Gibson Melody Maker

See earlier reviews for standard features. My model is the 62 or later double cut away with compensated but mininaly adjustable bridge/taipiece. RECOMENDATION: Wilkinson make a similar but slightly adjustable bridge(like used on the (HAMMER STUDIO))that could work on this model for those who use standard gauge lighter strings as the standard bridge on my model required custom gages for accurate intonation.

Well cared for models I have played sound superior to all but the finest crafted modern guitars. Remember however that this is a student model an has NO features. It must be set up very precicely for acurate intonation. With a simple Treble Pass/Bleed on the volume control it is amazingly versitile. SIMPLE MOD: move the pickup so that the ears are on the top of the pickguard to gain some gain.

Once set up to my specs by a master luthier this guitar can be equal to many modern guitars in the same price range. The finish on my model was checked from temp variation but othewise intact.DO NOT REFINISH this guitar even if it has severe COSMETIC damage as the aged finish contributes to the SUPERIOR tone. I am sure this guitar was set up well on its first day of playability. You can feel it.

This guitar is so simple nothing could go wrong that didn't cause extensive danage.

Even if I was the original owner I don't know if Gibson would honnor the warrenty if it ever had one.

Classic Gibson. I expect these will be collectable in a decade or so DON'T SELL CHEEP.

This beautiful Gibson Melody Maker was designed in the 1960s so it has a double-cut instead of a single cut most Melody Makers today have, and of course it was made in the USA or else it wouldn't be a Gibson! Has 22 frets, a solid-top. This however only has a tone and volume knob, but thats all you really need because the thing only comes with one single-coil pickup! Came with some sort of Gibson single-coil, who knows what type. I have no idea what electronics or woods the guitar is made of, but not sure if that really matters. Has that nice "vintage sunburst" finish. As for the body style, its kind of a cross between a Les Paul double cut and an SG, you might want to do an image search if you want to know more in detail. There practically is no bridge as there is nowhere to lower/raise the action, instead has a wrap-around...err...thingy. The tuners are the original ones that came with the guitar in 1961. The neck is nice and smooth, great for any guitarist for its neither slim nor fat. The body itself is very thin, and VERY lightweight, not something that'd throw out your back any day!

I like to play a lot of hard rock, metal, band chords together, and this guitar doesn't just do that! This guitar is EXTREMELY versitile and suits practically ALL genre styles. The single coil is a tiny bit noisy, but when the tone knob is knocked down to about 0-3, the noise is knocked down to nothing. Has a beautiful warm and POWERFUL aggressive sound. When knocked down to drop-D this thing sounds so aggressive and full it could take out an army of anything. I play with a Fender "G-DEC - Junior" practice amp and for any of you who own one, the guitar will sound beautiful through all of the settings. The only thing I have a problem with is when the gain and tone are turned to max, the thing squeals like your girlfriend when she's pissed off.

OK, this thing is 46 years old and has a bit of a rough life. Although its not damaged beyond reason, it has a few knicks and scrapes and dents. Nothing to make a big deal about, personally I think it adds to that "old-and-has-been-through-a-million-gigs-and-beyond-awesomeness" look. The action, I've noticed, is not adjustable (or to my knowledge), but the action is decent, not extremely low nor high. The frets buzz slightly with new strings, but after a little while and a little wear that is completely resolved and is not a problem.

I've dropped this thing on a metal footstand because I didn't lock up the case, and I bet you can guess what happened to it! Though, it didn't take much of a beating at all and only suffered a minor dent. After 46 years, the finish has not faded a bit. The strap buttons could be tightened a bit, but like I said, its 46 years old so it may not of originally been like that. If I did gig, I would not have a single problem gigging without a backup, because this guitar gets the job DONE!

This guitar is a hand-me-down from my dad. And uh, well my dad was helpful for re-stringing it and stuff I guess lol.

I own a Jackson Dinky JS20 and an Epiphone Les Paul Standard, and this thing can't be beat. I've been playing for a mere few months, but I'm up to the point where I can play some Nirvana solos, metal riffs, and how very well this guitar does all that! If this were stolen or lost, I would NOT be able to replace it seeing as how its a unmodified vintage model and probably costs $1500. I would be devistated if this were damaged beyond repair or stolen.

I can't say I hate anything about it except for the fact that it lacks a tremolo, but I wouldn't for the life of me slap something new on a vintage model.

I have a 64 Melody maker with 2 single coil pickups. double cut away
Original yellow sunburst color. When I take it out every one looks and stares. The original machine heads are replace with Grovers. Rosewood neck and flat frets. Made in the USA.
The rest is all original.I purchased the guitar when I was in grade 12.
25 years ago now and the guitar is 1 year older than me.
I am a true Canadian.Rocker

I play classic rock. So it is the perfect guitar for this. Okay a little bit of country but that is it.
I play with various Boss pedals and a Yamaha classic 80 watt amp. It is very quite when still.
I only wish I had 2 because I am scared it is going to get to worn.

It can be a little scream box and when I need it to pound out the tune it can.

