The 1979 Gibson ES-335 Pro in Cherry is a fascinating late-'70s variation of Gibson's legendary semi-hollow electric guitar, created with a noticeably more rock-focused personality than the regular ES-335 of the period.

The short-lived ES-335 Pro combined the familiar semi-hollow 335 platform with Gibson's high-output Dirty Fingers humbuckers, a three-piece maple neck and a streamlined specification aimed at players who wanted more attack and output from the classic design. Produced only from 1979 into the early 1980s, it is a much less common sight than a conventional ES-335.

This example is finished in Cherry, carries serial number 73309014, features the supplied three-piece neck, five-piece headstock construction and Gibson TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece, and is graded Pre-Owned, Very Good condition.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Gibson
Model	ES-335 Pro
Year	1979
Finish	Cherry
Serial Number	73309014
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good
Main Appeal	Short-lived, rock-focused late-'70s ES-335 variant
Standout Feature	Gibson TP-6 fine-tuning tailpiece
Best For	Rock, blues, hard rock, alternative, recording and live performance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This 1979 Gibson ES-335 Pro is offered in Very Good condition.

This grade reflects an older Pre-Owned instrument that has seen previous use while remaining well presented and suitable for regular playing. It is particularly appealing for someone looking for a vintage Gibson with genuine age and character without requiring near-mint cosmetics.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ 1979 Gibson ES-335 Pro Cherry
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This ES-335 Pro is graded Very Good, with the condition reflecting normal previous ownership of an instrument dating from 1979.

The guitar retains the distinctive construction details supplied for this example, including its three-piece neck, five-piece headstock construction and Gibson TP-6 tailpiece.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Gibson ES-335 Pro has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Neck and bridge pickup output checked
• Three-way pickup selector tested
• Volume and tone controls checked
• Output socket tested
• Frets inspected
• Fingerboard condition assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Tuning machines inspected
• Tune-o-matic bridge checked
• Gibson TP-6 tailpiece operation assessed
• Hardware inspected
• Strap buttons checked
• Tuning stability assessed
• General playability checked
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned electric guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes:

• Action checked
• Neck relief checked
• Frets inspected
• Intonation checked
• Tuning stability checked
• Pickup output checked
• Electronics tested
• Bridge setup assessed
• Hardware checked
• General playability assessed

Please note that guitar setup can shift slightly during delivery because changes in temperature and humidity can naturally affect wooden instruments in transit.

Why Choose The 1979 Gibson ES-335 Pro?

Short-Lived ES-335 Variant

The ES-335 Pro had a relatively brief production life, giving it a distinct identity within Gibson's extensive semi-hollow family and making it especially interesting to players who want something less commonplace than a standard ES-335.

Rock-Focused Voice

The Pro was conceived as a hotter, more aggressive take on the 335 formula, giving players the resonance and openness of a centre-block semi-hollow guitar with greater output for overdriven and rock-oriented sounds.

Three-Piece Maple Neck

The three-piece maple neck is characteristic of this period of Gibson production and gives the guitar a different construction approach from the traditional mahogany-neck ES-335 specification.

Gibson TP-6 Tailpiece

This example is fitted with a Gibson TP-6, which provides individual fine tuners for all six strings and allows precise tuning adjustments directly from the tailpiece.

Genuine 1979 Gibson Character

For players drawn to late-'70s Gibson instruments, this guitar combines an important historic body design with features unmistakably associated with its particular production era.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Gibson ES-335 Pro vs Standard Late-'70s ES-335

The standard ES-335 is the better choice for players seeking the more traditional version of Gibson's semi-hollow design, while the Pro was deliberately given hotter pickups and a more rock-orientated personality for players wanting increased output and attack.

Gibson ES-335 Pro vs Gibson ES-347

The ES-347 took the semi-hollow concept in a more elaborate direction with additional appointments and electronics, whereas the ES-335 Pro offers a more direct, stripped-back approach centred around powerful humbuckers and straightforward rock performance.

