1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot Blonde Ebony Fretboard, (Used, Comm)

The 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot Blonde with ebony fretboard is a vintage USA-made semi-hollow electric guitar with classic ES-335 tone, elegant dot-neck styling and a highly desirable natural/blonde finish. Combining the warmth and air of a semi-hollow body with the sustain and control of a centre-block design, the ES-335 remains one of the most versatile electric guitars ever made.

This pre-owned vintage example is listed in Very Good condition, meaning it shows light signs of previous use while remaining fully functional and ready to play.

Supplied with a Gibson hardcase, this 1989 ES-335 Dot is a superb choice for players and collectors looking for a vintage Gibson semi-hollow with a striking Blonde finish, ebony fingerboard feel and timeless Gibson tone for blues, jazz, rock, soul, indie and studio work.

At A Glance

Key Detail	Information
Brand	Gibson
Model	ES-335 Dot
Year	1989
Finish	Blonde / Natural
Country of Manufacture	USA
Type	Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
Body Style	Double-Cut ES Semi-Hollow
Construction	Semi-Hollow with Centre Block
Fingerboard	Ebony
Inlays	Dot Inlays
Pickup Configuration	HH
Electronics	Passive
Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone
Switching	3-Way Toggle
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good Condition
Included	Gibson Hardcase
Main Appeal	Vintage USA ES-335 Dot with Blonde finish and ebony fretboard
Best For	Blues, jazz, rock, soul, indie, worship, recording and live performance

Condition Overview

Very Good Condition

This 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot is in Very Good condition. This means it shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership, but remains fully functional and ready to play.

As a vintage 1989 instrument, light age-related wear should be expected and forms part of the guitar’s character. Very Good condition is ideal for players who want a clean, usable vintage Gibson rather than a heavily worn example.

What’s Included?

✔ 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot Blonde Electric Guitar
✔ Gibson Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This guitar shows light signs of previous use such as small marks, light surface scratches, minor dings, light finish wear, hardware ageing or general handling wear consistent with Very Good vintage condition.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing. The guitar has been checked for playability and functionality before sale.

The supplied Gibson hardcase is included with the guitar.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This pre-owned vintage Gibson ES-335 Dot has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before being offered for sale.

Our checks include:

• Electronics tested
• Humbuckers checked
• 3-way pickup selector tested
• Volume and tone controls checked
• Output jack tested
• Frets inspected
• Ebony fingerboard checked
• Neck condition assessed
• Tuners checked
• Bridge checked
• Stopbar tailpiece checked
• Hardware inspected
• Semi-hollow body checked for visible structural concerns
• General playability assessed
• Gibson hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All pre-owned guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

This 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot has been assessed for playability, with the following checked:

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

Please note that guitar setup can sometimes shift slightly during delivery due to changes in temperature and humidity. We take this into account during our checks, but wood can naturally move in transit.

Why Choose The 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot Blonde?

Genuine Vintage Gibson ES Character

A 1989 ES-335 Dot offers genuine vintage Gibson appeal from a highly respected period of USA production. It delivers the classic semi-hollow voice, comfortable double-cutaway feel and musical versatility that made the ES-335 a professional standard.

Blonde Finish Appeal

The Blonde / Natural finish gives this ES-335 a refined, premium look that shows off the classic Gibson semi-hollow body shape beautifully. It is less common than Cherry or Sunburst and has strong visual appeal for both stage and collection use.

Ebony Fingerboard Feel

The supplied specification lists an ebony fretboard, which gives this guitar an extra point of interest. Ebony is smooth, dense and fast under the fingers, and it adds a premium feel compared with the more common rosewood-board ES-335 Dot format.

Semi-Hollow Centre-Block Construction

The ES-335 design combines hollowbody warmth with solidbody-style sustain and feedback control. The centre block gives the guitar focus and stability at higher volume while retaining the open, resonant response players love in a semi-hollow instrument.

Dual Humbucker Versatility

The HH pickup layout gives the guitar a broad range of tones. The neck pickup is warm and smooth, the bridge pickup offers bite and definition, and the middle position provides balanced rhythm tones with unmistakable ES-335 character.

Dot-Neck Simplicity

The dot inlays keep the look clean, classic and understated. For many players, the dot-neck ES-335 is the essential version of the model.

Gibson Hardcase Included

The included Gibson hardcase provides proper protection for storage, transport, rehearsals and gigs.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot vs Modern Gibson ES-335

A modern ES-335 offers current production consistency and fresh-condition reliability. A 1989 ES-335 Dot offers genuine vintage age, period character and the appeal of an older USA-made Gibson.

1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot vs ES-335 Block Inlay

A block-inlay ES-335 has a slightly more ornate visual style. The Dot model has a cleaner and more understated look that many players prefer for its vintage simplicity.

1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot vs Gibson Les Paul Standard

A Les Paul Standard gives a thicker solidbody voice with more focused sustain. The ES-335 is more open, airy and responsive, making it ideal for players who want semi-hollow warmth and broader clean-to-drive versatility.

1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot vs Gibson ES-345

An ES-345 often adds extra appointments and model-specific wiring features depending on year. The ES-335 is more direct, making it ideal for players who want the core Gibson semi-hollow experience.

Who Is It For?

Vintage Gibson Players

This is ideal for guitarists who want the feel, sound and history of a genuine late-1980s USA Gibson.

Blues Players

The ES-335 is legendary for blues thanks to its vocal sustain, warm neck pickup tone and expressive semi-hollow response.

Jazz And Soul Guitarists

The smooth neck pickup, open body character and dynamic touch response make it excellent for jazz chords, soul rhythm work and melodic clean playing.

