Gibson ES-333
Encyclopedia
The Gibson ES-333 is a semi hollow body electric guitar made by Gibson Guitar Corporation
.
The ES-333 is quite similar to the Gibson ES-335, but varies from the ES-335 in the following ways:
The body is made of arched, laminated wood, with the exterior and interior laminations being made of maple. There is a maple central core in the body, to which the top and bottom, and neck are attached. The neck is one baulk of mahogany, with a rosewood fingerboard and pearloid dot markers. The hardware is nickle plated. As delivered by Gibson, the ES-333 had no pickup covers, nor pickguard, and came with black "bell" knobs. Switch tip color was alternately black or creme. The truss rod cover is unadorned, and the headstock overlay is the fibre material used on many contemporary Gibson models.
The ES-333 was available in "worn" brown and red finishes, which are thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer. These finishes will take on the appearance of old instruments, after a period of being played, through the action of the players hands rubbing the satin finish to a fairly glossy patina wherever the hands make frequent contact with the instrument. There were also natural (very light amber) and three color sunburst finishes available from some of the larger retailers.
with a Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker
in the bridge pickup position. Several other rockstars have used this such as Mark Sheehan
, as seen in The Man Who Can't Be Moved
video.
while touring with Box Car Racer
, which the guitar was eventully covered with stickers. While recording blink-182 with blink-182
, this guitar was often seen. During this same time period, his contract with Fender
was due to expire, and instead of renewing his contract, he switched to Gibson to make the custom Tom Delonge ES-333. The first guitar of this model was Brown w/ Orange Stripe, which is considered a prototype. Delonge has never used this guitar live, but instead uses it for recording and rehearsing. It has recently been scene on the Angles & Airwaves Facebook when the band was recording their album LOVE in 2009/2010. Delonge later had another model made, a Brown body w/ Cream Stripes, this guitar has become his main guitar. This guitar has been seen with the blink-182 smiley face or with the Angels & Airwaves "Moon-Man". After the indefinate hiatus of blink-182 in 2005, Angels & Airwaves formed. After their album We Don't Need To Whisper
, their tour was set out. Delonge had 3 3 new guitars. An Black w/ Black Stripe, which was used primarily for the song "The Adventure
" at the time. The second being a White w/ Black Stripes, which was used live often and featured in "The Adventure" video. And the third being a Cream w/ Black stripes, which wasn't used as much as the other 2. Once blink-182 reformed in 2009, Delonge used his basic Brown w/ Cream Stripes, which later had either a blink-182 smiley face or an Angels & Airwaves "Moon-Man", and used his Cream w/ Black Stripes, which later had scrapes, burns, and stickers applied to it. He used the same guitars for the following Angels & Airwaves tour in 2010, except his Black w/ Black Stripes guitar, which also had a Angels & Airwaves logo on it, as well as some scrapes and burns. For the Honda Civic Tour 2011, Delonge used his White w/ Black Stripes, which now has tape, scrapes, and burns on it, and used his Black w/ Black Stripes which now also has tape, scrapes, and burns on it. He used the Brown w/ Cream Stripes as a back-up for this tour. Tom also used a Black w/ Cream Stripes guitar, which is actully made by Baratto. This version of the guitar has no neckplate and was printed with a Natural, which as no stripe, and a copy of his basic Brown w/ Cream Stripes.
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
.
The ES-333 is quite similar to the Gibson ES-335, but varies from the ES-335 in the following ways:
- The finish is a thin satinSatinSatin is a weave that typically has a glossy surface and a dull back. It is a warp-dominated weaving technique that forms a minimum number of interlacings in a fabric. If a fabric is formed with a satin weave using filament fibres such as silk, nylon, or polyester, the corresponding fabric is...
finish, versus the ES-335's thicker full gloss finish. - The headstockHeadstockHeadstock or peghead is a part of guitar or similar stringed instrument. The main function of a headstock is holding the instrument's strings. Strings go from the bridge past the nut and are usually fixed on machine heads on headstock...
has a silkscreen Gibson logo, versus the ES-335's inlaid pearloidPearloidPearloid is a plastic that is intended to resemble mother of pearl. It is commonly used in making musical instruments, especially for pickguards, electric guitars, and accordions.-Production:...
logo. - The headstock has no further decorative inlay, versus the ES-335's "crown" headstock inlay.
- The pickups are Gibson type 490R and 498T, versus the ES-335's Gibson 57 Classic pickups.
- The back of the body has an access cover for the electronics, versus the solid rear of the ES-335.
- The binding is simple monolayered binding as opposed to striped binding on the ES-335
The body is made of arched, laminated wood, with the exterior and interior laminations being made of maple. There is a maple central core in the body, to which the top and bottom, and neck are attached. The neck is one baulk of mahogany, with a rosewood fingerboard and pearloid dot markers. The hardware is nickle plated. As delivered by Gibson, the ES-333 had no pickup covers, nor pickguard, and came with black "bell" knobs. Switch tip color was alternately black or creme. The truss rod cover is unadorned, and the headstock overlay is the fibre material used on many contemporary Gibson models.
The ES-333 was available in "worn" brown and red finishes, which are thin satin nitrocellulose lacquer. These finishes will take on the appearance of old instruments, after a period of being played, through the action of the players hands rubbing the satin finish to a fairly glossy patina wherever the hands make frequent contact with the instrument. There were also natural (very light amber) and three color sunburst finishes available from some of the larger retailers.
