Gibson Certified Vintage 1960 Gibson ES-355TDC Mono, Cherry
1960 Gibson ES-355TDC Mono, Serial Number A 34043
This 1960 ES-355TDC Mono has all the spirit of a true working-player’s golden-era Gibson—worn in all the right ways, fully original where it counts, and serviced for playability where needed. Shipped from Kalamazoo on June 30, 1960, this example represents the rarer and often more desirable Mono configuration of the ES-355, offering the simplicity of a 335-style circuit paired with the top-tier appointments of our flagship thinline model.
The original cherry finish remains strong and unfaded, with light-to-moderate wear and lacquer checking throughout. Several more pronounced but fully stable cosmetic lines run north-to-south beneath the pickup rings and along the back near the heel. The back of the neck shows mild discoloration and light finish wear below the headstock—consistent with contact and moisture over time—and there is no evidence of a break or repair.
The guitar was professionally refretted with medium-jumbo wire, and the original nylon nut was shimmed for optimal height. The slim C neck profile is fast, comfortable, and plays cleanly up and down the fingerboard.
Both original PAF humbuckers remain intact: a double-black in the neck position (7.89k) and a highly sought-after double-white in the bridge (8.68k). Their covers were previously removed and reinstalled, though the pickup wiring remains untouched and both decals are in excellent condition. All other solder joints are original, with the wiring harness featuring Centralab potentiometers and Sprague “Black Beauty” capacitors. The original black short-wall top-hat knobs with gold reflectors show no chips or cracks.
As is common for this period, the factory ABR-1 bridge was lightly shaved on its underside to provide additional adjustment range, retains full functionality, and still has room to move. Hardware throughout shows honest, even wear, including light tarnish to the gold plating. The G tuner is missing its inner shaft-end cap, though it remains fully functional alongside the rest of the “Patent Pending” Grover Rotomatic set.
A small area of early pickguard gassing was sealed to prevent further deterioration, and the guard remains structurally solid. On the headstock, a minor separation along the bass-side wing block below the low-E tuner was reinforced with a small amount of glue to ensure long-term stability.
The original brown-and-pink Lifton case is included and retains a replacement leather handle.
A rare Mono-configuration ES-355 from the heart of the PAF era—an inspiring, stage-ready player with the tone and originality worthy of any top-tier collection.
This guitar has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, and new Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Weight: 8.81lb
Depth at 1st Fret: .82”
Depth at 12th Fret: .91”
Original: $34,999.00
-70%$34,999.00
$10,499.70Product Information
Product Information
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Description
1960 Gibson ES-355TDC Mono, Serial Number A 34043
This 1960 ES-355TDC Mono has all the spirit of a true working-player’s golden-era Gibson—worn in all the right ways, fully original where it counts, and serviced for playability where needed. Shipped from Kalamazoo on June 30, 1960, this example represents the rarer and often more desirable Mono configuration of the ES-355, offering the simplicity of a 335-style circuit paired with the top-tier appointments of our flagship thinline model.
The original cherry finish remains strong and unfaded, with light-to-moderate wear and lacquer checking throughout. Several more pronounced but fully stable cosmetic lines run north-to-south beneath the pickup rings and along the back near the heel. The back of the neck shows mild discoloration and light finish wear below the headstock—consistent with contact and moisture over time—and there is no evidence of a break or repair.
The guitar was professionally refretted with medium-jumbo wire, and the original nylon nut was shimmed for optimal height. The slim C neck profile is fast, comfortable, and plays cleanly up and down the fingerboard.
Both original PAF humbuckers remain intact: a double-black in the neck position (7.89k) and a highly sought-after double-white in the bridge (8.68k). Their covers were previously removed and reinstalled, though the pickup wiring remains untouched and both decals are in excellent condition. All other solder joints are original, with the wiring harness featuring Centralab potentiometers and Sprague “Black Beauty” capacitors. The original black short-wall top-hat knobs with gold reflectors show no chips or cracks.
As is common for this period, the factory ABR-1 bridge was lightly shaved on its underside to provide additional adjustment range, retains full functionality, and still has room to move. Hardware throughout shows honest, even wear, including light tarnish to the gold plating. The G tuner is missing its inner shaft-end cap, though it remains fully functional alongside the rest of the “Patent Pending” Grover Rotomatic set.
A small area of early pickguard gassing was sealed to prevent further deterioration, and the guard remains structurally solid. On the headstock, a minor separation along the bass-side wing block below the low-E tuner was reinforced with a small amount of glue to ensure long-term stability.
The original brown-and-pink Lifton case is included and retains a replacement leather handle.
A rare Mono-configuration ES-355 from the heart of the PAF era—an inspiring, stage-ready player with the tone and originality worthy of any top-tier collection.
This guitar has received a professional setup and thorough inspection from Gibson Certified Vintage and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity, Letter of Appraisal, and new Limited Lifetime Warranty.
Weight: 8.81lb
Depth at 1st Fret: .82”
Depth at 12th Fret: .91”
