This week's Reverb find is a stunning pair of vintage Gibson instruments: a 1964 ES-355 and GA-79 RVT. This perfect pair was purchased together, brand-new, back in 1964 and have only had one owner for nearly 50 years.
The ES-355 was originally introduced by Gibson in 1958. Intended as a high-end complement to the ES-335, it features multi-ply binding on the body, large block inlays on its ebony fretboard, and a stunning split-diamond inlay on the headstock. According to this listing, Gibson only produced 198 of these ES-355s in 1964, making this a particularly fine rarity.
The guitar featured here for sale is all-original, featuring the factory gold Bigsby and original stereo wiring with the Varitone circuit and switch. Though the tuners were swapped with replacements at one point, the originals have been restored to this instrument. It also comes with its original hardshell case.
Paired with this guitar is the GA-79 RVT stereo amplifier—one of the most unique and interesting amp offerings from Gibson in the '60s. It's capable of cranking out up to 30 watts of stereo power, thanks to its independent preamps and dual 10-inch Jensen P10Q speakers. It also features 6BQ5 tubes in the output stage and has built-in tremolo and stereo reverb effects.
As with the guitar, the amp in this listing is in really excellent condition, complete with its original hang tags. The grille cloth has been replaced, but it's otherwise original and in fully working order. If you're looking for an excellent vintage pairing in a beautiful, hard-to-beat condition, this is the listing for you. Be sure to check it out here and make your offer.