2015 Gibson ES-335 TD '59 Reissue Memphis Custom Shop - Sunburst
Description
No sales tax for US customers outside California.
A 2015 Gibson ES-335 TD '59 Reissue from the Memphis factory — one of the most respected years of Memphis ES production, built under plant manager Mike Volts who oversaw the period widely regarded as Memphis at its best. The '59 spec means the full Mickey Mouse ear body profile, long-tenon neck joint, big 1959 neck carve, MHS humbuckers, and VOS nitrocellulose lacquer — not a standard production 335 but the proper reissue treatment. Players who've spent time with these consistently note how close they come to the real thing in feel and response.
Condition
Guitar is in near-mint condition and plays incredibly well. It set up perfectly with little effort, and there is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments. The frets show the faintest wear. There are no repairs, changes, or issues whatsoever.
The Lifton style original case is included and is also in beautiful shape and it contains the original COA and other goodies.
A Bit of History
Gibson introduced the ES-335 in 1958 — the world's first commercial semi-hollow electric guitar. The design, attributed to engineer Ted McCarty, solved the feedback problems of fully hollow archtops by running a solid maple center block through the middle of the body while retaining the hollow wings that gave the guitar its acoustic warmth and tonal complexity. The result was an instrument that could handle higher volumes and heavier playing than an ES-175 or ES-330, while retaining a characteristic openness and resonance that a solidbody Les Paul or SG couldn't match. From 1958 through early 1960, the original dot-neck ES-335s were built with what collectors call "Mickey Mouse ears" — the distinctive rounded upper horn profile that was later replaced by a more pointed cutaway shape. Those original dot-necks, with their large neck profiles and long tenon joints, are among the most collectible post-war American guitars, with good examples commanding $30,000–$50,000 and above. B.B. King played an ES-335 for most of his career and named it Lucille. Chuck Berry's duck-walk shuffle was built around one. Eric Clapton used an ES-335 on the Bluesbreakers "Beano" album. Alvin Lee played the most recognizable 335 solo in history at Woodstock. Larry Carlton, Freddie King, Dave Grohl, and Warren Haynes have all made the 335 central to their identity. The Memphis plant, which handled all ES-series production from 2000 until its closure and consolidation into Nashville in 2019, operated under factory manager Mike Volts from around 2011 onward — a period the ES-335 community consistently identifies as the peak of Memphis reissue quality. The 2015 '59 reissue examples are particularly well-regarded: correctly proportioned Mickey Mouse ears, proper long-tenon joints, full '59 neck carves, MHS pickups, and VOS nitro all in the same instrument. Players on My Les Paul Forum have noted being asked whether their 2015 Memphis VOS is a vintage guitar — which is about the highest compliment a reissue can receive.
Excerpts from real online user forums and reviews
"I believe Memphis was considered an extension of the Custom Shop. They made a few clunkers, but they made some really nice ones too. The 2015–16's were highly regarded. I have people question if my ES-330 VOS is a vintage guitar." — My Les Paul Forum
"After playing multiple examples in stores, I prefer the Memphis reissues over any of the recent Nashville custom 335's — tonally and feel-wise." — My Les Paul Forum
"A great ES-335 should cover everything from funk to heavy rock and all points in between. The slightly hollow and nasal midrange that characterises vintage Gibsons is here in spades." — Guitar.com
"The '59 takes it for me — it's just a bit more precious in its build. The neck profile on the reissue is even like the '50s, a shape I love." — My Les Paul Forum
"Mine is light and very resonant when played unplugged. It sounds great and the workmanship is flawless — it still had the protective sticker on the pickguard when I got it used." — JazzGuitar.be Forum
A 2015 Memphis '59 Reissue ES-335 from the peak of that factory's output — correct body profile, long tenon, full neck carve, MHS pickups, VOS nitro. Ships fully insured.
SPECS:
Color: Sunburst
Weight: 7lbs 12oz
Top: Maple
Body: Laminated maple, full '59-spec "Mickey Mouse ear" upper bout profile — correctly proportioned per the original 1958–1960 body shape
Bracing: Quartersawn Adirondack Red Spruce bracing, a key 2015 upgrade for improved resonance.
Neck: Quarter-sawn Mahogany
Neck joint: Long tenon — period-correct for 1959 construction
Neck Profile: Authentic '59 Rounded C-Shape
Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Pearloid Dot
Frets: Original Med Jumbo
Fret Count: 22
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-11/16"
Radius: 12"
Scale: 24.75"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .945"
Neck thickness at 12th Fret: 1.086"
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
Pickguard: Original
Bridge Pickup/Brand: Memphis Historic Spec (MHS) Unpotted Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.89k
Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup/Brand: Memphis Historic Spec (MHS) Unpotted Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.41k
Original?: Yes
Bridge: Nickel ABR-1 bridge (no wire), lightweight aluminum stop bar tailpiece
Tuners: Kluson Tulip Buttons
Knobs: Original
Switch: 3 Way
Pots/Codes: Original
Case: OHSC w/ COA
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.
