1968 GibsonES-355TDR – Natural Rosewood (Ex Tony Mottola)
If you’re looking for an extraordinary, museum-level crown jewel for your collection, this original 1968 Gibson ES-355TDR custom-ordered for Tony Mottola is the one. Mr. Mottola was a prolific jazz player throughout his career, spanning from the 1930s into the 1980s. He played on legendary TV Shows like The Tonight Show and with artists like Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles.
This guitar was custom-made for Mottola, with highly unique specs and electronics. It features a full rosewood body, matching rosewood pickguard and tailpiece insert, and pearl side dots. The tailpiece itself features a mother-of-pearl block inlay bearing Mottola’s name. The center seam purfling pattern at the back of the body separates two beautifully bookmatched pieces of rosewood. These two pickups are low impedance, and there are 23 frets. The rest of the outward specs match a 355 from this era, with gold hardware and an ebony board with block inlays. It is also very reminiscent of Gibson’s Crest model, which we have no doubt some inspiration and appointments were drawn from. There’s no doubt that this guitar is stunning. However, the electronics are really what makes this guitar so unique. The electronics of this guitar are quite complicated at first glance, so inside the case is a diagram explaining the function of each switch and knob. In a nutshell, this guitar has both low and high-impedance capabilities. The pickup jack on the front of the body corresponds with the low impedance, and the pickup jack on the side goes with the high. In place of one of the volume knobs is a decade rotary with 11 positions, which works in conjunction with the two tone knobs. The other volume knob is a master. There is also an in and out of phase switch, a tone selector switch, and a typical toggle switch. The decade rotary is similar to a varitone in its use. Specifically, it allows you to run the pickups in and out of phase for several different configurations.
Along with the original case and electronics diagram, this guitar comes with a framed record of Tony Mottola’s 1983 Record “All The Way.” Mottola is pictured with this guitar on the cover, and the guitar is also displayed on the back of the record.
Condition: 9.5
Specifications:
- Finish Details: Natural Rosewood, Original, Excellent Condition, slight finish checking but otherwise quite clean
- Body Material: Rosewood
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fretboard Material: Ebony
- Neck Profile: Medium C
- Weight: 9 lbs 5 oz
- Scale Length: 24-3/4”
- Pickup Readings: N: 4.10K B: 4.12K
- Electronics: Original, Untouched
- Hardware: Original, Near Mint, little to no wear throughout
- Nut Width: 1-11/16”
- Includes: Original Black Hardshell Case with orange lining, Tony Mottola “All The Way” Record featuring this guitar on the cover, electronics diagram sheet
Sku: G219
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We’d be happy to give you an in-hand description of the guitar. All of our guitars are properly set up by John Bertsche, our brilliant guitar tech, and will be professionally packed with care.