Any help on a ES 335?

[Sweet William]

Before I posted my SG Custom awhile ago, I owned a friends ES335. I owned it for 10 years and then he came back and asked me to sell it back to him. I did. And 20 years later got my 1970 SG Custom back that had been gone for 40 years. He'd like to date his ES335. Here are some pictures

 

[skelt101]

According to this site, it's a 70-72:
https://www.guitarinsite.nl/serienummers-gibson_eng.php

 

[Col Mustard]

All you might have to do is go online to Gibson, because they maintain a service that can tell you (using the serial number)
when your guitar was made, and what color it was when new, and what equipment was on it.

The six digit serial number 101391 (if I have that right)
will tell a lot about how old the ES-335TD is. Take a look at our serial number decoder on this site.

 

[Franktone]

I'd say 1970 or 1971. 1972's have the name Gibson embossed into the pickup covers. A friend had a walnut finished 1974 back in the day and it was a fabulous guitar. So I'd say that early seventies Gibson ES335's are excellent playing guitars if you don't mind the narrower 1 9\16 inch wide nut. Still, very very fine guitars indeed. I can live with the narrower nut width quite well.

 

[Sweet William]

Thanks guys

 

[Col Mustard]

here's a clearer picture of an early '70s Gibson...

The six digit number beginning with 1 indicates early
'70s production, as does the "made in USA" stamped into the wood.
Note the double ring tuners...

Here is an enhanced version of the picture you posted.
Compare:

So I agree with Franktone. Early '70s.
You might be able to narrow the time down further, but you might not,
because the serial numbers of this particular time period are confusing.
Gibson had been taken over by the "Norlin Corporation" in 1967, and didn't
get back to self ownership until 1985. Gibsons of the 'modern era" are well
documented, but details are sketchy during the Norlin years.

 

[everdying]

ya early 70s it is...as with most gibsons of that period...a good way to narrow it down is to check the codes on the pots...assuming those are also still original.

 

[Sweet William]

Thanks again guys, thanks for enhanced photo CM

 

[Voxman]

The Volute on the back of the neck where the neck meets the headstock give it away too! Or I should say somewhat dates it! I also don't think they used the oval orange label any more! Looks like a nice one ….