Introduced in 1947, the Gibson ES-350 was on the forefront of the electric guitar evolution. Its 17"-wide body has a cutaway for easy access into the upper register, which would become one of the hallmarks of electric guitar design. In 1952, the two-pickup ES-350 was outfitted with a three-way switch and individual volume and tone controls. Famously used on the Les Paul and other models, this wiring harness would become the Gibson standard. But what's cool about the ES-350 is that—unlike other electrics—it still proudly carries on the Gibson archtop tradition of the '30s and '40s.
This ES-350 dates to 1953, so it is an early example with two P-90 pickups, three-way toggle switch, and four Gibson speed knobs. Any good archtop from the '50s has spent several hours in a smoky jazz club, and the patina on this ES-350—especially the smoked-out, darkened sunburst—provide the authentic vibe and feel of a proper vintage Gibson. Like other guitars from this era, the neck pickup is noticeably stronger and hotter than the bridge. Let's be real; this ES-350 is all about the neck pickup, so that's what you want! It is wooly, warm, thick, and rich, but it retains an articulation and dynamic response that makes intricate playing shine and sustain. In the middle position, you can blend in the bridge pickup for a little more bite and growl. Throughout, it has the acoustic resonance and sustain you expect from the Gibson archtop lineage.
This 1953 Gibson ES-350 has been played and used professionally, but it finds us in excellent playing condition with no structural issues. The top and back have both been re-glued to the treble side along the lower bout, between the tailpiece and input jack area. The pickguard looks to be a replacement, but the original Brazilian Rosewood bridge still stands upright and is properly intonated for the flatwound strings (w/ wound 3rd) that are on it now. One of the hinges on the tailpiece is cracked, but the tailpiece still does its job, too. The setup is excellent—fast and playable—and the worn-in C-shaped neck feels just right in your hand. It includes a modern TKL hardshell case.
Built in Kalamazoo during Gibson’s golden era, this 1953 ES-350 represents a unique place in the company’s history—bridging the gap between the great carved-top acoustic archtops of the prewar years and the modern electric guitars that followed. In hand, it still feels every bit like a traditional Gibson jazz box: responsive, resonant, and effortlessly expressive. Whether you're chasing Wes Montgomery octaves, detailed chord melody arrangements, or simply the unmistakable warmth of vintage P-90s through a tube amp, this ES-350 delivers the kind of character and musicality that only a well-played, seventy-plus-year-old Gibson can offer.