Gibson ES 355

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About Gibson ES 355

The Gibson ES-355, made famous by Chuck Berry, is a highly decorated, top of the line version of the ES-335. With much the same relationship to the 335 as the Les Paul Custom has to the Les Paul Standard, Gibson's prized semi-hollow guitar is a stunning combination of gold binding and mother of pearl.

The Gibson ES-355 has the same block inlays, split-diamond headstock inlay and multiple binding as the Les Paul Custom. Over the years, some models have had Bigsby tremolos whilst others have sported the Maestro variant. Certain ES-355 models also feature the Varitone switch, a device on the surface of the guitar which filters out certain frequencies to achieve new tones.

The Gibson ES-355 is all about rich sounds, easy playability and a little bit of indulgent luxury! As with most Gibson ES models, the most famous finish is Cherry Red but it is available in other finishes too. This special guitar is available semi-regularly and at guitarguitar we make sure we get as many of these as we can! Visit your local store or chat to us online to find out current availability. As an authorised Gibson and Gibson Custom dealer, we are able to get our hands on certain models that not every dealer has access to. For Gibson ES-355's, come to guitarguitar.

Frequently Asked Questions about Gibson ES 355

Question: What is richlite and why do Gibson use it on their fingerboards?
Richlite is a composite material made of resin infused paper. It is strong, malleable and a perfect material for guitar fingerboards. As well as being very 'repairable', it is a very easy material to put frets in! Richlite is eco-conscious (it is made up of 65% FSC-certified or recycled paper and 35% phenolic resin) and therefore ultra-sustainable as well as being a durable and tactile material. Gibson use this on their finest guitar fingerboards to give a wonderfully dark and smooth playing surface.
Question: I want a Gibson guitar that I can play a lot of styles on. Should I be looking at an ES-355?
Definitely! The more open, airy sound of an ES-355 allows it to work itself successfully into multiple genres and this instrument is quite the sonic chameleon. While some Gibson models excel in one or two particular styles, this guitar can hold its own with anything apart from the heaviest metal. Some ES-355 models also have a Varitone circuit built in: this adds to the versatility even further.
Question: Given its larger size, is the Gibson ES-355 harder to play than a standard electric guitar?
Not really, no. Guitarists who are particularly on the smaller side may find the ES-335 to be somewhat on the large side but not off-puttingly so. The thinline body allows your right hand to get over the body with no problems at all and the semi-hollow construction stops it from being too heavy as well.