After a tweek here and there it is great. It has the regular markings that a 41 year old guitar has.

This guitar plays well and everytime I jam,

I feel it sounds better. So I give it two thumbs up.

I gig it now and donot have a back up besides a Laravee I play.

I take it to the local repair shop. They usually fix it with out charging much because they love getting a special old guitar in like it.

They also discuss with my wife when she picks it up how wonderful it is.

She doesn't care all the same. In her eyes it is a guitar.

I have beed playing for 28 years. I own many pedals. To many to list.
I play a Fender Capistrano.
Laravee , Concert and a Gibson SG

I still love the Melody maker even though it is old.

I've got a 1966 Gibson Melody Maker Serial #: 578643 B. I bought it off eBay when I was in the market for an SG or melody maker, and this was the best of both worlds because it was as cheap as a melody maker, and had the SG body! I assume that it was purchased in the 70s by someone who saw it and realized an oppurtunity to make their own customized SG out of a cheap factory defected 66 Melody Maker and so they stripped whatever hideous paint the melody makers had in 66 (turquoise or purple I think) and replaced the white pickguard with a black SG pickguard, Deluxe Kluson tuners, put in a bad-ass bridge rerouted the thing for humbuckers. 3 way selector, 2 tones and volumes, neck pickup unknown but bridge I think is Dimarzzio Super Distortion. Mahogany all around and rosewood fretboard, I forget Indian or Brazilian. Thinner neck than I'm used to but feels great. I love this guitar and I feel an affinity with it, but it's come a long way from being just a Gibson Melody Maker so I'm affraid I can't rate it here.

I play classic rock & roll, blues and some country-like stuff and this guitar sounds pretty good for all, although the pick-ups have obviously been replaced and so much has been done it's not much of a testament to the company. I play through a Marshall JCM800 with minimal preamp and a vox wah and it sounds really mean. The guitar is not noisy but with the current pickups (I think the bridge pickup is a DiMarzzio Super Distortion) it is not extremely articulate. It sounds a lot fuller than my strat but at times can be a bit too muddy. If you really play with the middle selector and the amp you can make some really cool tones and with a good bit of variety. It sounds almost perfect to my ears, but am getting Dave Stephens "tone king" pick-ups to replace them and really make it perfect. Because so much work has been done, I can't rate the original guitar.

The action was awesome when it got to my hands, very low and extremely playable, but I was at least the second owner of this guitar so I can not say how the factory set it up. The replacement pick-ups were super-glued in and the pots are a mess. The bridge was replaced by a bad ass and many people say whoever stripped the paint off did a terrible job, but it looks great to me, the mahogany really shines. I can not rate the factory though, again.

This guitar is real sturdy, although it has fallen over a few times (I'm still young so I don't get heart attacks over these things) and sort of slightly screwed up the intination the third time, but before that broke few strings and gigged without backup, though a back-up really should be used. The hardware are largely replacements, don't seem like they're going anywhere for a while though.

Never needed help, it's so bastardized the company couldn't help me anyway.

I've been playing I think 6 years now I believe and am 19. The only other electric I have is a Fender American Strat (Wayne's Wold 2 Edition) rerouted for Seymour Duncan specialty P90s in the humbucker size. This guitar sounds a lot better to me than that, it's screams character. If I lost it, I'd look for another good deal on an older gibson, or maybe get a Heritage or Orville, it would be impossible to find another guitar like this. I love the way it looks, so bad ass with the sg horns and the little headstock and the mahogany finish, and I have no real complaints. I think once it has some of Dave Stephens' hand wound pickups in there, it will be one of the greatest guitars for its price you could imagine (and unique too.)

1960 Single Cutaway, Single Pickup, one tone, one volume control with solid one piece mahogany body.
Serial # 0 7050. Origional tuners still work great. Replaced the bridge with a badass. Replaced the nut with bone.

I play Blues/Rock. This guitar is perfect. I run it through a 1983 Fender Champ II, an origional tube screamer, and Morley Wah = EAR-GASM
WOW!! This thing can scream, wail, cry, or sing smoothly. It does it all. The action and sustain is better than my 1963 ES-330. That says a lot.

I was going to have this guitar refinished but when we say the one piece mahogany, we left it natural with just enough stain to accent the grain.

I used this guitar live for 10 years. Now it hardly leaves the studio. This guitar is 45 years old. I'm 48. I think it'l outlast me.

No need for customer support. It plays like new.

I've been playin for 30 years. I owm 13 electric guitars. This is my favorite one.

Mine is a '64 model. Double cut mahogany body, fat neck, tobacco sunburst, one vol, one tone, one pickup. All original with original faux-alligator case. Very simple, it is what it is.

It sounds a bit like a Telecaster neck pickup stuck in the bridge position of a LP Jr. Polite and clear, not snarling like a good P90. Still a very nice tone though. Not much variety, but the tone knob is quite effective - I back it off to around 7 for a slightly warmer sound, then ramp it up to 10 for maximum clang. It's not as bright as I feared it may be, which is a good thing in my mind.

