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Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue: The Magic of Murphy Lab Aging

Gibson's 1958 ES-335 Reissues bring back the magic of a legendary guitar. Meticulous craftsmanship, and Murphy Lab aging

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Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue: The Magic of Murphy Lab Aging

Gibson's 1958 ES-335 Reissue models offer a stunningly authentic take on a classic guitar. Available in three colors, these instruments all feature Murphy Lab aging for that desirable vintage aesthetic.

Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue

The Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue faithfully replicates the original design. Its semi-hollow body boasts a three-ply maple/poplar/maple construction with a maple center block. Gibson's Custom Shop meticulously adheres to this classic build. While the aged finishes might not be for everyone, they strongly appeal to those seeking a well-worn, vintage look.

Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue: The Magic of Murphy Lab Aging

Neck and Fretboard

The mahogany neck is topped with a beautiful Indian rosewood fretboard, offering that sought-after '58 profile. While the originals featured Brazilian rosewood, Indian rosewood is the closest readily available alternative. Then 22 vintage narrow-tall frets, nitrocellulose dot inlays, and a nylon nut complete the classic look. If you want a guitar that feels like a 1958 ES-335, these new reissues are remarkably close, especially for their price point.

Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue: The Magic of Murphy Lab Aging

Aging Options and Custombucker Pickups

Choose from Tri-Burst (lightly aged), Dirty Blonde, and Faded Tobacco Burst (both heavily aged). The heavier aging process adds to the price. All models come with unpotted Custombucker humbuckers, wired with CTS 500K Audio Taper potentiometers and Paper-in-Oil capacitors for that vintage tone.

A lightweight aluminum stop bar, ABR-1 bridge, and Kluson Single Line, Single Ring tuners round out the hardware. These guitars are a beautiful homage to the 1958 originals.

Gibson 1958 ES-335 Reissue: The Magic of Murphy Lab Aging

Guitar Bomb Verdict

While not inexpensive, they're premium instruments, and fans of Murphy Lab's aging techniques will undoubtedly find them captivating.

Available from Thomann; Gibson 1958 ES-335 Tri-BurstDirty Blonde and Faded Tobacco Blonde

More Information

Jef Stone
Jef Stone
Founder and editor of GuitarBomb. Jef has been writing about guitars, effects pedals, and music gear for over ten years, covering everything from breaking gear news and leaks to hands-on reviews.