The Gibson ES-355 is the top of the line semi-hollow body Thinline Dual Pickup Stereo Varitone (TDSV) manufactured by the Gibson Guitar Company.

[1] Many guitarists did not appreciate the varitone and they disconnected the option so that the guitar could be played in mono.

The guitar is made with an ebony fingerboard and mother-of-pearl block inlays.

Other high end appointments included a lyre vibrola (beginning circa 1963), gold hardware, triple binding on headstock and top, with single binding on back and neck.

[1] The top and back of the guitar is a laminate of maple and poplar, with a solid maple center block running from the neck to the bottom rim of the guitar.

In 2018 Gibson began producing an ES-355 with a Bigsby, an ES-355 in Walnut finish with a Maestro vibrola and an ES-355 Black Beauty.