Gibson made damn good guitars in the old days. Nice resonant woods. I like the thick neck, it feels very comfy. Initially it wouldn't stay in tune, but I changed to a set of 11-50s and that fixed it - intonation improved as well. Think about it: back in '64 all guitars came with heavy strings, they were designed for them, and they sound and play better strung that way.

Has survived 40 years in a flimsy case without so much as a neck break or finish checking - to me that says durable (or careful previous custodians). Must be a "Wednesday guitar".

Started playing in '86. I play through an early 70s Champ with a Weber alnico.

Old Melody Makers are about the only McCarty-era Gibson that has remained affordable, and admittedly that was one of the reasons I sought out a totally original specimen. But they are a nice addition to any player's arsenal, particularly if you like Juniors or Esquires but want something a bit different.

1963 Made in USA

22 frets

Solid top, cherry finish over mohagany, set Spanish Cedar neck
One pick-up , bridge pick-up replaced with a DiMarzio DP101 dual sound/super distortion

Has a wrap around tailpiece

Schaller tuners

D-shaped neck

I played blues, rock, metal and just about anything else that came to mind on this guitar. I seems to be very versatile, but it just wasn't for me. The Schaller tuners made it neck heavy and had it not been for me using a leather strap the neck would probably point south with out any effort.

Very rich and full of tone. Harmonics (pinch and natural) come through well. Action and intonation are very easy to adjust.

This is a well balanced instrument, musically speaking....

Too old to make a fair assessment.

Mine had a broken headstock and was repairED with dowels and Elmers wood glue. The finish had some significant checkering but hey how many 40 year olds do you know with out any wrinkles...ha

Definitely needs a fret job.

I would move the strap button by the neck up to the upper arm of the guitar. I had a tendency to tilt outward. This would probably help with the neck heavy problem too.

Some what dependable.
Would not gig withut a back up.

FAILS TO CONSISTENTLY STAY IN TUNE . VERY, VERY SENSITIVE TO WEATHER CHANGES.
OVERALL PROBABLY AN AWESOME GUITAR WHEN IT WAS MUCH YOUNGER.
COMPARE WITH A RE-ISSUE TO SEE IF THERE REALLY IS MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE. GO WITH THE NEWER ONE IF POSSIBLE.

N/A

YOU CAN DO A WHOLE LOT BETTER FOR THE MONEY. KEEP LOOKING IF YOU ARE NOT SURE.!

Mine is a 62, double cutaway, Cardinal Red. It has been modified (not by me) with new pickups & tuners. I had to get a new pickguard made for it because the old one had been cut in half and the pots were mounted onto something resembling a tuna can lid! It has the original wrap-around bridge/ tailpiece, which rules. Tuners are Schallers, and this baby stays in perfect tune even after being banged around in its case while transported. I think this guitar may have originally been a one pickup model. I paid $200 for it in 1988 and it was well worth it.

I mostly play Classic Rock, Punk Rock and original stuff, and this guitar can do it all. Most of the time I'm crankin' it through a Fender Performer 650 and a Fender Twin stacked. The only effects I ever use are a Boss distortion, Boss chorus and occasionally a delay for Reggae flavored stuff. It can scream like a demon or purr like a kitten simply by using the guitar's volume knob. Very clear sounding, yet will crunch like a mother when you turn it up. I can't think of anything I don't like about this axe, except that I worry about breaking the neck or peghead off because it's so thin! I keep this one either in my hands or in its case.

The action has always been low, very easy to play. The thin neck is perfect for my stubby fingers. I can really play this one. Makes my 82 Les Paul Standard neck feel like a log!
I have recently had it rewired and set up by my rockin' blood brother Buschman, and it's nicer now than it's ever been. He liked it so much that he's bought a couple old Melody Makers as well.

I have gigged extensively with this guitar. It is very dependable and I've never had a problem with it. I use this for my main axe and keep my LP Standard as a backup if I break a string in the middle of a set. Although it gets a lot of use, I am always very careful with it and very few others get to touch it. I would bawl like a baby if it ever got broken. This guitar is like one of my kids!

Never dealt with the Gibson company. Don't intend to. I know enough great repair men that will do whatever I need done, and do it right.

I've been playing since the mid '70's, and this is the best axe I've ever had. I've been through Les Pauls, Teles, Epiphones, etc and nothing can touch this. If it were stolen or lost, I would first hunt down the thief like a dog or spend the rest of my existence looking for it. In the meantime I would try to get another one just like it.
Eventually I would like to get another pickup for the bridge position if I could find one that would sound even better...

made in 1968 by the Gibson guitar company in the USA. 22 frets. SG-shaped body, natural wood finish, 2 single-coil pups, 3 pos switch with 2 volume, 2 tone. the original tremolo unit/bridge was replaced with a micro-tuner bridge, not sure of the manufacturer. i replaced the original, creaky tuners with mini-grovers--never goes out of tune, really.
came with the original, flimsy hard case.

