Vintage ES-335 Specification Pickup Wire

• The ES-335's release in 1958 helped introduce many of Gibson's innovative technologies at the time, including the humbucker pickup. The standard wire type for Gibson's top of the line pickups at the time was a solid core, cloth-wrapped wire shielded by a loosely braided wire ground sleeve. Many guitarists feel this vintage style wire presents a desirable tone, and many modern manufacturers continue to produce this wire for instrument repairs or rebuilds.
  
  

Vintage Specification Hookup Wire

• The other internal components in vintage ES-335 guitars were connected with similar vintage style wiring. Short connections were made with a slightly rigid solid core wire with cloth insulation. Longer connections, such as those from the pickup switch to the output jack, were of the same wire type used in Gibson's humbucker pickup wires. This increased shielding helped prevent unwanted noise from injecting itself into the guitar's signal.
  
  

Modern ES-335 Specification Pickup Wire

• As Gibson's manufacturing processes have evolved, many more modern elements have been added to the ES-335's internal wiring. Though the essential functions remain the same, the type of wire has been converted to a more modern approach. To accommodate many player's requests, many of Gibson's newer humbucker pickups feature a four conductor wire with integrated foil shield. This allows a maximum of pickup combinations and coil split modifications. By combining a PVC insulator and replacing the vintage-style braided shield with a foil, this modern wire is more flexible and durable.
  
  

Modern Specification Hookup Wire

• The internal wires of current ES-335 guitars have also been updated. All connections now feature shielded PVC insulated wire to help prevent unwanted noise in the guitar's circuits, as well as better chemical and physical durability. The construction of ES-335 guitars requires a specialized process of slipping a pre-wired electrical harness into the guitar's body: a delicate and challenging procedure. Gibson's modern wire specification is more flexible and forgiving than vintage wire types and eases this installation process.