1972 Gibson ES-355 TDW Rare Mono version, No Varitone, Chrome Hardware, Factory Bigsby. Walnut
Description
No sales tax for US customers outside California.
We have a rare piece for you!
This is a 1972 Gibson ES-355 TDW in Walnut finish — mono wired, no Varitone — and it is all original in excellent condition with the factory Bigsby and original hardshell case.
The ES-355 had long lived in the shadow of the ES-335 on the vintage market, which is one of those collector ironies that works in a buyer's favor. The 355 is the top of the 300 series, and the mono version without the Varitone is essentially a 335 with every upgrade Gibson offered: ebony fingerboard with large pearl block inlays, multi-ply body binding, split diamond headstock inlay, and bound f-holes.
The wiring is straightforward and clean — two humbuckers into a standard volume and tone setup, no rotary switch pulling frequencies out of the signal. Many players who owned the stereo Varitone version eventually disconnected it for exactly this reason. This guitar never had it to begin with, which means the signal path has always been pure. The varitone system also added a good deal of weight to a guitar, often pushing a 355 around 10 pounds. This one weighs 8 pounds, 10 ounces. The mono configuration is far more useful than stereo, which requires use of a Y cable to get the guitar to operate as ew all want - like a normal guitar!
The three-piece mahogany neck has a comfortable medium profile — .844" at the first fret, .995" at the twelfth — and the nut width is 1-9/16", which is the transitional narrower width Gibson was using in this period. It's a fast, playable neck. Action is set at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the twelfth fret - an incredible setup that plays perfectly. There is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments, and the original frets are in excellent condition.
The pickups read 7.48K at the bridge and 7.41K at the neck — well-matched, well within the range that makes these T-top-era humbuckers so appealing to players who want a slightly brighter, more articulate voice than the late-50s PAFs. Hardware is chrome throughout rather than gold, which gives this example a cleaner, less ostentatious look that actually suits the Walnut finish beautifully.
The original pickguard, a celluloid tortoise guard, disintegrated as they do. The remnants are included in a bag in the case. The chrome pickup covers became tarnished as the guard offgassed inside the case. We spent a good amount of time removing the resulting corrosion, and pitting remains on the covers.
Everything else on this guitar is original and intact: pickups, tuners, knobs, pots, switch, bridge, Bigsby. The Walnut finish has aged gracefully with signs of play and some dings here and there. The guitar has the quintessential vintage look.
The original hardshell case is included and in good shape. For a player who wants a legitimate all-original early 70s 355 they can actually play every day, or a collector building toward a clean example of a model that serious buyers are paying increasing attention to as the pre-CBS and early-60s examples price further out of reach, this is a well-priced opportunity.
Excerpts from Real Online User Reviews:
"The mono 355 is everything great about a 335 with appointments that make it feel like a completely different instrument." — The Gear Page
"Walnut finish on a 355 is criminally underappreciated — the grain just glows under stage lights." — Gibson Talk
"T-top humbuckers in a 72 355 have a clarity and articulation that makes them seriously addictive for lead playing." — Harmony Central
"Once you play a mono 355 with no Varitone you wonder why anyone ever wanted the switch in the first place." — Reddit r/vintageguitars
SPECS:
Color: Walnut
Weight: 8lbs 10.5oz
Top: Maple
Body: Maple
Neck: 3-piece mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlays: Mother of Pearl Block
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 22
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-9/16"
Radius: 12"
Scale: 24.75"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .844"
Neck thickness at 12th Fret: .995"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall Length: 41-1/2"
Lower bout: 16-1/8"
Waist: 9-1/4"
Upper bout: 11-1/2"
Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-3/4"
String gauge: 10-46
Hardware Color: Chrome, Nickel
Pickguard: Broken, but included
Bridge Pickup/Brand: Gibson Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.48K
Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup/Brand: Gibson Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.41K
Original?: Yes
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with factory Bigsby
Tuners: Gibson logo Rotomatic style
Knobs: Original
Switch: 3 Way
Pots/Codes: Original
Case: OHSC
Notes:
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.
We have a rare piece for you!
This is a 1972 Gibson ES-355 TDW in Walnut finish — mono wired, no Varitone — and it is all original in excellent condition with the factory Bigsby and original hardshell case.