i play loud rock, in all of it's forms. i love the sound of this guitar--esp the neck pup, a lot like a tele--piercing with great sustain.play "Beck's Bolero" over and over--you get the idea! can also get that classic Cream sound out of it--how? dunno.
i play it with a variety of amps--prefer my pal's Fender Twin--gotta get one! i use it with my Crate GT 212 (i'm broke!), sounds fine but hisses a bit if i'm too close. it could be a wee bit louder--so i'll take off 1 pt fer that. but tonewise i luv it.

i got the guitar off of ebay in 2003 for peanuts, i had it set-up by a pro. had to clean the pots and switch, they are fine now. the neck is amazing!
more than one of my musician pals claim this is their favorite neck. these are guys that play $2,000+ guitars, so i guess it's cool. the finish has seen better days, it's striping--a common problem with this model i am told. i thought about having it refinished, but it just oooozes so much attitude i am loathe to touch it.

i've played it live, and let my friend play 'communication breakdown' on it at a show when i was done--no problem! like i said it stays in tune forever. there is a crack in the body near the neck joint--i have been assured it was perfectly repaired, but it does make me a bit skittish, so i do prefer one of my heavier guitars for shows---just me.
i got strap locks on it to prevent further accidents, though.
i imagine this baby will last--it's been around since 1968 and is still a champ!

never dealt with them except to get more info about my Melody Maker KZII-they couldn't tell me much, so if anyone has any info about THAT guitar--please share it!

i've been playing since i was a kid...now i am old. i play bass and guitar. the guitar was exactly as described to me: scrufy but awesome. i've always been lucky getting cool guitars cheap, this was one of the best! i love it's looks, it's odd half-Gibson half Fender sound and it's a real conversation piece. i notice the price on these has been climbing alot.
no complaints. i can't imagine anyone not being satisfied with one of these. if you are considering picking one up---do it! i'll give it a 9--it could be a wee bit louder. it's still loud enough to hurt tho.

I've got a 65 that was given to me by my grandfather.Its a double cut away and its very standard with single everything and all original hardware but the quality is great.

I play mostly rock but I play all types of rock.punk,metal,classic rock,etc. and it fits my style perfect.but im shure it would fit basicly any type of rock. It sounds awsome on and of the amp i've played on lots of amps including a crate, a marshal hafstack,an old fender 65watt amp, a marshal practice amp, and about everything else and this guitar sounds good on everything.

this guitar is almost 40 years old and has plenty of nicks and dings but still looks great.my grandpa said tht it was almost perfect when he got it and since it was made by gibson im sure it was. as i said it has all original hardware but the stock pickup sounds great. it could probably use a refretting but it still feels and look great.

I've played a couple of live shows with it and will probably continoue too. It has lasted this long without needing anythig but strings and will probably outlive me and (if i have any)my children. though made to be more economic its still a quality guitar.well if that doesnt convince you the fact that its a gibson should.

I've never needed to deal with customer support but since its gibsin that were talking about im shure that they would be worthy of a high rating.

this is an underrated great old guitar. in my oppinion,they dont get much better.I havent been playing long(about 3 years)but I play constintly and ive played about every kind under the sun,dozens of strats & teles,a les paul or two same with sgs,plenty of bc rich,ibanez jturser,etc. etc. and my old melody maker takes the cake.

Mine is a '65, cherry, double cutaway with the original 2 single-coil pick-ups; volume and tone controls for each. I've replaced the machine heads as the originals weren't very performance-friendly..not fine enough. I replaced the control knobs many years ago, with standard gibson cylinders because I had no access to the top-hats at the time. I've also removed the tremolo arm and replaced the bridge. All the original parts are safely stored...under my pillow.

I'm all over the place with musical styles and it goes just about everywhere. I find it lacking when I want to get really heavy, but the guys in the band look at me funny whenever I put it down for a different guitar.

The action is fantastic, and since I've been playing it for so long, I'm extremely comfortable with it.

I've had it since 1967, and have been gigging with it, with and without backups, for over 30 years. It seems indestructible...but I'm still careful because it's still my baby. The finish still looks great, but shows the unavoidable signs of age: wear on the back of the neck and the fretboard, and the dents from a hundred belt buckles on the back. Looks good, but lived-in. I got it from my uncle, (who still regrets selling it to me) and it's now the guitar of choice of my 15-year-old daughter...the third generation to cherish the MM.

Never dealt with them at all.

Been playing for 36 years, and this is one of 10 guitars, including a couple of Strats, a Les Paul,a couple of Ovations, a K.Yairi 12, a Precision Bass and some "campfire" guitars. It's the only one that I would cry over if I lost it. It is a pleasure to play.
I wish I still had the old Gibson 'gator case, but was happy to find that it's a perfect fit into a Les Paul case if you put about an inch of foam under it.
I was happy to read all the reviews that reflected such high opinions of this guitar.

