When an artist like Gary Clark Jr. gravitates toward a particular guitar, it’s worth paying attention. Clark has long balanced blues tradition with modern grit—his tone moves comfortably between soulful cleans, saturated leads, and everything textural in between. After earlier signature models like his SG and Casino, his collaboration with Gibson Custom has taken a step deeper into vintage‑styled craftsmanship with the new Gary Clark Jr. Custom ES‑355.
Inspired by the moment he first saw B.B. King wield an ES‑355 onstage, this model represents Clark’s own connection to that lineage. It’s also the guitar he now refers to as his personal number one. With a run limited to just 100 instruments and built by Gibson Custom Shop and Murphy Lab artisans in Nashville, the focus here is on detail, feel, and tonal versatility rather than mass production.
Construction and Feel
At its core, the ES‑355 relies on a three‑ply maple/poplar/maple body, topped with figured maple for that classic high-end ES shimmer. The body is surrounded by multi‑ply binding, which carries through to the back and headstock, adding that unmistakable 355 visual identity.
The neck is mahogany, shaped to a 50s Rounded Medium C profile—substantial without feeling oversized, lending itself well to both expressive bending and chord-heavy passages. On top you’ll find a bound ebony fretboard with 22 Historic medium jumbo frets and mother‑of‑pearl block inlays. Together, this setup leans toward the feel of vintage Gibson archtops without straying into overly delicate territory.
Electronics and Tonal Range
The electronics are where the guitar becomes particularly interesting. A pair of unpotted Custombuckers with Alnico 3 magnets provide the foundation, keeping the tone open, dynamic, and responsive to picking nuance. Unpotted pickups tend to feel more “alive,” and that character is especially noticeable on semi‑hollow designs.
CTS audio taper pots and paper‑in‑oil capacitors ensure the controls behave like a vintage ES, with smooth roll‑off and predictable response across the dial. The inclusion of a mono Varitone circuit—with the classic black chicken‑head selector—adds a wide palette of colours, from honky mid‑cuts to tighter, more focused tones that sit differently in a mix. For players who enjoy shaping their sound directly from the instrument rather than relying on pedals, this combination offers a lot to explore.
Hardware and Aesthetic Details
The finishing touches are all treated with Gibson’s VOS (Vintage Original Spec) approach, including the nickel hardware, which has a softened sheen that avoids looking factory‑fresh but stops short of heavy ageing. The ABR‑1 Historic no‑wire bridge and Bigsby B7 vibrato bring both vintage flavour and functional expressiveness—whether you’re adding subtle vibrato or leaning into bluesy warble.
The guitar comes in a VOS Cobra Burst finish, a deep, smoky look that highlights the figured maple and complements the multi‑ply binding. Grover Rotomatic tuners with Kidney buttons, Black Top Hat knobs with silver inserts, and the split‑diamond Custom headstock inlay round out the aesthetic.
Specs at a Glance
- Body: 3‑ply figured maple/poplar/maple
- Neck: Mahogany, 50s Rounded Medium C
- Fretboard: Ebony, 22 frets, mother‑of‑pearl block inlays
- Electronics: Unpotted Alnico 3 Custombuckers; mono Varitone; CTS audio taper pots; paper‑in‑oil capacitors
- Hardware: ABR‑1 Historic no‑wire bridge; Bigsby B7; Grover Rotomatic tuners
- Finish: VOS Cobra Burst
- Case: Custom hardshell with Gary Clark Jr. graphics
With only 100 units being built, this ES‑355 isn’t just another signature model—it’s a carefully crafted tribute to Clark’s influences and the guitar that has become central to his sound. Only one of these instruments is allocated to Australia, making it an especially rare opportunity for local players.
That single Australian example will be available exclusively from Billy Hyde Music. For musicians drawn to expressive semi‑hollows with vintage sensibilities and broad tonal range, it stands out as one of Gibson Custom’s most detailed and artist‑aligned builds to date.