Gibson ES-335 Pro vs Gibson Les Paul

A Les Paul provides the denser response of a solid-body guitar, while the ES-335 Pro combines strong humbucker output with the additional resonance and openness associated with Gibson's centre-block semi-hollow construction.

1979 ES-335 Pro vs Modern Gibson ES-335

A current ES-335 is better suited to someone wanting modern production and a more traditional vintage-inspired 335 voice, while the 1979 Pro offers the distinctive specification, genuine age and harder-edged character of Gibson's late-'70s period.

Who Is It For?

Vintage Gibson Players

A particularly strong choice for guitarists interested in genuine late-1970s Gibson instruments and less-common variations on established models.

Rock And Hard Rock Guitarists

The ES-335 Pro's higher-output design gives it obvious appeal for driven rhythm work, sustained lead sounds and players who use valve amplification or distortion.

Blues Players

The semi-hollow platform retains enough warmth and responsiveness for expressive blues playing while offering more output than a traditionally voiced 335.

Studio And Live Guitarists

The combination of humbuckers, centre-block semi-hollow construction and familiar Gibson controls makes it a versatile platform for recording, rehearsals and stage use.

Players Looking For An Unusual ES-335

For someone who already knows the standard ES-335 formula, the Pro provides a genuinely different chapter in the model's history rather than simply another finish variation.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Classic rock
• Hard rock
• Blues
• Alternative rock
• Indie
• Punk
• Pop rock
• Lead guitar
• Rhythm guitar
• Overdriven valve-amp tones
• Studio recording
• Rehearsals
• Live performance
• Vintage Gibson collections

What Makes The Gibson ES-335 Pro Different From A Standard ES-335?

The ES-335 Pro was Gibson's more rock-orientated interpretation of the familiar 335. Its defining feature was a pair of uncovered high-output Dirty Fingers humbuckers, while Gibson also dispensed with the coil-tap switch found on contemporary standard 335 models and used a stop-tailpiece arrangement with black speed knobs and dot fingerboard markers.

The result was a semi-hollow guitar aimed less at traditional jazz-informed 335 territory and more at players wanting stronger output and an immediately responsive sound for rock. It retained the versatility that makes a centre-block semi-hollow useful while giving this short-lived model its own unmistakably late-'70s personality.

Looking for advice on choosing the right vintage Gibson ES-335, Pre-Owned semi-hollow guitar or classic Gibson electric guitar? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: Gibson ES-335 Pro

The original Gibson ES-335 debuted in 1958, introducing a highly influential concept: a thinline semi-hollow body built around a solid centre block. The design was intended to combine some of the resonance of a hollow guitar with improved sustain and resistance to feedback, creating an instrument capable of handling the increasing volume of electric music.

By 1979, Gibson took the design in a distinctly harder-edged direction with the ES-335 Pro. The model appeared in Gibson price lists from January 1979 through April 1981 and was equipped with the company's then-new high-output Dirty Fingers humbuckers. Its original launch price was $949 — around $100 more than the contemporary ES-335TD.

The model's life was remarkably brief. Its only appearance in a main US Gibson catalogue came in 1980, making the Pro an interesting snapshot of the period when Gibson was experimenting with ways to adapt established designs to the higher-output rock sounds of the late 1970s and early 1980s.

This particular guitar's 73309014 serial number is especially interesting. Gibson's YDDDYRRR serial format decodes it to the 330th day of 1979 — 26 November 1979. The final production ranking of 014 falls within the 001–499 range Gibson identifies with its Kalamazoo, Michigan factory before that plant closed in 1984.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
Brand	Gibson
Model	ES-335 Pro
Year	1979
Finish	Cherry
Construction	Semi-Hollow with Centre Block
Body Material	Maple
Neck Construction	Set Neck
Neck Material	3-Piece Maple
Headstock Construction	5-Piece
Fingerboard	Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlays	Pearl Dots
Scale Length	24 3/4"
Number of Frets	22
Headstock Pitch	14°
Factory Pickup Configuration	HH
Factory Pickup Specification	2 x Uncovered Gibson Dirty Fingers Humbuckers
Electronics	Passive
Pickup Selector	3-Way Toggle
Bridge	Tune-O-Matic
Tailpiece	Gibson TP-6 Fine-Tuning Stop Bar
Hardware	Chrome
Serial Number	73309014
Production Location	Kalamazoo, Michigan
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good

The period ES-335 Pro specification documents a maple body, three-piece maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets, 24¾" scale, 14-degree headstock pitch and uncovered high-output Dirty Fingers humbuckers.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the guitar's passive electronics.

