Gibson Melody Maker

Manufacturer	Gibson
Period	1959–71, 1999–present
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Set
Scale	24.75" (available with 18.56" short scale until 1970)
Body	Mahogany
Neck	Mahogany
Fretboard	Rosewood
Bridge	wraparound tailpiece
Pickup(s)	1 or 2 single coils
Sunburst, Fire Engine Red, Pelham Blue, Sparkling Burgundy, Walnut

Manufacturer	Gibson
Period	2003 - 2006
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Set
Scale	24.75"
Body	Santa Maria (Jacareuba)
Neck	Spanish cedar
Fretboard	Rosewood
Bridge	Tune-O-Matic
Pickup(s)	1 P-90 Single-coil
Satin Cherry, Satin Ebony and Satin Yellow (Pictured)

Manufacturer	Gibson
Period	2007 - 2008
Body type	Solid
Neck joint	Set
Scale	24.75"
Body	Mahogany
Neck	Mahogany
Fretboard	Rosewood
Bridge	wraparound tailpiece
Pickup(s)	1 single coil
Satin Vintage Sunburst, Satin Ebony, Satin White

The Gibson Melody Maker is an electric guitar made by Gibson Guitar Corporation. It has had many body shape variations since its conception in 1959.

The Gibson Melody Maker was first launched in 1959 and discontinued in 1971. It had a thin slab-style mahogany body and a one-piece mahogany neck. All the electronics, from the small single-coil pickups to the cable jack, were assembled on the pickguard and installed in a rout in the front of the body. The strings ran from a straight-sided simplification of the traditional Gibson headstock at one end to a wraparound bridge/tailpiece unit at the other.

From 1959 until 1961, the Melody Maker had a single cutaway slab body style similar to the early Les Paul Junior model but thinner. In 1961 the body style changed to a symmetrical double cutaway, resembling a Gretsch 6122 or a Danelectro Shorthorn; the single cutaway model was discontinued. The body style was changed in 1966 to a style similar to the SG, with pointed "horns", a large white scratchplate, and white pickup covers instead of black. Note: Melody Maker "D" refers to the double pickup model of any vintage but is often mistakenly used for the double cutaway model.

Options on the Melody Maker included two pickups, the "D" model and a short-scale 3/4 neck. In 1967 a twelve-string version and a three pickup version were introduced, the Melody Maker 12 and III respectively. A short length version of the Vibrola vibrato device was also available as an option.

From 1959 to 1962 the finish was a sunburst, from 1963 to 1965 it was cherry, from 1966 it was fire engine red or pelham blue, in 1967 red was replaced by sparkling burgundy and walnut became an option from 1968. Rare examples were made to order in other custom Gibson colors e.g. Inverness Green.

The Melody Maker was discontinued and replaced by the SG 100, 200 and 250.

The Melody Maker double-cutaway model was revived in 1977 and discontinued again in 1983. Some minor changes were introduced into the design including single coil pickups embossed with the Gibson logo, all metal tuning pegs and a latter-day Gibson stop tail piece and Tune-O-Matic bridge.

In 1986, Gibson issued a Melody Maker with a single-cutaway body. It had one humbucking pickup, Grover tuners, a Tune-O-Matic bridge, and a stop tailpiece. Two humbucking pickup models with two thumb switches were also made but are hard to find.

This rare model features an explorer neck, Grover tuners, Kahler tremolo system and dual humbuckers. The body is standard single-cutaway Melody Maker. The finish is black with a perloid pick guard.

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Wikipedia