A 2015 Gibson ES-335 TD '59 Reissue from the Memphis factory — one of the most respected years of Memphis ES production, built under plant manager Mike Volts who oversaw the period widely regarded as Memphis at its best. The '59 spec means the full Mickey Mouse ear body profile, long-tenon neck joint, big 1959 neck carve, MHS humbuckers, and VOS nitrocellulose lacquer — not a standard production 335 but the proper reissue treatment. Players who've spent time with these consistently note how close they come to the real thing in feel and response.
Condition
Guitar is in near-mint condition and plays incredibly well. It set up perfectly with little effort, and there is room in the truss rod for future neck relief adjustments. The frets show the faintest wear. There are no repairs, changes, or issues whatsoever.
The Lifton style original case is included and is also in beautiful shape and it contains the original COA and other goodies.
A Bit of History
Gibson introduced the ES-335 in 1958 — the world's first commercial semi-hollow electric guitar. The design, attributed to engineer Ted McCarty, solved the feedback problems of fully hollow archtops by running a solid maple center block through the middle of the body while retaining the hollow wings that gave the guitar its acoustic warmth and tonal complexity. The result was an instrument that could handle higher volumes and heavier playing than an ES-175 or ES-330, while retaining a characteristic openness and resonance that a solidbody Les Paul or SG couldn't match. From 1958 through early 1960, the original dot-neck ES-335s were built with what collectors call "Mickey Mouse ears" — the distinctive rounded upper horn profile that was later replaced by a more pointed cutaway shape. Those original dot-necks, with their large neck profiles and long tenon joints, are among the most collectible post-war American guitars, with good examples commanding $30,000–$50,000 and above. B.B. King played an ES-335 for most of his career and named it Lucille. Chuck Berry's duck-walk shuffle was built around one. Eric Clapton used an ES-335 on the Bluesbreakers "Beano" album. Alvin Lee played the most recognizable 335 solo in history at Woodstock. Larry Carlton, Freddie King, Dave Grohl, and Warren Haynes have all made the 335 central to their identity. The Memphis plant, which handled all ES-series production from 2000 until its closure and consolidation into Nashville in 2019, operated under factory manager Mike Volts from around 2011 onward — a period the ES-335 community consistently identifies as the peak of Memphis reissue quality. The 2015 '59 reissue examples are particularly well-regarded: correctly proportioned Mickey Mouse ears, proper long-tenon joints, full '59 neck carves, MHS pickups, and VOS nitro all in the same instrument. Players on My Les Paul Forum have noted being asked whether their 2015 Memphis VOS is a vintage guitar — which is about the highest compliment a reissue can receive.
Excerpts from real online user forums and reviews
"I believe Memphis was considered an extension of the Custom Shop. They made a few clunkers, but they made some really nice ones too. The 2015–16's were highly regarded. I have people question if my ES-330 VOS is a vintage guitar." — My Les Paul Forum
"After playing multiple examples in stores, I prefer the Memphis reissues over any of the recent Nashville custom 335's — tonally and feel-wise." — My Les Paul Forum
"A great ES-335 should cover everything from funk to heavy rock and all points in between. The slightly hollow and nasal midrange that characterises vintage Gibsons is here in spades." — Guitar.com
"The '59 takes it for me — it's just a bit more precious in its build. The neck profile on the reissue is even like the '50s, a shape I love." — My Les Paul Forum
"Mine is light and very resonant when played unplugged. It sounds great and the workmanship is flawless — it still had the protective sticker on the pickguard when I got it used." — JazzGuitar.be Forum
A 2015 Memphis '59 Reissue ES-335 from the peak of that factory's output — correct body profile, long tenon, full neck carve, MHS pickups, VOS nitro. Ships fully insured.
SPECS:
Color: Sunburst
Weight: 7lbs 12oz
Top: Maple
Body: Laminated maple, full '59-spec "Mickey Mouse ear" upper bout profile — correctly proportioned per the original 1958–1960 body shape
Bracing: Quartersawn Adirondack Red Spruce bracing, a key 2015 upgrade for improved resonance.
Neck: Quarter-sawn Mahogany
Neck joint: Long tenon — period-correct for 1959 construction
Neck Profile: Authentic '59 Rounded C-Shape
Fretboard: Rosewood
Inlays: Pearloid Dot
Frets: Original Med Jumbo
Fret Count: 22
Nut: Original
Nut width: 1-11/16"
Radius: 12"
Scale: 24.75"
Neck thickness at 1st Fret: .945"
Neck thickness at 12th Fret: 1.086"
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
Pickguard: Original
Bridge Pickup/Brand: Memphis Historic Spec (MHS) Unpotted Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.89k
Original?: Yes
Neck Pickup/Brand: Memphis Historic Spec (MHS) Unpotted Humbucker
Pickup Reading: 7.41k
Original?: Yes
Bridge: Nickel ABR-1 bridge (no wire), lightweight aluminum stop bar tailpiece
Tuners: Kluson Tulip Buttons
Knobs: Original
Switch: 3 Way
Pots/Codes: Original
Case: OHSC w/ COA
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.