Rock And Indie Players

The centre-block construction helps the ES-335 handle overdrive, pedals and stage volume more confidently than a fully hollow guitar.

Studio Musicians

A vintage ES-335 can add warmth, clarity and body to recordings without sounding overly compressed or muddy.

Collectors And Long-Term Owners

A 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot in Blonde with ebony fretboard has strong appeal for players and collectors looking for a more distinctive ES-335 configuration.

Why Choose A Vintage Gibson ES-335?

A vintage Gibson ES-335 gives players one of the most useful electric guitar designs ever created. The semi-hollow body adds warmth and acoustic depth, while the centre block gives enough sustain, focus and feedback resistance for real-world amplified performance.

That combination makes the ES-335 incredibly adaptable. It can sound smooth and rounded through a clean amp, expressive and vocal with blues overdrive, and full-bodied through classic rock gain settings. It also responds beautifully to pedals, making it useful for both traditional and modern players.

A 1989 Dot model adds late-1980s Gibson character, and this Blonde example with ebony fretboard is especially appealing for players who want something more unusual than a standard Cherry or Sunburst ES-335.

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

Story & Context: 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot

The Gibson ES-335 was introduced in 1958 and quickly became one of the most important electric guitar designs of the 20th century. Its semi-hollow body with a solid centre block gave players a practical middle ground between hollowbody warmth and solidbody feedback control.

The ES-335 Dot Reissue format revived the cleaner early ES-335 look, using dot inlays and a more understated appearance compared with later block-inlay models. By the late 1980s, the ES-335 Dot had become a highly desirable choice for players who wanted traditional Gibson semi-hollow tone with a classic visual identity.

This 1989 Blonde example, supplied in Very Good condition with a Gibson hardcase, is a vintage USA Gibson with strong musical presence and long-term ownership appeal.

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Type	Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar
Brand	Gibson
Model	ES-335 Dot
Year	1989
Finish	Blonde / Natural
Country of Manufacture	USA
Body Shape	ES Double Cutaway
Body Construction	Semi-Hollow with Centre Block
Neck Construction	Set Neck
Fingerboard Material	Ebony
Fingerboard Inlays	Dot Inlays
Scale Length	24.75"
Number of Frets	22
Pickup Configuration	HH
Electronics	Passive
Controls	2 Volume, 2 Tone
Switching	3-Way Toggle Switch
Bridge	Tune-O-Matic Style Bridge
Tailpiece	Stopbar Tailpiece
String Configuration	6-String
Included	Gibson Hardcase
Condition	Pre-Owned, Very Good Condition

Specification Note

This listing is based on the supplied product details and available reference information for late-1980s Gibson ES-335 Dot Reissue instruments.

The supplied details list this guitar as a 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot Blonde with ebony fretboard. Ebony-board ES-335 Dot examples from this period are less commonly encountered than rosewood-board examples, so the fingerboard material should be confirmed directly from the guitar if collector-level accuracy is required.

No serial number has been supplied for this listing. Exact production date, pickup model, pickup originality, pot codes, neck profile, weight, case originality, paperwork and any historic repair details should be confirmed directly from the instrument before making collector-level claims.

Power Requirements

No power supply or battery is required. This is a passive electric guitar and only needs a standard 1/4" instrument cable and a suitable guitar amplifier, pedalboard or audio interface.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot Blonde with ebony fretboard is a superb vintage semi-hollow for players who want classic Gibson tone, elegant looks and real late-1980s USA character. Its semi-hollow centre-block construction, dual humbucker layout, dot-neck styling and Blonde finish make it an excellent choice for blues, jazz, rock, soul, indie, worship, studio work and live performance.

This Very Good condition example, supplied with a Gibson hardcase, is ideal for players and collectors who want a distinctive vintage ES-335 that remains practical enough for regular use.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

Choosing Fair Deal Music means buying from a passionate team of musicians who genuinely understand the products we sell. Whether you're purchasing your first instrument, upgrading your current setup or searching for something special, we're here to help you make the right choice with friendly advice and expert support.

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

Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
Carefully checked new, used, pre-owned and ex-display equipment
Competitive prices on leading music brands
Secure UK-wide delivery
Flexible finance options available (subject to status)
Friendly support before and after your purchase
A trusted independent UK music retailer with decades of experience

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 looking to upgrade your guitar, keyboard, amplifier, 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 the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

FAQ

What condition is this 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot in?

This guitar is listed in Very Good condition, meaning it shows light signs of previous use while remaining fully functional.

Does this guitar come with a hardcase?

Yes. This 1989 Gibson ES-335 Dot comes with a Gibson hardcase.

What finish is this guitar?

This guitar has a Blonde / Natural finish.

Does this ES-335 have an ebony fretboard?

The supplied details list this guitar with an ebony fretboard. Ebony-board ES-335 Dot examples from this period are less common than rosewood-board examples, so this detail adds to the guitar’s interest.

Is this a vintage Gibson?

Yes. This is a 1989 USA-made Gibson ES-335 Dot.

Is this a semi-hollow guitar?

Yes. The ES-335 is a semi-hollow electric guitar with a centre block.

What styles does this ES-335 suit?

It suits blues, jazz, rock, soul, funk, indie, pop, Americana, worship music, studio recording and live performance.

Does it require a battery?

No. This is a passive electric guitar and does not require a battery.

Is this suitable as a main gigging guitar?

Yes. It has been checked for playability and functionality, and the ES-335 design is highly practical for stage and studio work.

Can I try this guitar in-store?

Fair Deal Music has a large Birmingham showroom, and our team can offer advice on Gibson ES-335 models, vintage Gibsons and pre-owned semi-hollow electrics.