Sweetwater has some new designed Gibson 330 and 335

[Saul Goodman]

 

[velorush]

Interesting, $3,500

Gibson ES-330H Electric Guitar - Antique Natural, Sweetwater Exclusive | Sweetwater in Bourbon Burst and Natural (for a $500 upcharge)

Gibson ES-335 HB Electric Guitar - '60s Cherry, Sweetwater Exclusive | Sweetwater in Cherry and Dark Walnut

Doesn't seem Sweetwater has them in stock yet as there are no in-house photos on the site.

Always looking to get back to an ES. I've come close many times but never pulled the trigger. 

[Saul Goodman]

15 minutes ago, velorush said:

Interesting, $3,500

Gibson ES-330H Electric Guitar - Antique Natural, Sweetwater Exclusive | Sweetwater in Bourbon Burst and Natural (for a $500 upcharge)

Gibson ES-335 HB Electric Guitar - '60s Cherry, Sweetwater Exclusive | Sweetwater in Cherry and Dark Walnut

Doesn't seem Sweetwater has them in stock yet as there are no in-house photos on the site.

Always looking to get back to an ES. I've come close many times but never pulled the trigger. 

Only $84 a month!

[django49]

When you know you have outlived things.....WAY back when, I got an original ES-330 for $100 (cherry red with chrome covered pickups). IIRC, I late on sold it for $185 to some hippie that wanted to strip it and paint dragons on it.....Gone the way of tree fitty.

Prices are relative so many years later, but $3500 and wondering about the usual Gibson questions(?)

After a dozen or two Gibson semis of almost all varieties, I ended down to the "best," a later reissue 335 (blonde) upgraded with Lollar Imperials. I ended up with a handful of "boutique" versions that did it better.....For about half again as much more (yeah, USED), I ended up keeping a Huber Rietbergen....Just made me lose my desire to hang on to that last Gibson. Yeah, I know, a $5k Rietbergen is not likely to be found these days......😉

My 2 cents, FWIW, after inflation......

[bruce919]

Im sure Gibson did a ES-330 with humbuckers while they were being made the now closed Memphis plant. I have seen a few pop on the used market. 

[hamerhead]

$3500? That's what I sold this original 1960 for (back to the first owner's son):

And there's no way the new ones sound like that.

[hamerican gigolo]

$500 extra for a natural finish??? 🙄

[Saul Goodman]

2 hours ago, hamerican gigolo said:

$500 extra for a natural finish??? 🙄

I was wondering that exact same thing. I thought the burst would be more.

[Hackubus]

I just noticed the Mod Shop has a natural finish Trini Lopez for $500 higher than a finished model.  Annnnnnd, it has a dent in the binding! 
Pre-dented and unfinished must be the kewl new mods.  

[velorush]

1 hour ago, Saul Goodman said:

I was wondering that exact same thing. I thought the burst would be more.

It's the same philosophy as the J-50 being a premium over the J-45. The natural finish requires pristine wood because nothing can be hidden beneath the paint. 

Not saying it's a valid argument, but it's their argument. 

[Hackubus]

That kinda makes some sense I suppose.  

 

[django49]

IIRC, way back in the dark ages, when I started drooling over guitars, Gibson listed their top of the line archtop (Super 400) at $1225, with an added $50 for natural. (I guess they were $400 when first produced). So the upcharge is nothing new.

[Dutchman]

On 9/4/2026 at 4:32 PM, Hackubus said:

I just noticed the Mod Shop has a natural finish Trini Lopez for $500 higher than a finished model.  Annnnnnd, it has a dent in the binding! 
Pre-dented and unfinished must be the kewl new mods.  

The natural finish forces them to select the best pieces. Can't cover up minor flaws with paint.