Learn the blues styles of 10 iconic Gibson ES-335 guitarists

GTC335 ES-335 Lesson
(Image credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images; David Redfern/Redferns; Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The Gibson ES-335 was initially introduced in 1958. It was designed to combine the aesthetics of a regular arched-top f-hole styled semi-acoustic electric guitar with the volume and sustaining properties of a solidbody. 

This came courtesy of Ted McCarty’s inspired decision to include a solid centre block upon which you could mount both the pickups and the bridge, with just the sides left hollow to add a sense of moving air and allowing for greater dynamic range. 

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John Wheatcroft

John is Head of Guitar at BIMM London and a visiting lecturer for the University of West London (London College of Music) and Chester University. He's performed with artists including Billy Cobham (Miles Davis), John Williams, Frank Gambale (Chick Corea) and Carl Verheyen (Supertramp), and toured the world with John Jorgenson and Carl Palmer.