(SOLD) Gibson ES-333 Satin Cherry 2003
Gibson ES-333, satin cherry, made in USA 2003. Bodacious, right? The ES-333 was Gibson's early 00s stripped-down take on the always-awesome ES-335. The formula: 335, but with a satin finish, no pickguard and a pair of naked 490 pickups. This particular example has had chrome covers added to the pickups and a 335-style pickguard installed, so some of the visual gap has been closed. The satin finish is looking great, especially with a couple of decades of play on the clock. It's glossed up in the high-contact areas, with a bit of checking here and there and a handful of knocks and bruises to vouch for it's storied past. The neck feels great: it's a 60s style fairly slim C, played in to perfection, and enhanced by the classy binding complete with fret-end nibs and a lux dark choc rosewood board. Plug it in, and you're in for a warm bath: big wide warmth, thick chocolaty lows, woody musical highs. It's great for a dense chord or a meandering legato lead line; everything comes out sounding thick and rich. There's a lot to love here, and you get a ticket to the Gibson ES-party for a lot less cashola than usual.
Model: Gibson ES-333
Made: USA, 2003 (serial 00323744)
Finish: cherry, gloss nitro, figured maple top/back
Body: maple/poplar/maple 3-ply top/back/sides, arched top, maple centre block, spruce bracing, 42mm thinline depth
Neck: one piece mahogany, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, moderate C shape
Weight: 3.700kg
Mods: pickguard added, chrome pickup covers installed, two pots replaced with CTS dishback pots, caps replaced with Sprauge orange drop
Pickups: Gibson 490/498 humbucker x2
Case: basic non-original hard case
Docs: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor dimples on the end only. The neck has rubbed to a gloss finish, but there's no major marks and it's smooth and clean in the hands. The back has some dimples on the elbow area, back, centre of the body and around the cavity, circular scuffs around the front strap pin, as well as some rub wear and light checking on the horns, middle and elbow area. The sides have light scuffs on the top horn, dimples in the elbow area and near the knobs and some dimples and rub wear on the bottom horn. The front has dimples on the elbow area, around the tailpiece and near the knobs, as well as some rub wear and checking on the elbow area and horns and some play wear on and around the guard. Overall: very good condition (7/10).
Playing condition notes: neck is straight, intonation is good, action is low, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. The frets have minor wear only, 8/10 for life left. No headstock breaks. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.