Gibson 1959 ES-335 Reissue VB VOS LH

Gibson 1959 ES-335 Reissue VB VOS LH review

The Gibson 1959 ES-335 Reissue VB VOS LH is a left-handed, semi-hollow electric guitar built around the ES-335 design. It pairs a maple and poplar body with a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard, and comes in a Vintage Burst VOS finish. The listed price is 4699. For a player considering a high-cost reissue, the practical questions are whether the instrument feels and sounds distinct from a standard ES-335, and whether its specific vintage-style details suit regular playing.

One left-handed owner who had previously played a standard ES-335 describes the Custom Shop guitar as a substantial step up. The owner says the instrument's wood character comes through more clearly in its sound and praises the playing feel. That is an individual impression, not a measurable guarantee, but it speaks directly to the qualities that can make a premium instrument worthwhile to a working player. The same owner identifies as a player rather than a collector, which gives the feedback a useful practical angle.

Construction and feel

The body uses a maple, poplar, and maple construction, with a maple top. The mahogany neck has an authentic 1959 medium C profile, while the rosewood fingerboard carries pearloid dot inlays. Its 628 mm scale and 22 authentic medium jumbo frets follow the stated vintage-inspired specification. Royalite binding and a Holly head veneer add period-style visual details, while the five-ply pickguard completes the ES-335 presentation.

Those specifications suggest a guitar designed to retain the familiar shape and feel associated with the model rather than introduce a modernized neck or hardware layout. The owner's positive comments about the playing feel support that impression, though there is no supplied measurement or comparison that would establish how the neck will suit every hand. Players who already like a medium C neck have a clear reference point; anyone who prefers a thinner or flatter profile should try it in person before committing.

Pickups, controls, and hardware

Two unpotted Custombucker humbuckers use Alnico III magnets. The control layout consists of two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a three-way toggle switch. CTS potentiometers and paper-in-oil capacitors are specified, along with an ABR-1 bridge, a brass saddle, and a lightweight aluminum tailpiece. The guitar has nickel hardware and vintage-style single-ring tulip tuners. There is no tremolo system.

This is a conventional, direct control arrangement for an ES-335-style guitar. Each pickup has its own volume and tone control, and the three-way switch selects the neck pickup, bridge pickup, or both. The provided player feedback highlights an impression of wood being more audible in the guitar's sound, but does not describe specific pickup settings, musical styles, or amplified examples. There is not enough evidence here to make detailed claims about output level, frequency response, or performance with particular amplifiers.

Finish, package, and ownership details

The finish is listed as Vintage Burst VOS, while the general color is identified as Sunburst. The VOS finish is part of the model description, and the guitar includes a case and certificate. A gig bag is not included. The instrument is made in the United States, has six strings, and is identified by item number 537846. It has been available since December 2022, and the listing does not describe it as a limited run.

For a player transporting the guitar regularly, the included case is a useful part of the package. The supplied owner also suggests that the guitar could hold value, but that is a personal expectation rather than a promise of future resale performance. Buyers should treat its price as the cost of a specialized Custom Shop instrument, not as a guaranteed investment.

Verdict

The Gibson 1959 ES-335 Reissue VB VOS LH combines the semi-hollow ES-335 format with a historically styled neck profile, vintage-oriented hardware, and two unpotted Alnico III Custombuckers. The strongest firsthand endorsement is its reported improvement in feel and tonal character over a standard ES-335, from a left-handed player who uses the guitar as an instrument rather than simply as a collectible. That recommendation is encouraging, but one owner's experience cannot substitute for a personal trial.

Its price places it firmly in the premium category, so the case for buying depends on the player's response to the neck, the semi-hollow sound, and the Custom Shop execution. Left-handed players seeking this specific configuration have a detailed option here, with the key features and package contents clearly defined. The supplied feedback makes the case for its playing experience, while leaving room for each buyer to decide whether that experience justifies the cost.