1981 Gibson ES-335 Sunburst
Description
No sales tax for US customers outside California.
This beauty was built in the first year of Gibson's ES-335 Dot Reissue — built in Kalamazoo before the Nashville transition, fitted with Tim Shaw humbuckers, and wearing a sunburst finish with its original case.
Gibson launched the Dot Reissue in mid-1981 as a deliberate course correction after years of Norlin-era quality decline, and this first-year example represents the version the community consistently values most: Kalamazoo production, based on 1960 specs, with the Tim Shaw pickups that Gibson specifically commissioned to recreate the sound of original PAF humbuckers. The early 1980s Dot Reissues are widely regarded as the best ES-335s Gibson made between the golden era and the Memphis custom era — and the 1981 Kalamazoo examples are the rarest of the run.
This example is all original. The Tim Shaw pickups are confirmed present and unmodified. The bridge is the original ABR-1. The tuners, pots, and pickguard are all original. The frets are in excellent shape. The neck is perfect. There are a few dings here and there, see the pics, but the guitar is really crisp and clean with a beautiful sunburst finish. There is no factory second stamp on the headstock — a meaningful number of these early Dot Reissues were stamped as seconds for minor cosmetic blemishes or to offer a discount to dealers, and a clean headstock on a 1981 example in excellent condition is the configuration serious buyers look for. The original hardshell case is included.
Excerpts from real online user forums and reviews
"The early 1980s Dot Reissue ES-335s have been your best bet for vintage accuracy and quality out of Gibson — highly sought after." — My Les Paul Forum
"First year of reissue of the legendary dot-neck 335. Kalamazoo production, incredible neck profile, very resonant and responsive acoustically, and has the original and very desirable Tim Shaw PAFs installed." — Reverb.com verified listing
"Nice and chunky neck — somewhere between a modern 60s and 50s style. Perfect weight and very well balanced. The original ink-stamped Shaw pickups sound fantastic and really help this guitar come to life." — My Les Paul Forum
"In mid-1981, the big shots at Gibson had an idea: why don't we go back to making decent guitars instead of putting out the crap we've been subjecting the world to since the early 70s. Hence, the ES-335 Dot Reissue was born." — es-335.com
"Models with Tim Shaw pickups are valued higher." — JazzGuitar.be ES-335 Guide
A first-year, Kalamazoo-built 1981 ES-335 Dot Reissue with Tim Shaw humbuckers and its original case — the rarest and most desirable configuration of the early Dot Reissue run. Ships fully insured.
We buy, sell, and take trades.
Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
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SPECS:
Color: Sunburst
Weight: 8lbs 5.5oz
Top: Maple
Body: Maple
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Slim C
Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Dot
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 22
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-11/16"
Radius: 12"
Scale: 24.75"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .83"
Neck thickness at 12th Fret: 1.01"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall length: 41 3/8"
Lower bout: 16"
Waist: 9 1/4"
Upper bout: 11 1/4"
Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 3/4"
String gauge: .010-.046"
Hardware Color: Nickel, Chrome
Pickguard: Original
Bridge Pickup/Brand: "Tim Shaw" era Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.08k
Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup/Brand: "Tim Shaw" era Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.06k
Original?: Yes
Bridge: Non Original
Tuners: Original Grover
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.
This beauty was built in the first year of Gibson's ES-335 Dot Reissue — built in Kalamazoo before the Nashville transition, fitted with Tim Shaw humbuckers, and wearing a sunburst finish with its original case.
Gibson launched the Dot Reissue in mid-1981 as a deliberate course correction after years of Norlin-era quality decline, and this first-year example represents the version the community consistently values most: Kalamazoo production, based on 1960 specs, with the Tim Shaw pickups that Gibson specifically commissioned to recreate the sound of original PAF humbuckers. The early 1980s Dot Reissues are widely regarded as the best ES-335s Gibson made between the golden era and the Memphis custom era — and the 1981 Kalamazoo examples are the rarest of the run.
This example is all original. The Tim Shaw pickups are confirmed present and unmodified. The bridge is the original ABR-1. The tuners, pots, and pickguard are all original. The frets are in excellent shape. The neck is perfect. There are a few dings here and there, see the pics, but the guitar is really crisp and clean with a beautiful sunburst finish. There is no factory second stamp on the headstock — a meaningful number of these early Dot Reissues were stamped as seconds for minor cosmetic blemishes or to offer a discount to dealers, and a clean headstock on a 1981 example in excellent condition is the configuration serious buyers look for. The original hardshell case is included.
Excerpts from real online user forums and reviews
"The early 1980s Dot Reissue ES-335s have been your best bet for vintage accuracy and quality out of Gibson — highly sought after." — My Les Paul Forum
"First year of reissue of the legendary dot-neck 335. Kalamazoo production, incredible neck profile, very resonant and responsive acoustically, and has the original and very desirable Tim Shaw PAFs installed." — Reverb.com verified listing
"Nice and chunky neck — somewhere between a modern 60s and 50s style. Perfect weight and very well balanced. The original ink-stamped Shaw pickups sound fantastic and really help this guitar come to life." — My Les Paul Forum
"In mid-1981, the big shots at Gibson had an idea: why don't we go back to making decent guitars instead of putting out the crap we've been subjecting the world to since the early 70s. Hence, the ES-335 Dot Reissue was born." — es-335.com
"Models with Tim Shaw pickups are valued higher." — JazzGuitar.be ES-335 Guide
A first-year, Kalamazoo-built 1981 ES-335 Dot Reissue with Tim Shaw humbuckers and its original case — the rarest and most desirable configuration of the early Dot Reissue run. Ships fully insured.
We buy, sell, and take trades.
Be sure to check out the other cool guitar related stuff on our site
Fender electric guitars - vintage & used
Gibson electric guitars - vintage & used
The largest vintage & used guitar amplifier selection in Northern California
Vintage & Used Effects Pedals
SPECS:
Color: Sunburst
Weight: 8lbs 5.5oz
Top: Maple
Body: Maple
Neck: Mahogany
Neck Profile: Slim C
Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Dot
Frets: Original
Fret Count: 22
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-11/16"
Radius: 12"
Scale: 24.75"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .83"
Neck thickness at 12th Fret: 1.01"
Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
Overall length: 41 3/8"
Lower bout: 16"
Waist: 9 1/4"
Upper bout: 11 1/4"
Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 3/4"
String gauge: .010-.046"
Hardware Color: Nickel, Chrome
Pickguard: Original
Bridge Pickup/Brand: "Tim Shaw" era Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.08k
Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup/Brand: "Tim Shaw" era Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.06k
Original?: Yes
Bridge: Non Original
Tuners: Original Grover
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.