The ES-355 had long lived in the shadow of the ES-335 on the vintage market, which is one of those collector ironies that works in a buyer's favor. The 355 is the top of the 300 series, and the mono version without the Varitone is essentially a 335 with every upgrade Gibson offered: ebony fingerboard with large pearl block inlays, multi-ply body binding, split diamond headstock inlay, and bound f-holes.
The wiring is straightforward and clean — two humbuckers into a standard volume and tone setup, no rotary switch pulling frequencies out of the signal. Many players who owned the stereo Varitone version eventually disconnected it for exactly this reason. This guitar never had it to begin with, which means the signal path has always been pure. The varitone system also added a good deal of weight to a guitar, often pushing a 355 around 10 pounds. This one weighs 8 pounds, 10 ounces. The mono configuration is far more useful than stereo, which requires use of a Y cable to get the guitar to operate as ew all want - like a normal guitar!
The three-piece mahogany neck has a comfortable medium profile — .844" at the first fret, .995" at the twelfth — and the nut width is 1-9/16", which is the transitional narrower width Gibson was using in this period. It's a fast, playable neck. Action is set at 2/32" on both the first and sixth strings at the twelfth fret - an incredible setup that plays perfectly. There is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments, and the original frets are in excellent condition.
The pickups read 7.48K at the bridge and 7.41K at the neck — well-matched, well within the range that makes these T-top-era humbuckers so appealing to players who want a slightly brighter, more articulate voice than the late-50s PAFs. Hardware is chrome throughout rather than gold, which gives this example a cleaner, less ostentatious look that actually suits the Walnut finish beautifully.
The original pickguard, a celluloid tortoise guard, disintegrated as they do. The remnants are included in a bag in the case. The chrome pickup covers became tarnished as the guard offgassed inside the case. We spent a good amount of time removing the resulting corrosion, and pitting remains on the covers.
Everything else on this guitar is original and intact: pickups, tuners, knobs, pots, switch, bridge, Bigsby. The Walnut finish has aged gracefully with signs of play and some dings here and there. The guitar has the quintessential vintage look.
The original hardshell case is included and in good shape. For a player who wants a legitimate all-original early 70s 355 they can actually play every day, or a collector building toward a clean example of a model that serious buyers are paying increasing attention to as the pre-CBS and early-60s examples price further out of reach, this is a well-priced opportunity.
Excerpts from Real Online User Reviews:
"The mono 355 is everything great about a 335 with appointments that make it feel like a completely different instrument." — The Gear Page
"Walnut finish on a 355 is criminally underappreciated — the grain just glows under stage lights." — Gibson Talk
"T-top humbuckers in a 72 355 have a clarity and articulation that makes them seriously addictive for lead playing." — Harmony Central
"Once you play a mono 355 with no Varitone you wonder why anyone ever wanted the switch in the first place." — Reddit r/vintageguitars
SPECS:
Color: Walnut
Weight: 8lbs 10.5oz
Top: Maple
Body: Maple
Neck: 3-piece mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony
Inlays: Mother of Pearl Block
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 22
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-9/16"
Radius: 12"
Scale: 24.75"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .844"
Neck thickness at 12th Fret: .995"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall Length: 41-1/2"
Lower bout: 16-1/8"
Waist: 9-1/4"
Upper bout: 11-1/2"
Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1-3/4"
String gauge: 10-46
Hardware Color: Chrome, Nickel
Pickguard: Broken, but included
Bridge Pickup/Brand: Gibson Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.48K
Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup/Brand: Gibson Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.41K
Original?: Yes
Bridge: Tune-O-Matic with factory Bigsby
Tuners: Gibson logo Rotomatic style
Knobs: Original
Switch: 3 Way
Pots/Codes: Original
Case: OHSC
Notes:
Shipping policy:
There are multiple shipping cost options for purchases made on our site. Select Ground, 3 Day, 2 Day, or Next Day Air Saver. For Reverb purchases, there is one cost option for Eastern states - customers from any state that is more than a 3 day UPS ground shipment from our shop will get their shipment via UPS 3 day air. Otherwise, ground shipping will be used. Shipments will require signature on delivery, no exceptions. If there is damage, the buyer must retain all packing materials intact and picture them immediately and send them to . Less than 1% of our shipments are damaged in transit, and we are committed to making sure your item arrives safely, but we are taking these additional measures to make sure you are happy with your purchase.