited to this format.
Specs
- Type: Semi-hollow, center block
- Body and top: Maple
- Neck: Mahogany, rounded C profile
- Fretboard: Rosewood, dot inlays, 22 frets
- Scale: 628mm
- Nut width: 42.8mm
- Pickups: 2x calibrated T-type humbuckers
- Bridge: ABR-1
- Tuners: Vintage style Keystone
- Hardware: Nickel
- Color: 60s Cherry
- Includes: Case
- Origin: Made in USA
- Price: £2,639
The Calibrated T-Type Humbuckers
Gibson updated the ES-335 with calibrated T-type pickups and they are excellent. Warm and full in the neck position, bright and articulate at the bridge, with a middle position that blends both beautifully. They respond dynamically to your playing – roll back the volume and they clean up immediately, dig in and they have real authority.
This is the sound of BB King’s „The Thrill is Gone”. Of Clapton’s „Crossroads”. Of Larry Carlton’s session work. Its not just a guitar tone, its the guitar tone for a generation of music.
Playability
The rounded C neck profile is one of Gibson’s most comfortable. Its not too fat, not too thin – it fills your hand in a way that feels natural after about five minutes. The 628mm scale and 42.8mm nut width are standard and unremarkable in the best way. Nothing fights you on this guitar.
The ABR-1 bridge is a vintage-correct choice that intonates cleanly and transfers vibration efficiently. The whole setup on the 60s Dot series is just right out of the box. Compared to the Gibson Les Paul Standard 60s, the ES-335 is noticeably lighter and more resonant acoustically. Different tools for different jobs.
Final Verdict
The Gibson ES-335 Dot 60s Cherry is one of the greatest electric guitars ever made, still being made properly, at a price that reflects its heritage and quality. If you are serious about your playing and you want an instrument that will be with you for life, this is a genuinely exceptional choice.
You can find cheaper alternatives – the Ibanez AG95QA is great for the money – but nothing else sounds quite like a real ES-335. Some guitars justify their price completely. This is one of them.
