The ES-335 Dot
Today
Rock, Blues or Jazz, the ES-335 has stood the test of time as the quintissential player's guitar. Warm, full bodied tone from the humbucking pickups, an easy-playing neck, and an instantly familiar feel make the ES-335 an essential part of any player's arsenal.
History Making
By the mid-1950s, the electric guitar market was divided into two camps, each with its own appeal. Hollowbody electrics had the traditional look and sound; solidbody electrics strayed from conventional guitar lines and they produced a more aggressive tone with more sustain. In 1958 Gibson president Ted McCarty brought the two styles together in the Gibson ES-335 model.
Fusion
It had the arched top and violin-style F-holes of hollowbody models, but the body was thin (less than 2" deep), with a double-cutaway shape and a solid maple block through the center. The semi-hollowbody style proved to be one of Gibson's most versatile, providing the musical vehicle for such diverse and influential musicians as rocker Chuck Berry, jazzer Larry Carlton and bluesman B.B. King.