Electric Guitar Review

Not sure how I missed the official announcement on this one, but Gibson has apparently added another guitar to their drool-inducing ‘Inspired By’ line, and it’s a beauty––the Limited Edition Roy Orbison ES-335.

The guitar is based on an early ’80s model ES-335 that Orbison played in his famous 1987 televised concert “Roy Orbison & Friends: A Black & White Night,” and which he used extensively during his stint with “super group” the Travelling Wilburys.

According to Gibson’s website, Custom Shop engineers managed to get their hands on a pair of Orbison’s guitars from this period, and the resulting specs were used to develop the Roy Orbison ES-335. Unique features include a one-piece mahogany neck with vintage 1959 rounded profile, holly headstock veneer with vintage tulip tuners, and antiqued ebony-finished hardware.

The Gibson ‘Inspired By’ Roy Orbison ES-335 Features–

• Maple Top, Back, And Sides
• Mahogany Neck With Long Tenon (1959 Rounded Profile)
• 24 3/4“ Scale-Length
• Rosewood Fretboard With 22 Frets
• Cream Binding On Top, Back & Neck
• Dual ’57 Classic Humbuckers
• Two Volume & Two Tone Controls
• 3-Way Pickup Switching
• Signature Engraved On Truss Rod Cover
• Roy Orbison ”Stamp“ On Back Of Headstock
• Antiqued Nickel ABR-1 Bridge & TP-6 Tailpiece

This one’s bound to be incredibly expensive, but for the rabid ES-335 fan (see my hands-on review) it’s certainly worth taking a look at. The ES-335 isn’t a cheap guitar to begin with, so what’s a few extra bucks, right? *cough!*