I already have a Fender Hwy 1 with the flat finish and I think Gibson scores a big 10 for going this way also.I want to play it not worry about how it looks .This is the best second guitar around.If I break a string I can keep the show going on this .I replaced the pickup with a P 100.It screams now.Great hardware and even the pegs are ok.They look cheap but work fine.Very light and good frets...Don't know what woods are used but it sounds fine.The dealer would not give me the gibson bag.He had to hold it back to make more dough.I got a cheap gigbag with it.No big deal because I use a Levis double bag anyway.

You almost have to replace the pickup,Try Seymorsmor a Gibson P 100.Most are better than the stock one.It measues at 7.6.Its a better front pickup.Too bright for a bridge.I like simple volume and tone.Its a wondeful slide guitar too.Wish it had a front pickup but i might put one in anyway.My Rivera sounds wonderful and my Marshall even better.The more dirt the better the tone.Its an all out great solo guitar forget jazz chords...

No frills,Easy to set up and play.Looks old out of the box.All good hardware and pots.Finish is brutal...Looks like you left it outside in the rain for a week.

Take this out as a second guitar.Great slide tone cranked.needs better strap buttons.All Gibsons have terrible ones.I like the schaller replacements.

In Canda Yorkville is the distributor.never had to send a guitar back yet...

been playing over 30 years -TV,Concerts and bars...I traded a 61 Supro amp and a Takemine 00018 for it.I didn't care because a Gibson won't de-value that much.I'm going to take iy on yhe road this summer with my Fender hwy 1.No vintage stuff on the road for me.Great guitars get em.....beats all the jap stuff and costs the same....cheers

My Melodymaker is a '64. It was heavily modified by a 20 ish kid (me) many years ago. The original Cherry finish is chipped and dented from many years or use and abuse, most of which came with the guitar when I got it. Love the Mahogony! The pickups are Mighty Mites, one vintage and one hot, wired switchable to single/humbuck/single each. I had a friend build me a preamp which I installed(cut a hole in the back of the guitar, the only mod I wish I didn't do). The style is that was made just prior to the SG bodied Melodymaker. Double cutaway,dual singlecoil pickups w/plastic covers(replaced with the humbuckers), vibroto tailpiece (removed and replaced w/Badass)three way pickup switch and seperate tone and volume controlls per pickup. Grovers replaced the wornout tuners.

I play mostly Blues, Classic rock and funked up R&B and this guitar is great for the job. I use a '80 Legend Rock&Roll 50 amp and nothing else. The sound of this Guitar and Amp combo is Awsom!!! It can be allout gritty or sweet.Love my Melodymaker!!!

The finish as mentioned before is rough ,but that gives it charactor. The clearcoat seams to be very brittle and the nut is in need of replacement(starting to buzz). Even with this wear is guitar is awsom.

I've played it for about 30 years, and will for years. The finish, though nicked and dented,is not warn, and still is glossy. It is my only electric guitar and is often used at gigs with no backup needed.

Have modified and wired it myself.

Been playing for 40 some odd years. The only thinng I would have asked before I got it is the value of the guitar I traded for it. I got Screwed when I traded a 1966 ES 335 for it. Don't get me wrong I love my Melodymaker and would not part with it for anything, But, some people are assholes and take advantage of people(still hurts after all these years). Trading a $1500 (at that time) guitar for a $200 guitar was not a very good deal!! Live and learn. Needed a change at the time. Anyway, I love the Melodymaker and it does exactly what I ask of it. Balls to wall sound and great value. Would like to get another one closer to original condition!

Everyone knows what a Melody Maker is, but in case youve just got back from a 47 year holiday in the Amazon rainforests,,,,its a small bodied 'student size' mahogany bodied guitar. Mine's a double cutaway model from the early 60's, with a 5 digit serial number.It has 2 single coil pickups, each with its own volume and tone control, and a 3 way selector switch - the bridge is a simple 'wrap over' type.As far as Im aware, everything is original. Ive given it a 10. Not because its MY guitar, but because,although not exactly overburdened with features, what it does, it does perfectly.I dont need complicated controls or flashy trems.This is simple and perfect.

I guess Im primarily a blues type player, although over the past 30 years,Ive played in bands playing everthing from 60's pop , to Santana covers. This guitar suits me perfectly as we are both fairly simple!Amps are not really an issue.My favourite was an old Musicman, but it was getting heavier and heavier to schlap around, and I now only use my Randall 60. A truly underated 70's combo that does a pretty good job of impersonating a small Fender/Musicman tube amp.How to describe the sound? well, the guitar is extremely light, and due to that, it really resonates.You can almost feel the wood moving as you play. This seems to result in producing amazing harmonics, far more so than I got from my Les Paul, which in comparison, sounded dead.Again, this could be due to the greater weight of the Les Paul. The front pickup is a rich moody type of sound, the bridge is a real animal!!! It screams,it resonates,its the best sounding blues guitar sound Ive heard. Seriously.

I couldnt say how well it was set up, it was made in 1961! Look, forget bookmatched tops, tiger stripes, leopard spots, birdseye maple, gold tuners and fabulous 3 tone sunbursts. This is a guitar, not a piece of art that you hang on a wall. It was made by guys who prided themselves on crafting instruments, not products. No, its not got the greatest sunburst known to mankind, but its made properly by people who wanted Gibson guitars to be the best,regardless of their price.This guitar is 45 years old, and for my style of playing,theres nothing better out there.

