1968 Gibson ES-355 STEREO
with Lyre Vibrato and Vari-tone Switch

The Gibson ES-355 is the only guitar fit for a King! This guitar has been a favorite of blues, rock and jazz musicians since its introduction in the late 1950s. B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Freddy King and Keith Richards are just a few of the artists who have made the ES-355 a legend. This guitar is the top-of-the-line model in the double cutaway thinline electric series. It shares the ES-335's solid center block and hollow wings, but with upgrades like the ebony fingerboard and the split diamond headstock inlay of a Les Paul Custom. This guitar is the king daddy!

This 1968 Gibson ES-355 is a rare collectible. Built when Gibson was still owned by Gibson, before Norlin took over in 1969. This guitar has all the appointments that made the ES-355 legendary, including STEREO ELECTRONICS, VARI-TONE and LYRE VIBRATO. This guitar is ALL ORIGINAL with the exception of the tortoise pickguard that has been replaced with a triple bound black pickguard and pro refret. This guitar has the original BLACK STICKER PAT NO humbucking pickups, but the covers have been removed. Original features include a thinbody, double cutaway, semi-hollow body with solid maple center block, 2 PAT NO humbucking pickups, 2 volume and 2 tone knobs and a pickup selector switch, tune-o-matic bridge, multiple bound top, triple bound back, single bound ebony fingerboard, unbound F-holes, block fingerboard inlays, neck joins body at 19th fret, 5-piece split-diamond peghead inlay, gold plated parts, gold Kluson tuners with metal buttons and a cherry finish.

This guitar has the Gibson Maestro Vibrato with lyre on the coverplate, stereo electronics and the 6-position Vari-tone rotary tone switch for more tone colors, which, in the highest position, gives the instrument its distinct nasal sound and with the Lyre vibrato system, introduced in 1963, allows for the rapid raising and lowering of the pitch of the strings, known as the tremolo effect. With the Stereo electronics and Vari-tone rotary tone switch, you can run thru 2 amps or both channels of 1 amp. The sound is awesome and with the solid maple block down the center this guitar sings with incredible sustain. The semi-hollowbody construction and solid maple block down the center of the body minimizes feedback, but the hollow body wings gives good sustain and tone. The design fitting so close and comfortably to your body let's you reach chords easily that you've never played before and the slim profile fast, low action neck feels perfect in your hand and makes the strings seem feather-light to the touch. This guitar plays "Johnny B Goode" all by herself and will even get down and do the Duck Walk!

This guitar is in EXCELLENT CONDITION showing very little wear at all, only a couple of dings. The binding has turned yellow with age, but that only adds to the vintage vibe. There is NO belt rash, NO cracks, NO repairs, NO issues, NEVER HAS BEEN. This guitar is marked with a 2 over the serial number, indicating that when it was built, the inspectors at the Kalamazoo factory may have noticed a tiny flaw. These inspectors had very strict guidelines to follow. They would look for things the rest of us would never notice. I can see no reason why this guitar would be marked as a second. In a way it just makes this guitar even more desirable since you rarely ever see these and it is noted in Gibson history. It certainly doesn't hurt a guitar of this caliber. This guitar is the legendary blues favorite and American icon that gave birth to Rock'n Roll!

This guitar comes complete with the original hardshell case and pure MOJO! No other guitar can compare to the sound and power of the 355!

Thank you for shopping at Route 66 Classic Guitars!