1998 Gibson ES-335 Dot Left-Handed in Cherry with Original Gibson Hardcase - Very Good condition.

For a left-handed player, a late-’90s Gibson ES-335 Dot like this is a genuinely uncommon find. This 1998 example brings together the defining ES-335 recipe: a laminated maple semi-hollow body, solid maple centre block, mahogany set neck and twin Gibson ’57 Classic humbuckers, all finished in the model’s unmistakable Cherry. It also comes with its original Gibson hardcase.

Gibson’s 1997–98 catalogue identifies the model as the ES-335 Reissue and confirms the period specification, including two ’57 Classic humbuckers, a rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, nickel hardware, a 24.75-inch scale and Tune-o-matic/stopbar hardware.

Condition:

This guitar is in very good condition. It has a few dings and cosmetic marks consistent with its age, all of which can be seen in the photographs. None of these imperfections affect the guitar’s playability or sound, and overall it remains in great shape for an instrument dating from 1998.

Most importantly, it plays as it should, the electronics function correctly, and it is ready to go straight into regular use. It has been professionally set up and feels great, and that's coming from a leftie!

Key features

Year: 1998
Orientation: Left-handed
Finish: Cherry
Construction: Semi-hollow with solid centre block
Pickups: 2 x Gibson ’57 Classic humbuckers
Fingerboard: Bound rosewood with dot inlays
Hardware: Nickel
Includes: Original Gibson hardcase

Sound and performance

The ES-335 design occupies a particularly useful middle ground between a solid-body and a fully hollow guitar. Its semi-hollow construction provides a lively, open response, while the solid maple centre block adds sustain and helps control feedback at higher volumes. That combination has made the ES-335 equally at home in blues, jazz, soul, rock and more heavily driven settings.

The Gibson ’57 Classic pickups are a particularly good match for this construction. Gibson introduced the ’57 Classic in 1990 and builds it around Alnico II magnets and balanced coils, producing a warm, full response with smooth highs and vintage-inspired PAF-style character.

The neck pickup delivers rounded, expressive clean sounds and smooth lead tones, while the bridge pickup adds definition, bite and enough output for classic-rock overdrive. Combining both pickups produces a clear, open rhythm sound with a useful balance of warmth and articulation.

Construction and specifications

Model: Gibson ES-335 Dot / ES-335 Reissue
Year: 1998
Orientation: Left-handed
Origin: USA
Finish: Cherry
Body style: Double-cutaway semi-hollow
Body: Laminated maple
Centre block: Solid maple
Neck: Mahogany, set-neck
Fingerboard: Bound rosewood
Inlays: Dot
Frets: 22
Scale length: 24.75"
Nut width: 1.6875" / 1 11/16"
Pickups: 2 x Gibson ’57 Classic humbuckers
Controls: 2 x volume, 2 x tone, 3-way toggle
Bridge: Tune-o-matic
Tailpiece: Stopbar
Hardware: Nickel
Case: Original Gibson hardcase

These specifications correspond with Gibson’s catalogue information for the ES-335 Reissue during the 1997–98 production period.

Playability and functionality

The 24.75-inch scale gives the strings a comfortable, slightly more forgiving feel, while the double-cutaway body provides easy access to the upper frets. Despite its larger semi-hollow outline, the relatively thin body keeps it comfortable both seated and standing.

The traditional two-volume, two-tone control layout also allows more flexibility than a simple master-control arrangement. Each pickup can be balanced and shaped independently, making it easy to set up contrasting rhythm and lead sounds and move between them using the three-way selector.

Left-handed Gibson ES-335s from this period do not surface often, particularly in Cherry and with the original Gibson hardcase still present. This is one of the standout guitars currently in our shop: a genuine late-’90s USA-made Gibson with excellent tonal versatility, unmistakable looks and the added appeal of being built specifically for left-handed players.

This item is also available to view and try out at our store in Stroud, Gloucestershire. Opening times, address & contact details can be found via our Reverb shop bio. If you have any questions regarding this item or would like more photos, please feel free to get in contact.