Gibson ES-335 50s Vintage Natural
The Gibson ES-335 50s Vintage Natural pairs semi-hollow construction with two Alnico 3 humbuckers and a traditional control layout. Its included case and detailed hardware are appealing, but the listed price places it in a premium tier.
★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 5 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
Gibson ES-335 50s Vintage Natural: Technical Review
The Gibson ES-335 50s Vintage Natural is a U.S.-made semi-hollow electric guitar with a maple, poplar, and maple body construction. It is not classified as a fully hollow guitar. Its listed features include a mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard, two custom Alnico 3 humbuckers, and an included case. The finish is Vintage Natural with a high-gloss surface, paired with nickel hardware.
This review is based solely on the supplied specifications. No customer reviews are available for this model, so there are no user reports or hands-on impressions to summarize. The listed price is 3,222, though the supplied information does not identify a currency. The product is listed as available since May 2026, with item number 644091.
Body, neck, and fingerboard
The body and top are both specified as maple, poplar, and maple. The data does not provide wood thicknesses, weight, or construction details beyond those materials and the semi-hollow classification. Buyers should not treat the specification as confirmation of a particular chamber layout or acoustic response.
The mahogany neck is set into the body rather than attached with bolts. Its rounded C profile gives a clear description of the neck's general shape, but the listing does not state neck depth measurements. The rosewood fingerboard has dot inlays, a 305 mm (12-inch) radius, and 22 medium-jumbo frets. The 629 mm (24.75-inch) scale length is a defining measurement for the instrument's layout, while the Graph Tech nut identifies the nut material brand without specifying its exact composition.
Single-ply cream binding is listed, providing a contrasting edge detail against the Vintage Natural finish. The finish is described as high-gloss, but there is no information about the specific finish material or its thickness. These omissions limit how precisely the supplied details can describe the instrument's surface and setup.
Pickups and controls
The electronics comprise two custom Alnico 3 humbuckers, positioned at the neck and bridge. A three-way switch selects between the pickup positions and their combined setting. Separate volume and tone controls are provided for each pickup, for a total of two volume knobs and two tone knobs. The specifications do not give pickup output measurements, wiring options, coil-splitting functions, or control values, so none should be assumed.
There is no tremolo system listed. The bridge is an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic, and the guitar has vintage-style deluxe tuning machines. Together, these details identify the main tuning and bridge hardware, but the supplied data does not specify the tailpiece, string gauge, factory tuning, or adjustment range. Nickel is listed for the hardware finish.
What the specifications establish
- Construction: Semi-hollow body with maple, poplar, and maple layers.
- Neck and fingerboard: Set mahogany neck, rounded C profile, rosewood fingerboard, and dot inlays.
- Measurements: 629 mm (24.75-inch) scale length, 305 mm (12-inch) fingerboard radius, and 22 medium-jumbo frets.
- Electronics: Two custom Alnico 3 humbuckers, individual volume and tone controls, and a three-way switch.
- Hardware and finish: ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, vintage-style deluxe tuning machines, nickel hardware, and high-gloss Vintage Natural finish.
- Included: A case. No gig bag is listed.
Buying considerations
The specification sheet gives buyers a solid outline of the instrument's materials, neck dimensions, pickup type, and control layout. It does not provide weight, factory setup details, string specifications, pickup measurements, or information about included accessories beyond the case. Those are practical points to confirm with the seller before purchase, especially if weight or a particular setup is a priority.
The semi-hollow classification and two-humbucker configuration define the broad design, but they do not by themselves establish how the guitar will sound or feel. Those qualities depend on the individual instrument, amplification, setup, and playing conditions. With no customer reviews available, this assessment cannot make claims about reliability, comfort, or real-world tone.
For a buyer comparing specifications, the Gibson ES-335 50s Vintage Natural offers a set mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard, a traditional two-humbucker control arrangement, and a case in the listed package. The documented features are specific; performance judgments remain unverified by the information provided.
Shipping and duties
The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.
Scores by area
Where it shines, where it stumbles
What convinced me
- Semi-hollow construction with a maple-poplar-maple body and a mahogany set neck.
- Two custom Alnico 3 humbucking pickups with independent volume and tone controls.
- Includes a case and features a Graph Tech nut, ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge, and vintage-style tuners.
What bugged me
- No tremolo system.
- The listed price of 3222 makes this a substantial investment.
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
A strong match for players seeking a semi-hollow guitar with two humbuckers and independent tone and volume controls. Also worth considering for buyers who value an included case and traditional ES-style specifications.Look elsewhere if
Not a match for players who require a tremolo system or a fully hollow body. Buyers on a tight budget may find the listed price difficult to justify.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Hollowbody guitar
- No
- Semi hollowbody guitar
- Yes
- Color
- Vintage Natural
- Body
- Maple, Poplar, Maple
- Top
- Maple, Poplar, Maple
- Neck
- Mahogany
- Fretboard
- Rosewood
- Frets
- 22
- Scale
- 629 mm
- Pickups
- HH
- Tremolo
- No
- Including case
- Yes
- Incl. bag
- No
- Model
- ES-335
Up close
Watch and listen
Before you decide
Questions players ask
Is the Gibson ES-335 50s Vintage Natural fully hollow?
No. It is specified as a semi-hollow guitar, not a fully hollow guitar.
What pickups and controls does it have?
It has two custom Alnico 3 humbuckers, two volume controls, two tone controls, and a three-way pickup selector.
What is the scale length?
The scale length is 629 mm, or 24.75 inches.
Does it come with a case?
Yes. A case is included; a separate gig bag is not listed.
Are there customer reviews for this product?
No customer reviews were provided, so there is no review-based information about owners' experiences or ratings.
The last word from the bench
This USA-made ES-335 has a maple-poplar-maple body, mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard, and a rounded C neck profile. Two custom Alnico 3 humbuckers connect to separate volume and tone controls, with a three-way switch for selecting them. The package includes a case, and the hardware includes an ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic bridge and vintage-style tuners. Consider the listed price carefully, since no customer reviews are available to help assess ownership experience.
Hanging next to it
Gibson ES-335 50s Vintage Natural
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