The original version of the ES-5 had a single volume control for each pickup, plus a master tone control, which allowed the player easily to “dial in” a preferred pickup combination but made it difficult to switch quickly and accurately to other settings. In 1955, Gibson added a tone control for each pickup, along with a slotted switch with four settings that let the player select each pickup alone or all three together.

The ES-5 Switchmaster, as the new version was named, did not allow any combinations of two pickups, but the six knobs and large switch made it appear, at least, as if it could outperform any other electric guitar.

Gibson changed the cutaways on it’s electric models to a pointed Florentine shape in 1961, and a handful of Switchmasters were made with the new shape before production ended in that same year.