The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 in Ebony is a premium recreation of Gibson’s flagship late-1950s ES model, combining vintage-inspired semi-hollow construction with genuine USA Gibson Custombucker pickups and high-grade electronics.

Its 5-ply layered maple/poplar body with solid maple centre block is paired with a one-piece mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard, while luxurious appointments including multi-ply binding, mother-of-pearl block inlays, Split Diamond headstock inlay and gold hardware give it the unmistakable appearance of a top-of-the-range ES-355.

The electronics are a particular highlight. Two Gibson Custombuckers are hand-wired to CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors and Switchcraft components, bringing this model considerably closer to Gibson Custom territory than a conventional Epiphone semi-hollow.

This Pre-Owned Ebony example is offered in Very Good condition and includes a hardcase.

At A Glance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Very Good Condition

This Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Ebony is offered in Very Good condition.

Very Good condition means the guitar shows some cosmetic wear consistent with careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional and suitable for continued stage, studio, rehearsal and home use.

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

What’s Included?

✔ Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Ebony
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

This individual ES-355 has been graded Very Good, making it an attractive choice for somebody looking for one of Epiphone’s highest-specification semi-hollow models while benefiting from Pre-Owned value.

The combination of Ebony finish, extensive binding, mother-of-pearl detailing and gold hardware gives it a particularly formal, high-end appearance.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Epiphone ES-355 has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Neck Gibson Custombucker
• Bridge Gibson Custombucker
• Three-way Switchcraft pickup selector
• Individual volume and tone controls
• Output socket
• Frets
• Ebony fingerboard
• Neck condition
• Grover tuning machines
• Tune-O-Matic bridge
• Stopbar tailpiece
• Hardware
• Intonation
• Tuning stability
• Overall playability

The supplied hardcase is also 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, neck relief, fret condition, intonation, tuning stability, electronics, pickup balance, bridge setup, hardware and overall playability.

Semi-hollow guitars can respond to changes in temperature and humidity, so minor setup movement during delivery or acclimatisation is normal.

Why Choose The Epiphone 1959 ES-355?

USA Gibson Custombucker Pickups

One of the biggest distinctions between this guitar and more conventional Epiphone semi-hollows is the use of genuine Gibson Custombucker humbuckers.

These pickups are closely associated with Gibson Custom’s historic instruments and are voiced around vintage PAF-style response rather than modern high output.

Expect a clear top end, open mids and plenty of dynamic response when controlling gain from the guitar.

Premium CTS, Mallory And Switchcraft Electronics

The pickup specification is supported by an unusually strong electronics package.

Epiphone uses CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors and Switchcraft components, giving the control system a specification far closer to premium Gibson-style construction than is typical at this level.

Solid Maple Centre Block

The ES-355 is semi-hollow rather than fully hollow.

A solid maple centre block runs through the body, providing a firm mounting platform for the pickups and bridge while helping reduce uncontrolled feedback at higher stage volumes.

This construction is a major reason ES-style guitars work so effectively across both jazz and driven rock applications.

Ebony Fingerboard

The fingerboard is genuine ebony, in keeping with the luxurious positioning historically associated with the ES-355.

It provides a smooth, hard playing surface and is decorated with large mother-of-pearl block inlays.

50s Rounded Medium C Neck

The one-piece mahogany neck uses a 50s Rounded Medium C profile.

It has more substance than a very slim modern neck without moving into an excessively large vintage carve, giving the instrument a reassuring feel for rhythm and lead playing alike.

What Makes An ES-355 Different From An ES-335?

The ES-335 established the fundamental semi-hollow format: twin cutaways, centre block and two humbuckers.

The ES-355 was conceived as the top-of-the-range expression of that platform.

Its more luxurious appointments traditionally include an ebony fingerboard, block inlays, elaborate headstock decoration, multi-ply binding and gold hardware.

This Inspired by Gibson Custom version recreates those details particularly closely, giving it much more of the visual presence of Gibson’s flagship ES model than a conventional 335-style guitar.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

1959 ES-355 vs Epiphone ES-335

A standard Epiphone ES-335 provides the core semi-hollow experience at a substantially lower price. The 1959 ES-355 adds USA Gibson Custombuckers, premium electronics, ebony fingerboard, more elaborate binding and upgraded hardware.

1959 ES-355 vs Gibson ES-335

A Gibson USA ES-335 offers USA manufacture and its own premium construction. This Epiphone approaches the concept from a different direction, concentrating on historically inspired appointments and genuine Gibson Custom pickups at a lower price point.

1959 ES-355 vs Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Reissue

The Gibson Custom version goes considerably further with USA Custom Shop manufacture, period-correct materials and construction details. The Epiphone is designed to reproduce much of the visual and tonal concept at a substantially more accessible level.

ES-355 vs Epiphone Sheraton

Both are highly decorated semi-hollow guitars. The ES-355 is more explicitly rooted in Gibson’s historic flagship ES specification, while the Sheraton has its own distinct Epiphone heritage and aesthetic identity.

Who Is It For?

Blues Players

The Custombuckers respond particularly well to edge-of-breakup amplifiers and dynamic control from the guitar’s volume knobs.

Jazz Guitarists

The neck pickup and semi-hollow construction provide the warm, rounded response associated with classic jazz guitar sounds.

Rock Players

The centre block allows the guitar to handle overdrive and higher stage levels much more effectively than a fully hollow instrument.