Well, its 45 years old and working perfectly, so I guess you could say its fairly durable and reliable.

Never needed it, but I dont think that Id have any problems.But who know? For that reason, Ive given 'No Opinion'.

Playing around 30 years. Ive owned all the usual.I wont list them all - too painful, not to mention embarrasing - a 78 Strat, an early 70's Tele, [realised after loads more Strats and Teles,that I couldnt get on with Fenders, I could never get the sound that guys like Rory Gallagher could] a 69 Les Paul[very heavy] Tokai Loverock[overpriced copy, my Aria Les Paul was much better] 2 Beautiful 335 types, an '82 Yamaha 700, absolutely the best made guitar, but too heavy after 20 minutes, and an 81 Ibanez , also nice but if I needed a bad shoulder, the Yam was better. A couple of Gordon-Smiths,a small British company that made Gibson LP Junior type guitars,an old 60's Harmony H75 - vastly underated blues guitar, and a couple of SG's - one of which, a late 80's model,Ive kept, its also a stunning guitar. The list goes on,but for your sake, I wont! If anyone steals it, I would definately get another, theyre just so easy to play and everyone who's heard mine just couldnt get over the sound. This is probably the most underated vintage guitar around. An early 60's Les Paul/Strat or Tele will cost thousands.One of these will be around $1500.An absolute steal !

I have a -64 double cutaway 2 pickup model. The original singlecoil pickups sounds like shit, (too thin) so I put an Allparts dogear P-90 in the bridge position and made a new black pickupguard, similar to a Les Paul JR.

Now the guitar sounds like an SG, like a Telecaster on steroids, like a Les Paul JR with less sustain. It has a fat bite, somewhat midrangehonky, rather short tone. Probably due to the thin body. It's great for Angus Young wannabees like myself.

Hey! It's a Gibson, you can't treat it like a Fender.

Don't know, I live in Sweden.

Been playing guitar for 25 years. I have owned several Gibson & Fenders. The Melodymaker is a bargain, especially if it's been fucked up. Then you can buy it cheap and rebuild it with the pickups you like. But please do NOT put your Black & Decker into a mint original.

Solid mahogany body, set and fast neck, 1 P90 dogear pickup, 1 volume, 1 tone, TOM bridge, locking tuners, satin finish, simple, simple, simple, with Gibson, that means great sound! Bought new at Guitar Center while on vacation...Memorial Day loss leader for $199.99...couldn't pass up the price and it provides exactly what I was looking for in terms of sound and performance. Even though simple means, not "tons of features", it still rates a 10.

I wanted a meatier sound than my son's Strat, and the P90 provides the punch.

Smooth satin finish with no flaws. Factory setup was good...action could be a bit lower, but is fairly fast as it came from the factory.

It's a Gibson, everything is solid! Survived the flight back to Arkansas in checked luggage.

Good response to basic question relative to wrong information provided by retailer salesperson...I was right, he was wrong, and the Gibson support confirmed/

I play on the church Praise Team and to calm myself down from the corporate BS I endure on a daily basis. The Melody Maker provides a bit more choice for me in terms of available instruments...at a price I could afford.

It's a '65 (most likely), two-pickup model. This is my second Melody Maker, my first one, also from '65 only has one pickup.
This guitar was modded when I bought it--Grover tuners, a Badass bridge and a Les Paul-type humbucker in the bridge (the neck pickup is original). I got rid of the humbucker and put a retro-type Gretsch-like mini-humbucker in its place. Also the electronics appeared to have been changed for Dimarzio pots and the cavity has been shielded--the guitar is super quiet.
My original Melody Maker is a lightweight--the neck is super-thin, less than .38 mm at the nut and the body too is really light--but that guitar is a '2'-marked factory second. This guitar is more solid, heavier but not like a Les Paul and the neck is larger and easier to play. It's an addictive guitar and it's hard to put down.

Hard to talk about the sound of this guitar, since it has been modded. The neck pickup is pretty dark...I'll have to see what it's like with a tube amp. In combination with the new mini-humbucker, the guitar really sings, nice and jangly, the way I wanted it. I love to play this guitar unplugged too--it's pretty loud and the sound is excellent. But that's not what you buy an electric for, is it...I like Melody Makers for their feel and the look.

This guitar is almost 40 years old and it shows. Really ages well.

I expect this guitar to outlive me. And I plan on living past 100.

I love both my Melody Makers--but this one is the only guitar that has managed to replace my original Melody Maker (although I play that one every day too). I'll eventually pick up another, I'd like an early '60s sunburst, since both of mine are cherry. It's true the original Melody Maker's sound is quite thin, but it sounds great unplugged. This one has a much beefier tone to it. I'm still in the process of modding it to where I like it--still haven't got the action quite right, probably should have a new nut cut, and I want to replace the grover's with locking tuners, personal preference.
Overall rating is a 'fan' rating, you'd have to play for yourself to judge...but what other 60s-era Gibson sells for $550?

