1959 Gibson ES-335 Red

Incoming. This 1959 ES-335 will require some explaining. First, they didn't offer red as a finish in 1959 on 335's (or 345's). They had to be special ordered and 6 or 7 red 59 335's have surfaced. This one is one of the earliest of them and is quite possibly an employee build. You can't miss the painted black diamonds on the cutaways. Here's a likely scenario. The top of a 335 is plywood. The top layer is very thin at the arched area of the "horns". It is, on occasion, a problem that the top layer is sanded through during the finishing process. Those guitars were put aside and used when an order for a solid color (like black) came in. An employee was only allowed to buy guitars that had some flaw or issue. The "2" you see on some tells you it went back to the spray booth twice to cover some kind of issue-usually finish related. You are all familiar with the headstock or heel "stinger" that Gibson used to cover problems with the wood at those areas. Folks love a stinger. The two black diamonds are almost certainly covering a spot of oversanding. Call them little stingers if you like. They are under the clear coat and are definitely factory. I have seen one other guitar (a 330) with the same detail. That aside, it's a near mint, stunningly clean Bigsby 59 in red. It is one of 6 or 7 red 59's and it is also one of a kind. PAFs, of course. More photos coming.