Soul And R&B Players

Clean and lightly driven settings provide excellent clarity for chordal work, double-stops and melodic fills.

Studio Musicians

The ES-355 format is particularly valuable in recording because it occupies a tonal space between a solid-body humbucker guitar and a fully hollow archtop.

Players Wanting Premium Gibson-Style Specification

The USA pickups, premium electronics, ebony board and elaborate appointments make this particularly appealing to someone who wants more than a conventional mid-range Epiphone.

Suitable Genres And Uses

The Epiphone 1959 ES-355 is particularly well suited to:

• Blues
• Jazz
• Blues rock
• Classic rock
• Soul
• R&B
• Indie
• Alternative
• Fusion
• Pop
• Americana
• Studio recording
• Session work
• Rhythm guitar
• Lead guitar
• Live performance

Why Gibson Custombuckers Matter

Gibson Custombuckers are designed around the character of late-1950s PAF humbuckers.

Rather than relying on extremely high output, they focus on clarity, harmonic detail and dynamic response.

That is particularly useful in a semi-hollow guitar, where the extra acoustic resonance of the body combines with the pickups’ open character.

Played clean, the ES-355 can sound detailed and spacious. Add moderate overdrive and the pickups retain definition without becoming overly compressed.

Story & Context: The 1959 ES-355

Gibson introduced the ES-355 in 1958 as the most luxurious member of its newly developed thinline semi-hollow family.

The underlying centre-block concept was shared with the ES-335, but the ES-355 added significantly more elaborate cosmetic appointments and premium materials.

By 1959, the ES range had become firmly established, and that year has subsequently become one of the most celebrated periods in Gibson electric-guitar history.

The ES-355’s ebony fingerboard, block inlays, Split Diamond headstock detail, multi-ply binding and gold hardware established it as the flagship of the family.

The Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 was developed by Epiphone in partnership with Gibson Custom to recreate those core details much more closely than previous mainstream Epiphone interpretations.

Technical Specifications

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required.

The Gibson Custombuckers and traditional four-control electronics are entirely passive.

Connect the guitar directly to an amplifier, pedalboard, modeller or recording interface with a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

High-specification models from the Inspired by Gibson Custom range can make especially attractive Pre-Owned purchases because much of their value lies in components and construction that remain relevant regardless of previous ownership.

This ES-355 includes USA Gibson Custombuckers, CTS electronics, Switchcraft components, ebony fingerboard and premium semi-hollow construction, giving it a specification considerably beyond a conventional entry-level semi-hollow.

Every Pre-Owned guitar at Fair Deal Music is individually checked and assessed before sale.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 Ebony is one of the most impressive examples yet of how far Epiphone’s premium range has moved.

The visual presentation is exactly what you want from a 355: Ebony finish, gold hardware, large mother-of-pearl blocks, Split Diamond headstock and extensive binding.

More importantly, the specification underneath is serious.

The USA Gibson Custombuckers, CTS pots, Mallory capacitors and Switchcraft hardware mean the electronics are not simply an afterthought added to an ornate guitar.

Best suited for: Blues, jazz, rock and soul players wanting a premium, vintage-inspired semi-hollow.

Customers usually upgrade from: Epiphone Dot and standard ES-335 models, Sheratons and other mid-range semi-hollow guitars.

Most commonly paired with: Clean or edge-of-breakup valve amplifiers, boost, overdrive, compressor, delay and reverb.

Our tip: Spend some time using the individual volume controls rather than leaving everything on ten. The Custombuckers respond extremely well when backed off slightly and can produce a surprisingly wide range of clean and mid-gain sounds.

Showroom feedback: This model feels much closer to the idea of a premium Gibson-style ES than a conventional Epiphone. The Custombuckers and ebony fingerboard make a meaningful difference, not just a specification-sheet difference.

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.

You can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Birmingham showroom
• More than 6,000 Excellent customer reviews
• Secure ordering
• Fast UK delivery
• Friendly support before and after your purchase
• Decades of experience with new and second hand musical equipment

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next guitar could cost less than you think.

Fair Deal Music buys and part-exchanges a wide range of guitars, basses, amplifiers, keyboards and other musical equipment.

Your existing gear could help reduce the cost of this Epiphone 1959 ES-355. Contact our team for a no-obligation valuation and we'll be happy to discuss your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a standard Epiphone ES-355?

No. This is the higher-specification Inspired by Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355, developed in partnership with Gibson Custom.

Does it use genuine Gibson pickups?

Yes. It is fitted with two genuine USA Gibson Custombucker humbuckers.

Is the fingerboard ebony?

Yes. The 1959 ES-355 uses a genuine ebony fingerboard with mother-of-pearl block inlays.

Is the guitar fully hollow?

No. It is semi-hollow, with a solid maple centre block running through the body.

What neck profile does it have?

It uses a 50s Rounded Medium C profile.

What is the scale length?

The scale length is 24.75" / 628.65mm.

Does it have premium electronics?

Yes. It uses CTS potentiometers, Mallory capacitors and Switchcraft pickup selector and output jack.

Does it need a battery?

No. The electronics are completely passive.

Is a hardcase included?

Yes. This Pre-Owned example includes a hardcase.

What condition is it in?

It is offered in Very Good condition, showing normal evidence of careful previous ownership while remaining fully functional.