The
ES-335 was designed by Gibson in 1957 with the idea of creating a guitar close
as possible to the sound of a solid body and not having the weight characteristics.
The series were termed as semi-solid guitars due to the solid center block of
maple which was placed on the inside of the guitar as an extension of the neck.
The pickups were mounted on this block increasing sustain capabilities as well
as giving the guitar a degree of an acoustic sound,as the result of the two
"f" holes on the body. The first model appeared in 1958 and designated
as the ES-335T together with a bass guitar version the EB2. The body was entirely
made of maple and the neck of a single piece of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard.
In 1958 they were available in two finishes "Sunburst" designated
as ES-335T and "Natural" as ES-335TN. In 1960 the guitar was offered
in the "cherry red" color as the ES-335 TDC .Through the years this
instrument was introduced in different models namely the ES-355, ES-345, ES-340,
ES-330, ES-325, and ES-320.