Soon we will have a new ES 330 A concept from the Music Machine days now reailty
Back in the Summer of 2002 Dave Carpenter and I talked about doing many custom runs. Some of them that came true were the Stinger Series, Koa 356's, Chambered Customs, Real Feels, and the list goes on and on. Music Machine took in a vintage sunburst ES 330 on trade and I thought about buying it many times and I used to call the store and talk to Dave for hours about how great 330's are. Finally after a couple of months Dave told me if I did'nt buy it he was going to so I called his bluff and guess what, he bought it.
Its no secret and everyone here knows about my passion and love for the 330. Dave and I used to reminence about old Casinos and ES 330's and how these really were some of the best guitars Gibson ever made during the 60's but just don't get the respect they deserve. With the 330 always taking the back seat to the 335 Dave reminded me that a 330 is a players guitar. I concurred and told Dave that real players know that a 330 is a great guitar and probably one of if not thee most versatile guitars Gibson ever made. Remember that kid from England that bought a Casino and became one of the best song writers ever and it was not long after his mates John and George had to have one. Some of the most recognized songs in the world were written and recorded on 330/Casino guitars.
Flash back to 2002 I told Dave how great it would be if we could get Gibson to make us the 330 that never was! We wanted these guitars for ourselves to play and take to a gig but it had to have all the important specs that a true player would want in his guitar. We wanted 1 guitar for the entire gig without having to change guitars or bring muntiple guitars to the gig but yet could handle many different genres of music. We kicked around many ideas and we put our heads together and came up with what we thought a true player would want in his work horse. Soon after our dream 330 was a concept on paper some of Gibson's policies changed and Music Machine was sold so I just figured the project was a squash.
Fast forward to July 2008 Dave tracked me down during the NAMM show and threw a case up on the table and said I want you to take a look at this guitar for me! With Dave you never know what could be in that case but low and behold it was the prototype ES 330 we talked about 6 years ago made by Gibson Custom. I took it out of the case and I was blown away. I could not believe my eyes. This thing had all the features of a 59 ES 330 but all the modern features to make it a great players guitar plus some other things only found on the high end arch tops like the L5 and Super 400.
Because me and so many others here have had such a jones for an updated verison on the 330 I emailed Dave the other day and he told me these guitars should start shipping by the of September and pre-orders will be available on the Muscians Friend web sight any day now.
Back in the Summer of 2002 Dave Carpenter and I talked about doing many custom runs. Some of them that came true were the Stinger Series, Koa 356's, Chambered Customs, Real Feels, and the list goes on and on. Music Machine took in a vintage sunburst ES 330 on trade and I thought about buying it many times and I used to call the store and talk to Dave for hours about how great 330's are. Finally after a couple of months Dave told me if I did'nt buy it he was going to so I called his bluff and guess what, he bought it.
Its no secret and everyone here knows about my passion and love for the 330. Dave and I used to reminence about old Casinos and ES 330's and how these really were some of the best guitars Gibson ever made during the 60's but just don't get the respect they deserve. With the 330 always taking the back seat to the 335 Dave reminded me that a 330 is a players guitar. I concurred and told Dave that real players know that a 330 is a great guitar and probably one of if not thee most versatile guitars Gibson ever made. Remember that kid from England that bought a Casino and became one of the best song writers ever and it was not long after his mates John and George had to have one. Some of the most recognized songs in the world were written and recorded on 330/Casino guitars.
Flash back to 2002 I told Dave how great it would be if we could get Gibson to make us the 330 that never was! We wanted these guitars for ourselves to play and take to a gig but it had to have all the important specs that a true player would want in his guitar. We wanted 1 guitar for the entire gig without having to change guitars or bring muntiple guitars to the gig but yet could handle many different genres of music. We kicked around many ideas and we put our heads together and came up with what we thought a true player would want in his work horse. Soon after our dream 330 was a concept on paper some of Gibson's policies changed and Music Machine was sold so I just figured the project was a squash.
Fast forward to July 2008 Dave tracked me down during the NAMM show and threw a case up on the table and said I want you to take a look at this guitar for me! With Dave you never know what could be in that case but low and behold it was the prototype ES 330 we talked about 6 years ago made by Gibson Custom. I took it out of the case and I was blown away. I could not believe my eyes. This thing had all the features of a 59 ES 330 but all the modern features to make it a great players guitar plus some other things only found on the high end arch tops like the L5 and Super 400.
Because me and so many others here have had such a jones for an updated verison on the 330 I emailed Dave the other day and he told me these guitars should start shipping by the of September and pre-orders will be available on the Muscians Friend web sight any day now.
Last edited:
That looks like a mighty fine guitar ... I want one! (and can't afford one BTW)
