Sales of Gibson’s Electric Spanish (ES) series guitars (ES-100 through ES-350) in the 1930s and 40s encouraged the company to continue to produce more electric guitars.

In 1958 Gibson released a new model, the ES-335, featuring a double-cutaway body.

[2] The 330 had a mahogany neck with dot inlays and a 22-fret Brazilian Rosewood fretboard.

[4] The guitar was prone to feedback because of its hollow design.

By the time it was released in 1959 the trend was for loud music, which did not favor the 330.