Gibson Releases the Limited Keith Richards 1960 ES-355 — the Guitar That Changed the History of Rock Music
Gibson Custom Shop has officially unveiled one of the most anticipated releases of the year — the limited-edition Keith Richards 1960 ES-355 electric guitar, created as a precise replica of the legendary instrument used by The Rolling Stones guitarist. The launch is timed to coincide with NAMM 2026 and has already generated enormous interest among musicians and collectors worldwide.
The original Gibson ES-355 from 1960 holds a special place in Keith Richards’ career. He began actively using this semi-hollow instrument in the late 1960s during the recording of albums such as Sticky Fingers and Exile on Main St., both widely regarded as landmark releases in rock music history. In later years, the guitar became a permanent part of his live setup and has appeared regularly on the band’s world tours since the late 1990s.
The new Keith Richards 1960 ES-355 Collector’s Edition was developed as an exceptionally accurate recreation of the original. Gibson specialists used 3D scanning to capture the exact neck profile, while the body is built from traditional three-ply maple with a solid center block, delivering the signature sustain and feedback control. The use of spruce bracing, classic materials, and vintage construction techniques emphasizes the instrument’s historical authenticity.
The guitar is equipped with a Bigsby B7 vibrato tailpiece, Grover Rotomatic tuners with signature “milk bottle” buttons, and a pair of Custombucker pickups with Alnico 5 magnets, voiced to reproduce the rich, expressive tone associated with Richards’ original instrument. All metal hardware has undergone hand-applied aging through the Murphy Lab Aging process, ensuring the look and feel closely match the wear of the original guitar.
Gibson is releasing the model in two collector versions. The rarest edition is limited to 50 units and features Keith Richards’ signature both on the body and on the internal label. The second version, limited to 100 guitars, includes the signature on the internal label only. Each instrument is delivered with a certificate of authenticity and a Gibson Custom Shop case.
According to Richards, this Gibson ES-355 remains his primary standard-tuning six-string guitar due to its versatility, expressive range, and tonal depth. Unsurprisingly, demand for the release was extremely high, with some units selling out within hours of the announcement.
Pricing for the Keith Richards 1960 ES-355 Collector’s Edition ranges from approximately $20,000 to $30,000 USD, depending on the version, and availability is limited to official Gibson channels, including the Gibson Garage flagship stores in London and Nashville. The release is already being described as one of the most significant electric guitar launches of the year.
