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Products Electric Guitars ES Gibson Custom
Neck and Headstock
Neck Species
The neck of the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD is constructed from one solid piece of mahogany with a maple spline for improved strength and resonance. The luthiers in Gibson’s Custom Shop carefully select the grain orientation of the mahogany used for necks to optimize tone, stability and sustain. Neck Species Tonal Characteristics
The wood, construction and headstock pitch all contribute greatly to the tone of the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD, aiding this guitar’s exceptional tonal richness, and yielding a resonance that can be felt right through the body. Neck Profile
True to one of the significant evolutionary points of the model for 1960, the neck of the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD is carved to a fast, comfortable recreation of the ’60 slim-taper profile that has been based on new scans of several original 1960 ES-335TDs. Neck Profile Tolerance
When fitting the neck and body together, we take advantage of our precise measuring equipment so that all angles, pitches and alignments maintain a proper tolerance. Not only does this help to keep your guitar in tune but it also maintains proper string alignment relative to the fingerboard. Joint
Gibson uses what is known as the Mortise & Tenon joint to bind neck to body so that the two pieces form one solid unit. On the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD, this technique incorporates the lauded “long neck tenon”, greatly enhancing resonance and sustain, as well as neck strength in general. Joint Angle (Pitch)
4° (+/- 15 seconds)
Headstock Angle
Just like the original ES-335s of the late ’50s and early ’60s, and many other classic Gibson models, the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD headstock is carefully angled at Gibson’s traditional 17 degrees. This subtle yet crucial element of the guitar’s design increases pressure on the strings. An increase in string pressure means there is no loss of string vibration between the nut and the tuners, which equals better sustain. Truss Rod
Gibson’s traditional truss rod is highly responsive to the individual adjustments you’ll want to make to personalize and optimize string action and sustain. Truss Rod Logo
The traditional, period-correct Gibson logo is inlaid in mother of pearl across the top of a holly headstock veneer, with the traditional “split wheat” mother of pearl inlay in the center of the headstock face. Logo Adhesive
The adhesive used to join neck and body is Franklin Titebond 50, one of the strongest glues on the market today.
Fingerboard and Nut
Fingerboard Species
The Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD carries a rosewood fingerboard, the traditional fingerboard of the original ES-335TD. Rosewood is both hardwearing and sonically superlative adding sweetness and depth to the guitar’s overall sound. Frets
The Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD’s fingerboard carries 22 frets, all are precision leveled on the Plek, then immaculately dressed and polished. Frets Tonal Characteristics
Rosewood fingerboards are legendary for their rich, round tone, attributes that blend beautifully with the depth and dimension of the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD to add further complexity to this guitar’s voice. Radius
Gibson’s traditional 12-inch radius, used on the fingerboard of the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD, provides smooth note-bending capabilities and eliminates “dead” or “choked out” notes, common occurrences on fingerboards with lesser radiuses, and is another feature that has helped to make this guitar a blues-rock legend.
Inlays
The Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD fingerboard carries acrylic pearloid dot position-marker inlays, echoing the traditional look of the original ES-335TD of 1958-’61. Inlays Nut Material
The nut on the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD is made from Corian, a consistent, hard-wearing substance that is considered tonally and structurally superior to bone. Its slots are cut with Gibson’s PLEK system to ensure precise fit, break angle, and string spacing. Nut Width
The width of the nut on the Custom Shop 50th Anniversary 1960 ES-335TD is approximately 1-11/16”, the traditional nut width of Gibson electric guitars from 1960. Nut Width