Year:2004
Color: Ebony Satin
Price: Well, Free.
I got it for free when I bought a Les Paul Standard on the net.
It has the same neck (not as fancy as the standard)so the playability is right there. Stripped down little sister of the famous Les Paul.
Beautiful to look at, high quality throughout.

It is great for me. I play just about everything. I am a Bob Dylan fan, Dave Matthews fan, Alice in Chains fan, Zepplin fan......that type of stuff. You can dial it in so as to achieve the right sound, a pretty wide ranger. In my opinion it's gibsons stab at a telecaster, and they hit the bullseye. Sounds very, very close to a standard Paul when using the same pickup. I have this tuned to drop D (standard in basic E) so she can rattle a bit when hammering on it, but you really gotta hit it. Hey it was free.

The finish is great for a satin. No blems at all. Gibson means quality, really it's in the dictionary.

It is what it is. I think it will definitly stand the test of time in any situation. I bet you could use it as a boat oar and it would still look and work great.

This isn't a dell dude. The only support they should offer is emotional, for those who have to part with their gibson.

I have been play for around 18 years. I like this guitar enough, it's nice to take this around for practices instead of my LP standard, I would hate to get that baby nicked.
I own a Les Paul Standard Light Sunburst, an Ibanez RG760 Cranberry, Gibson Melody Maker Ebony Satin, a Martin & Co. DM Natural Finish, an Ensanada 12-stringer, and a Takamine EG540SC for guitars, and rid myself of many others over the years. Still wish I had my old Harmony strat for nostalga. I run a Marshall MG50DFX amp, Yamaha GEP50 effects processor, and a Morley Wah/Distortion/Volume pedal.
Hey it is a good guitar. If someday you want to own a higher end Les Paul but can not afford it right now, buy this baby. It is silky to play and sounds damn good.

I'm not sure of the year but it was my first electric guitar. It was my Christmas present in 1967. It is a double cutaway single bridge pickup, cherry finish model. As basic as they come.

I used to play all types of music on it (it was the only one that I had until 1970). It is very twangy and does not have any bottom to it.

I have been playing this guitar since 1967 and of the 12 guitars that I own it has the best action of all. The neck is superb. Straight as an arrow.

I used to abuse this guitar regularly. I watched it slide across a large stage once during a bar fight. This is a well built guitar.

This melody maker is like a member of the family. I have been playing for 37 years and have taken this one around the world. It has been to Korea and Hawaii. It's still is waiting for a trip to Europe. Other than my Guild Starfire III this is my favorite guitar. I can't believe that I almost sold it in 1973 for $50.00. I have never modified it in any way. It is all original. I even have the brown aligator soft case.

I'm not sure when it was made, it was made in the U.S.A., 22 frets, solid top, 2 volume, and 2 tone control knobs, a 3-way selector. It has 2 pickups, they are single coil. It has the 2 cutaways, they are more rounded than the gibson sg's, and point out from the guitar instead of inwards, like the sg's. It is a stop tail piece, and has a rosewood neck.

I play lead guitar, and this guitar, and my gibson sg suit the gig.
Im using it through a 22watt mesa boogie tube amp. Great sound. Great variety, I love it.

The guitar plays and looks great, the body on the guitar is mint.

Everything is great.

N/A

I've been playing for 3 ys., I am 15 ys. old, the guitar is great, I also own a mesa boogie tube amp, a gibson sg, a jackson kelly, 2 fender strats, an epiphone acoustic, an epiphone chet, an epiphone m3, a yamaha acoustic, an esp f-50, a prs se, 2 home maders, and a greco.


Please e-mail me if you know what year the melody maker it could be!

From what I can tell this is a 1967 model Melody Maker. It has the original pick-up which Gibson re-wound for me that sounds terrific. It also has a humbucker that some idiot added, but I had it un-wired. There are volume and a tone control knobs. There is also a whammy bar on it, that I have taken off. It has been painted off-white, so the serial number is covered up as well as the original cherry finish that is showing through on one spot where there is a ding. I bought this guitar for $20 at a garage sale. I took it to my luthier who set it up for me and got me in touch with Gibson. I knew I had something from the moment I saw it setting up against a tree! The set-up guy at Gibson offered me $250 for it before he even touched it! Since then I have been offered upwards of $300 for it, but I'm not selling.

I play mostly rhythm and this is perfect. I use a jangly, clean sound, but she can roar when she wants to.

The action on this guitar is amazing, very low and fast. There are some dings on her, heck she's almost 40 years old! But she's a beauty!

This guitar is played live some, but mostly for studio work. I depend on her so much!

Gibson is top notch , like I said they re-wound the original pickup for next to nothing.

I have been playing for 11 years. This is the only electric guitar I own. Live, I play her through a Fender princeton 1X12. In the studio I use my Johnson J-Station. I also have a Takamine acoustic/electric and an Ovation 12 string acoustic/electric. I am always on the look out for good deals on GOOD used equipment and would JUMP at the chance for another Melody Maker.