Tom DeLonge Signature
The Gibson Tom DeLonge Signature ES-333 is the signature guitar of Tom DeLongeTom DeLonge
Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr. is an American rock musician. He is the guitarist and one of the two lead vocalists for the American pop punk band Blink-182 as well as the guitarist and lead vocalist for the alternative band Angels & Airwaves...
with a Gibson Dirty Fingers humbucker
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
in the bridge pickup position. Several other rockstars have used this such as Mark Sheehan
Mark Sheehan
Mark Sheehan is an Irish singer-songwriter, guitarist and producer. From 1996 to 2001, he was a member of the band Mytown, and since 2001, he has been the guitarist for indie rock band The Script.-Biography:Sheehan was born in Mount Brown in The Liberties area of Dublin...
, as seen in The Man Who Can't Be Moved
The Man Who Can't Be Moved
"The Man Who Can't Be Moved" is the second single from Irish band The Script from their album The Script. The song was released on July 25, 2008. The song has been used heavily for the CBS show Ghost Whisperer during its fourth season. This song served as their radio promotional single in the...
video.
History
Tom Delonge first started with a basic red Gibson ES-335Gibson ES-335
The Gibson ES-335 is the world's first commercial thinline arched-top semi-acoustic electric guitar. Released by the Gibson Guitar Corporation as part of its ES series in 1958, it is neither hollow nor solid; instead, a solid wood block runs through the center of its body...
while touring with Box Car Racer
Box Car Racer
Box Car Racer was a short-lived American post-hardcore band from San Diego, California, formed in 2002. The band was a side-project of guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Travis Barker of Blink-182, along with lead guitarist David Kennedy of Hazen Street, and touring bassist Anthony Celestino...
, which the guitar was eventully covered with stickers. While recording blink-182 with blink-182
Blink-182
Blink-182 is an American rock band consisting of vocalist and bass guitarist Mark Hoppus, vocalist and guitarist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. They have sold over 27 million albums worldwide since forming in Poway, California in 1992...
, this guitar was often seen. During this same time period, his contract with Fender
Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, commonly referred to as simply Fender, of Scottsdale, Arizona is a manufacturer of stringed instruments and amplifiers, such as solid-body electric guitars, including the Stratocaster and the Telecaster...
was due to expire, and instead of renewing his contract, he switched to Gibson to make the custom Tom Delonge ES-333. The first guitar of this model was Brown w/ Orange Stripe, which is considered a prototype. Delonge has never used this guitar live, but instead uses it for recording and rehearsing. It has recently been scene on the Angles & Airwaves Facebook when the band was recording their album LOVE in 2009/2010. Delonge later had another model made, a Brown body w/ Cream Stripes, this guitar has become his main guitar. This guitar has been seen with the blink-182 smiley face or with the Angels & Airwaves "Moon-Man". After the indefinate hiatus of blink-182 in 2005, Angels & Airwaves formed. After their album We Don't Need To Whisper
We Don't Need to Whisper
We Don't Need to Whisper is the debut album by American rock band Angels & Airwaves. It was released on May 20, 2006 in Australia, on May 22 in the UK, and on May 23 in North America....
, their tour was set out. Delonge had 3 3 new guitars. An Black w/ Black Stripe, which was used primarily for the song "The Adventure
The Adventure
"The Adventure" is a song by American alternative rock band Angels & Airwaves and the lead single from their 2006 debut album, We Don't Need to Whisper. It was also the first full song to be heard by fans. "The Adventure" entered the UK singles chart at its peak position, #20.The song received...
" at the time. The second being a White w/ Black Stripes, which was used live often and featured in "The Adventure" video. And the third being a Cream w/ Black stripes, which wasn't used as much as the other 2. Once blink-182 reformed in 2009, Delonge used his basic Brown w/ Cream Stripes, which later had either a blink-182 smiley face or an Angels & Airwaves "Moon-Man", and used his Cream w/ Black Stripes, which later had scrapes, burns, and stickers applied to it. He used the same guitars for the following Angels & Airwaves tour in 2010, except his Black w/ Black Stripes guitar, which also had a Angels & Airwaves logo on it, as well as some scrapes and burns. For the Honda Civic Tour 2011, Delonge used his White w/ Black Stripes, which now has tape, scrapes, and burns on it, and used his Black w/ Black Stripes which now also has tape, scrapes, and burns on it. He used the Brown w/ Cream Stripes as a back-up for this tour. Tom also used a Black w/ Cream Stripes guitar, which is actully made by Baratto. This version of the guitar has no neckplate and was printed with a Natural, which as no stripe, and a copy of his basic Brown w/ Cream Stripes.
Colors
- Brown w/ Orange Stripes (Prototype; Primarily used for recording and rehearsals.)
- Brown w/ Cream Stripes (Most commonly used; Seen with blink-182 or Angels & Airwaves logo's on the body.)
- Black w/ Black Stripes (Used with both of Delonge's bands as of 2011; Now has tape, scrapes, and burns on it, as well as an Angels & Airwaves logo.)
- Cream w/ Black Stripes (Used a lot in 2009 & 2010; Now has scrapes, burns, stickers, and even tape on the body.)
- White w/ Black Stripes (2nd most commonly used; Now has scrapes, burns, and tape on the body.)
- Black w/ Cream Stripes (Made by Baratto; Used in 2009 for low pitched song by blink-182.)
- Natural (Made by Baratto; Primarily used for recording & rehearsals)