The Gibson Es 335 Tdc is a Gibson electric guitar, currently around $2963.83. Close alternatives include the Gibson ES-335 and the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul. It pairs well with the PRS HX 100 Head and the Peavey Decade Too.
Gibson Es 335 Tdc
Gibson · electric guitar
This Gibson ES-335 TDC, Gibson's factory code for a Thin body, Double cutaway, Cherry finish, is a vintage-era semi-hollow example once owned and toured by Eric Johnson, distinct from the earlier 1961 sunburst ES-335 also associated with him. As with any early-60s ES-335, it carries a center-block semi-hollow body designed to reduce feedback compared to a fully hollow archtop while keeping much of the warmth and air of a true hollow body, along with humbuckers voiced for both articulate clean tones and singing, sustained lead work. Johnson's famously meticulous ear for tone and his broad stylistic range across blues, rock, and instrumental fusion make his choice of a specific vintage TDC example, rather than a stock production model, notable in itself.
- warmth
- vintage
- resonance
- touring
- singing
- lead
- gain
- thick
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Gibson Es 335 Tdc is commonly used in
- Smooth Jazz
- Jazz
- Country
- Rock
- Blues
- Jazz Fusion
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Gibson Es 335 Tdc
PRS HX 100 Head
PRS
27% matchPRS HX 100 Head leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Peavey Decade Too
Peavey
23% matchWhere this leans warm, Peavey Decade Too answers back bright
Fender Dual Showman Reverb
amplifier
20% matchFender Dual Showman Reverb leans full right where the thin tone needs it
Vox MV50 Brian May
Vox
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Vox MV50 Brian May answers back bright
Suhr SL68 MkII 100-Watt
Suhr
tonal matchSuhr SL68 MkII 100-Watt leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Soldano
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo answers back bright
Vox MV50 AC SET
Vox
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, Vox MV50 AC SET answers back bright
Suhr SL67 MKII
Suhr
tonal matchWhere this leans thin, Suhr SL67 MKII answers back full
Pedals that stack with the Gibson Es 335 Tdc
Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
Boss
26% matchWhere this leans thin, Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal answers back full
Electro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Pi
Electro-Harmonix
22% matchElectro-Harmonix Triangle Big Muff Pi's own sustaining character is the real reason this is worth trying
Artec SE-Peq Parametric Equalizer
Artec
tonal matchArtec SE-Peq Parametric Equalizer's bright balances out the warm tone
Tech 21 DP-3X Dug Pinnick Signature Bass Distortion
Tech 21
tonal matchRun Tech 21 DP-3X Dug Pinnick Signature Bass Distortion after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Ashdown Pro-FX Two-Band Boost
Ashdown
tonal matchAshdown Pro-FX Two-Band Boost's bright balances out the warm tone
Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra Blackout
Catalinbread
tonal matchCatalinbread Sabbra Cadabra Blackout's bright balances out the warm tone
J. Rockett Rocket
J Rockett
tonal matchWhere this leans warm, J. Rockett Rocket answers back bright — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
DOD Carcosa
Digitech
tonal matchDOD Carcosa leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Cheaper alternatives
Epiphone BB King Lucille Ebony
Epiphone
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature Model Guitar
Charvel
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Fender Stratocaster American Standard
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Gibson ES-125
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Epiphone Riviera Electric Guitar
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Gibson ES-335
Gibson
70% similarity“distinct from the earlier 1961 sunburst ES-335 also associated with him”
Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
Gibson
96% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Phoenix
electric guitar
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Dan Erlewine Albert King Custom Flying V - "Lucy"
Dan Erlewine
95% similaritysimilar tone character
ESP Custom V Red Sparkle
Esp
95% similaritysimilar tone character
PRS Santana Signature
PRS
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Gibson Es 335 Tdc (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Gibson Es 335 Tdc?+
The closest matches in character are the Gibson ES-335, the Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul, the ESP Phoenix. Budget picks: Epiphone BB King Lucille Ebony, Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature Model Guitar, Fender Stratocaster American Standard. Boutique upgrades: Gibson Tony Iommi SG Signature, Gibson Buckethead Les Paul.
What pairs well with the Gibson Es 335 Tdc?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: PRS HX 100 Head, Peavey Decade Too, Fender Dual Showman Reverb — PRS HX 100 Head leans bright right where the warm tone needs it.
How much does the Gibson Es 335 Tdc cost?+
Around $2963.83 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).
Compare
- vs Gibson "Old Black" 1953 Les Paul
- vs Epiphone BB King Lucille Ebony
- vs Charvel Guthrie Govan Signature Model Guitar