63-ish double cut
single bridge pick-up
2 knobs , tone and volume
cherry red but heavy grain is showing through due to age

I play a blues/rock style and its perfect. I compare the sound to an earlt tele but with a little more balls. But it can sound frail if not played loud enough. The knobs are highly sensitive also.

This is by far the best playing guitar i have ever played. Period. the stock tuners had to be replaced but other than that its a-ok

I cant count how many times i have dropped this thing and it still wails. i was playing a show and the strap came loose and it fell face-first on the ground. i picked it back up and to my suprise it was still IN TUNE!

Ilove the sound and action of this guitar and truly couldnt see myself without this guitar. If i could find another i would most deff. buy it. i have been playing for a solid 16 years and i must say this is truly a great guitar.

2003 USA made. Single coil P-90 bridge humbucker. Black satin Mahogany finish. Grover tuners, Gibson wire strings, TOM bridge, thin neck and included a gig bag.

First "true" P-90 pup and it ROCKS! Using lowly Crate CR1 amp that with Boss DS1 pedal and the sound is incredible. Major hum when left unattended and in high volume. Distortion and overdrive is definitely acceptable in this price range. Likes? Everything Dislikes? Another single coil pickup by the neck (I guess this would make it a LP Classic).

I had the action lowered a tad bit. Pickups were as is. No major flaws (this is a black satin finish). Neck could be smoother for faster action.

Very durable and sturdy...It's a GIBSON!! Haven't played it live so I haven't used a strap on it yet. I'm lazy and play the beauty sitting down.

Not have to dealt with them.

Had it for about a month and love it. Don't think I'll trade it in like my previuos 7 guitars and 1 bass (Fender Am Std, Squier, Godin LG, LGX, Radiator, Ibanez RG series, and Fender Bass). This one is a keeper for practicing and playing the blues and gool 'ol RNR!!

This is the lowest level Gibson that was available in 1960: a single pickup, single cutaway Melody Maker solidbody in the typical yellow/brown sunburst of the LP jr. - and this cool alligator cardboard case!! Fat mahagony neck and thin solidbody (like a Firebird). I picked this one up real cheap with a non-original pickup and a replacement bridge, which was perfect since I had a set of old P-90 pickups and got a real well-made one-piece bridge made by Nik Huber. The wood that they used in those days and that is unavailable today really has this rich, musical tone.

A perfect match of Gibson balls with just a touch of Tele spank! Finally a Gibson solidbody that's a good rythm instrument - and of course she wails!

This one was in rather good condition for a 40+ year-old-lady - simple and solid. It didn't take a lot of effort to bring it back to top performance. It had a set of nickel Grover tuners put on that made this little guitar almost top-heavey. I love the looks of old Grovers but a new set of reissue Kluson's made much more sense on this guitar.

Rock solid. The single cutaway design of this model (the first year of production) makes it a little more dependable than an SG. The MM's body is as thick (1 1/4") as the SG's behind the bridge but doesn't get thinner towards the neck. The double cutaway models of the MM made after 1960 that I tried did not sound as good as this one.

This might sound exxaggerated, but I really feel that this student model from 1960 is the perfect solid body of the 'brown' variant': light-weight, small, faster attack than a Les Paul, more stable (and better sounding on the front pickup) than an SG. A very good usable all-around instrument.

I'm going to review 2 at once, a 1967 D (dual pick-up) which i used to own, and a 1963 (single pick-up) which i got 2 weeks ago.

67- two pick up sg style with mastero whammy bar. 2 volume and 2 tone knobs. three way pickup toggle switch.

63- one pick up earlier shape. used to have the mastero that had been removed. holes remain. one volume and one tone knob.

i play mostly blues-rock type stuff. both guitars suit that style well. the 63, perhaps more so.

67-when i had this, i had a randall solid state amp, so maybe i didn't get "the sound." still sounded very good

63-i run this through a peavey classic 30 tube amp w/o effects. this thing sounds GREAT!!!!

67- i have never been able to play faster and cleaner on any other neck, ever. cardinal red finish.

63- nice feeling neck. once i get reaquainted with a fatter gibson neck, i bet this will rival the 67's neck. tobaccoburst finish (top) deep mahogany (back)

67- i dropped it once, and the neck broke off at the body joint. had it repaired, and it was fine.

63- i didn't drop this one, but somebody did. headstock has been broken off and repaired.

i could depend on either, as long as i didn't drop it

i have been playing guitar for about 25 years or so. i loved the 67, and could kick myself in the ass for selling it. it is overall the guitar i had the most fun playing. when i found the 63, i HAD to get it. true, it's a different body style, but, it's still a melody maker. i haven't had it long enough to rate it on my all time list, but i do think it will climb the rungs of my personal mt olympus of guitars. i'd compare the 67 to an sg, and the 63 to a lp jr (very similar neck feel).

these are the forgotten gibsons. get one now, while they are inexpensive. the prices will only go up!!!