Connect it to a guitar amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or suitable audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

Buying Pre-Owned can provide access to discontinued guitars and unusual periods of production that simply cannot be replicated by choosing from a current catalogue.

A guitar such as the ES-335 Pro is a good example: its short production period, late-'70s specification and distinct place within Gibson history make the individual instrument itself an important part of the buying decision.

At Fair Deal Music, our Pre-Owned guitars are individually assessed and checked before sale, helping customers buy older and vintage instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict 🎵

★★★★★ 5/5

The 1979 Gibson ES-335 Pro Cherry is a superb choice for the player who loves the feel and resonance of a Gibson semi-hollow but wants something more unusual and rock-focused than a conventional 335. Its short production history, late-'70s construction and powerful Pro specification give it genuine personality, while the fitted Gibson TP-6 adds a useful fine-tuning feature.

Best suited for: Rock, blues and hard-rock players looking for an unusual vintage Gibson semi-hollow.

Customers usually upgrade from: Modern ES-335-style guitars, Epiphone semi-hollows and more conventional twin-humbucker instruments.

Most commonly paired with: Valve amplifiers, boost and overdrive pedals, classic distortion, delay and reverb.

Our tip: The ES-335 Pro deserves to be judged as its own model rather than simply as another vintage 335 — its stronger rock orientation is a major part of what makes it interesting.

Showroom feedback: This is the kind of late-'70s Gibson that appeals both to serious players and enthusiasts looking beyond the most familiar vintage specifications.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps players find the right equipment whether they're buying their first serious instrument, upgrading an existing guitar or searching for something distinctive within the Pre-Owned and vintage market.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Decades of experience buying and selling guitars
• Large Birmingham showroom
• Secure online ordering
• UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after purchase
• Extensive experience with vintage, used and Pre-Owned instruments

For an individual vintage guitar such as this Gibson, our team can also help with questions about condition, suitability and whether the instrument is right for your playing requirements.

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're upgrading your guitar, amplifier, keyboard, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of gear you no longer use while making your next instrument more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a semi-hollow guitar work well with overdrive and distortion?

Yes. The solid centre block helps control feedback compared with a fully hollow electric guitar, while the semi-hollow construction retains additional resonance. At very high stage volumes, feedback can still become part of the playing experience and may require sensible amplifier positioning.

Is the shorter Gibson scale comfortable for lead playing?

The 24¾" Gibson scale gives the strings a slightly softer feel than a typical 25.5" scale guitar when using the same string gauge, making bends and vibrato particularly comfortable for many players.

What string gauge works well on an ES-335 Pro?

A 10–46 set is a popular all-round starting point for a Gibson-scale semi-hollow guitar. Players wanting a lighter feel can choose a lighter gauge, while heavier strings can suit lower tunings or players who prefer more resistance.

Can this guitar be used with modern pedals and amp modellers?

Yes. Its conventional passive electric-guitar output works with traditional amplifiers, pedalboards, multi-effects units, digital amp modellers and compatible recording interfaces.

What care is sensible for a Gibson from 1979?

Avoid rapid temperature changes, prolonged extremes of humidity and unnecessary exposure to heat or direct sunlight. Regular string changes, sensible cleaning and periodic professional setup checks are worthwhile for an instrument of this age.

Can I get a closer look at this individual guitar before ordering?

Yes. For a distinctive vintage instrument such as this, our Request a Video Demo option is particularly useful if you would like a closer look before making your decision.