VINTAGE ORIGINAL 1961 GIBSON ES 355 TD RaRe MONO CHERRY Exceedingly rare PAF era guitar Start Price USD 15,000.00 Current Price USD 15,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Saturday, November 22, 2008 End Time Tuesday, December 02, 2008 Location Fairfield, CT See more about 'VINTAGE ORIGINAL 1961 GIBSON ES 355 TD RaRe MONO CHERRY' Description Available for your consideration is an early 1961 ES -355 TD MONO in original Cherry finish. Serial number 18514 on both it's orange label and stamped on the rear of the headstock. This is one of 117 made for 1961 and is more desirable than either an ES 345 TD or ES 355 TDSV,  (Stereo), because Mono ES-355's are virtually an ES-335 TDC with Gold Hardware and an Ebony fingerboard fitted to a slightly narrower neck than an ES-335 TD. This particular one has all of the 1960 features such as Grover Rotomatics instead of Kluson's, a Bigsby instead of the Gibson Lyre Vibrato, and no wire ABR-1. This RARER and more desirable MONO model that lacks the Stereo feature, Varitone switch, and electronics, and chokes that a ES 345 TD or ES 355 TDSV Stereo have making them heavier, And stereo models were usually equipped with out of phase pickups.   This does have it's original  Case. The guitar has not had any structual modification such as holes drilled for tuner replacement, routes or such. The only thing that we can detect is a very small quarter sized touch up/ overspray area south of where the strap attaches to the rear of the guitar body, see photo's. The double black PAF's were removed at sometime during the guitars life as it now has burstbuckers with it's original Hughes Industries M-69 pick up surrounds. It has also has one extra original knob in addition to it's original set of 4. The original non-wired ABR-1 has also been replaced with an older repro of some type. The guitar comes with two pickguards. The original is in the case as it is celluoid and is fragile. I also commissioned a Gibson Custom shop original pickguard that is hand fitted to the guitar, (see photo's), included with two sets of hardware. If this guitar had a set of original PAF's, and NON-wired ABR-1 we would be seeking a price somewhere in the $25+ K range as this is a pretty rare puppy. The neck width is 1 10/16" wide at nut, (standard neck width is usually 1 11/16") this is period correct for this model. ALSO Included in the sale are the pair of pictured original Gold PAF covers, a Hughes Industries M-69 P.U. surround, and an original White Gibson ES Guitar Strap, and the couple sets of Gibson strings case candy. Email for close ups! BUY it NOW includes free world wide shipping!! :-) Others email for shipping cost. Also note the Black Face Twin is NOT included in this auction.   Place a Bid!