audiobriefs
9:12in productionCh. 1 · Top of the Line/ 9:12 · ceiling 15 min
Guitars & amps

Gibson ES-355

Gibson · 1958

The ES-355 is over-engineered elegance that most players immediately neuter.

The ES-355 is Gibson’s most complex semi-hollow — a stereo, varitone-equipped evolution of the ES-335. It launched in mono in 1958, added stereo in 1959, and was discontinued in 1984 after failing to meet commercial expectations. Many players disabled the varitone. Gibson revived it in 2018.

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Chapters & takeaways4
  1. 0:53
    Top of the Line

    It was Gibson’s flagship semi-hollow: the TDSV — Thinline Dual Pickup Stereo Varitone.

  2. 2:36
    Stereo and Switched

    It launched mono in 1958, went stereo in 1959, and always included the varitone circuit.

  3. 4:05
    Varitone Rejected

    Most players cut the varitone out — preferring raw mono tone over its filtered options.

  4. 5:53
    A Flop Revived

    It failed commercially next to the ES-335 — and wasn’t revived until 2018.

Worth your time?

Yes. Use the whole thing.

2.5/ 5
What works
  • as a statement piece
  • as a platform for tonal experimentation — if modified
What does not
  • deliver consistent tone
  • justify its complexity for most players
Use it if
  • players who want to explore varitone filtering
  • collectors interested in Gibson’s high-end 1950s–80s designs
Skip it if
  • players seeking reliability or simplicity
  • those unwilling to modify or bypass the varitone
The written brief1 min read

What it is and what it was built for

The ES-355 is Gibson’s top-of-the-line semi-hollow Thinline Dual Pickup Stereo Varitone (TDSV), built from 1958 to 1984 and revived in 2018.

How it works, in terms a player would use

It routes signal through a varitone circuit with selectable filters, and splits output to stereo jacks. Players engage the varitone via a rotary switch. Many disabled it entirely to play mono.

What it does better than anything else

It offers more tonal variation in one instrument than the ES-335 — but only if you accept the varitone’s trade-offs.

What it does badly

It delivers inconsistent tonal control: the varitone is widely rejected as muddy or unusable. Its complexity undermines reliability and simplicity of operation.

What people made with it

No verified examples of recordings, players, or works made with it appear in the source material.

Who should use it, and who should not

Players who value vintage semi-hollow aesthetics and want to experiment with varitone filtering — not those seeking dependable, straightforward tone.

Is it worth your time

Only if you want a semi-hollow Gibson with varitone flexibility — and are prepared to bypass or rewire it for reliable tone.

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