barnoo Posted July 12 Share Posted July 12 Hi everyone I am a newcomer to this forum, and all forums actually, but I found my way here in the hope that someone can help me with identifying a ES-330T. I’ve owned the guitar for about ten years and I purchased it from a reputable dealer as a 1959 model. Being the trusting soul I am and knowing the dealer I bought it from to be a straight shooter and honest I have never checked the FON to verify this. But today, as I was restringing it I decided to check things out. I’ve got some pics attached as well which may be useful if someone will take the time to give this some thought. The FON that I can see appears to be of the format G1018 XX (that is a gap after the . See the attached pic. Looks like a “G”, but could maybe be a “6”? This serial is stamped in black ink pretty much under the pots. On the bass side (see pic) is stamped ES330T. My research tells me that a 1959 330 has “S” as the prefix, 1960 with “R” and 1961 with “Q”. Not “G”. I have checked the pots but the only one I can get a clear look at with my mirror is the volume pot which has been soldered at some point and I can’t see the values, and the other pot I can’t see. I could pull it out I suppose, but that begins to get tedious. I have also taken a shot of the tags that were with the guitar when I bought it including what appears to be a price tag with faded writing and it looks like a $235 price. Can anyone enlighten me here as what year this guitar may be? I’ve got to say that it ticks the boxes for this vintage era, is old obviously with lacquer checking etc, but the serial has me scratching my head. And if its not a 1959, what could it be? Thank you very much to anyone who takes the time out to consider this. I apologise for the pics. Hard to photograph these serials and the size limit makes clear pics hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10PoundLester Posted July 13 Share Posted July 13 You might contact Gibson directly and see what they have to say about it. Sure is beautiful. I can only imagine how great the tone is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JO'C Posted July 13 Share Posted July 13 Hi Barnoo, Looks like a 6 not a G to me. That would line up with 1962. I have a '69 ES-335 and the serial# could have been 1966 or 1969. I had the same issue with solder and oxidation covering the date code on the pots. I ended up pulling a pot and got a late 1968 date code, thus eliminating the 1966 possibility. Pulling a pot isn't too hard. Just tie a piece of thread to the shaft before removing the nut that holds it in place. Then you can snake it over to the f-hole to get a look at the back. I had to use a toothbrush to clean off the oxidation so I could read the code. After you are done you can pull the thread to get the pot back into the hole it belongs in. The trapeze tailpiece looks exactly like the one on my '69. Not sure if the same ones were used as far back as '59. I can't see it in your picture but the Gibson headstock font may also yield some clues about date. Good luck in your quest. JO'C Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnoo Posted July 13 Author Share Posted July 13 Thank you very much for the replies. I didn’t know that Gibson could assist with these types of inquiries and I have emailed them just now. I hope that they can throw some light on this. The “G” could be a six but where the loop to form a six on the bottom of the number would normally close it stops like a “G” and it looks like it has the little ‘lug’ on the loop like a “G”, and also at the top. If that makes sense? Its hard to get a clear pic of this. But I couldn’t discount that it’s a “6”. The tailpiece is a replacement that I put on it a few years ago and I will have a look for the old one which I think is in its original dilapidated case in the shed. And, yes, if I get energetic, I might drop the pots out of it. I generally don’t like mucking around with hollow body electrics but have done plenty so if I can’t get a clearer idea of the year, I will do that. I’m not that fussed about what year it is, I’d just like to nail it down. I bought back in the day when these guitars didn’t attract much attention. I just love the instrument and its in brilliant condition. I don’t play it as much as I should really but cherish it nonetheless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted July 14 Share Posted July 14 20 hours ago, barnoo said: Thank you very much for the replies. I didn’t know that Gibson could assist with these types of inquiries and I have emailed them just now. I hope that they can throw some light on this. The “G” could be a six but where the loop to form a six on the bottom of the number would normally close it stops like a “G” and it looks like it has the little ‘lug’ on the loop like a “G”, and also at the top. If that makes sense? Its hard to get a clear pic of this. But I couldn’t discount that it’s a “6”. The tailpiece is a replacement that I put on it a few years ago and I will have a look for the old one which I think is in its original dilapidated case in the shed. And, yes, if I get energetic, I might drop the pots out of it. I generally don’t like mucking around with hollow body electrics but have done plenty so if I can’t get a clearer idea of the year, I will do that. I’m not that fussed about what year it is, I’d just like to nail it down. I bought back in the day when these guitars didn’t attract much attention. I just love the instrument and its in brilliant condition. I don’t play it as much as I should really but cherish it nonetheless. I have no personal experience of this but the general advice on here is to phone Gibson. E-mail may not be the best way. If you do get a reply though, let us know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimR56 Posted July 19 Share Posted July 19 No need to contact Gibson. Look at the features of the guitar. Dot neck (pre-(mid)1962); black pickup cover (pre-(mid)1962); gold bonnet control knobs with no reflector caps (pre-1961). To me, this one is easy. That first character is an "S" (it must have smudged when it was stamped). The guitar dates to 1959. Gibson made 349 of the ES-330T model in 1959, which was the highest production number for any of the 330 variants (TD, TDN, TN, etc) that year. Production of the 330T doubled in 1960, then decreased from 1961-1963. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnoo Posted July 19 Author Share Posted July 19 Thank you for those indicators of year. I am in no way that knowledgeable so this is excellent. And yes, it probably is an "S" now I look with different eyes. I never heard back from Gibson so that didn't work making this info invaluable. Thanks again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barnoo Posted July 25 Author Share Posted July 25 For those interested, having already contacted the ball was already rolling. They have very kindly replied asking me for some more details that I have provided. I will post back here when they get back to me which I expect they will in the next few weeks or thereabouts. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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