Melody Maker

The **Melody Maker** was Gibson's most inexpensive solid body electric model, slotting below the Junior. It was originally introduced in 1959 with a body shape similar to the single-cutaway Les Paul Junior, and a narrower headstock design that makes it cheaper/easier to build by not requiring wings to be glued on like the regular open book headstock. This changed to the double cutaway Les Paul style in mid-1961. It wasn't until late 1966 that it finally adopted the SG bodystyle. A 12-string and three-pickup version were added in 1967. In 1969, the 3/4 size model was discontinued and the headstock was upgraded to full-size.

In 1971, the Melody maker was effectively replaced by the short-lived SG 100/200/250 models.

In 2011, it was reissued with the SG shape and a Maple body.

## 1966-1968

* **1966:**
	+ $149.50
	+ $149.50 (3/4 size)
	+ $179.50 (Two-pickups)
* **1967:**
	+ $159.50
	+ $159.50 (3/4 size)
	+ $189.50 (Two-pickups)
	+ $189.50 (12-string)
	+ $199.50 (Three-pickups)
* **1968:**
	+ $169.50
	+ $169.50 (3/4 size)
	+ $199.50 (Two-pickups)
	+ $199.50 (12-string)
	+ $214.50 (Three-pickups)

**Body:**

* Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
* Angled heel
* Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

**Neck:**

* 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
* Natural finish
* Color-matched (less common)
* Set-in construction
	+ Titebond glue
* Indian Rosewood fretboard
	+ Acrylic dot inlays
	+ 12" radius
* Melody Maker headstock
	+ Gibson logo decal
		- Classic font style
	+ 14o pitch
* 22 frets
* 24 5/8" scale
* 1 9/16" nut width

**Electronics:**

* One single coil pickup
	+ AlNiCo (probably V) magnet
	+ 6.5 - 7.5k Ohms D.C. resistance
* Two single coil pickups (Melody Maker D & 12)
* Three single coil pickups (Melody Maker III)
* 1 Vol, 1 Tone
	+ CTS pots
	+ Ceramic capacitor
* 2 Vol, 2 Tone (Melody Maker D, III & 12)
	+ On/off slide switch

**Hardware:**

* Chrome hardware
* Kluson 3-on-a-plate tuning machines
	+ 12:1 ratio
	+ Chrome or white plastic oval buttons
	+ Closed or open gears
* Single-ply white pickguard
* Bell shaped truss rod cover, single-ply
* Black Reflector knobs (late 1966 - mid 1967)
* Black Witch Hat knobs
* Nylon strap buttons
* Compensated bridge
	+ Compensated for wound G string
* Short Maestro Vibrola
* Stop tailpiece (12-string)

**Finishes:**

* Pelham Blue
* Fire Engine Red (1966)
* Sparkling Burgundy (1967-1968)

## 1969-1970

* **1969:**
	+ $179.50
	+ $212.50 (Two-pickups)
	+ $210 (12-string)
	+ $225.50 (Three-pickups)
* **March 1970:**
	+ $195
	+ $225 (Two-pickups)
	+ $225 (12-string)
	+ $245 (Three-pickups)
* **September 1970:**
	+ $225
	+ $250 (Two-pickups)

**Body:**

* Beveled, solid Honduran Mahogany body
* Angled heel (early 1969)
* Nitrocellulose Lacquer finish

**Neck:**

* 1-pc quartersawn Honduran Mahogany
* 3-pc laminated Honduran Mahogany (mid 1969-1971)
* Set-in construction
	+ Titebond glue
* Indian Rosewood fretboard
	+ Acrylic dot inlays
	+ 12" radius
* Melody Maker headstock (early 1969)
* Open Book headstock
	+ Body color matched
	+ Volute (Late 1969-1970)
	+ Gibson logo decal (1969-1970)
		- Classic font style
	+ Inlaid Mother of Pearl Gibson logo (1970)
		- Squared font style
	+ 14o pitch
* 22 frets
* 24 9/16" scale
* 1 9/16" nut width

**Electronics:**

* One single coil pickup
	+ AlNiCo (probably V) magnet
	+ 6.5 - 7.5k Ohms D.C. resistance
* Two single coil pickups (Melody Maker D & 12)
* Three single coil pickups (Melody Maker III)
* 1 Vol, 1 Tone
	+ CTS pots
	+ Ceramic capacitor
* 2 Vol, 2 Tone (Melody Maker D, III & 12)
	+ On/off slide switch

**Hardware:**

* Chrome hardware
* Kluson 3-on-a-plate tuning machines
	+ 12:1 ratio
	+ White plastic oval buttons
	+ Closed gears
* Single-ply white pickguard
* Bell shaped truss rod cover, single-ply
* Black Witch Hat knobs
* Nylon strap buttons
* Compensated bridge
	+ Compensated for wound G string
* Short Maestro Vibrola
* Stop tailpiece (12-string)

**Finishes:**

* Walnut
* Pelham Blue (12-string)
* Sparkling Burgundy (12-string)

## 2011

* $829 MSRP
* $539 Street
* $449-499 Street (2012 price drop)
* $399 Street (2012 clearance)

**Body:**

* Beveled, solid Maple body
* Satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish

**Neck:**

* 1-pc quartersawn Mahogany
* "Melody Maker" profile (.835"/.930")
* Set-in construction
	+ Franklin Titebond 50 glue
	+ 1.75 degree angle
	+ Joins body at 19th fret

* Baked Maple fretboard
	+ Acrylic dot inlays
	+ 12" radius
* Melody Maker headstock
	+ Gibson logo decal
	+ "Made in U.S.A." stamp
	+ 17o headstock pitch
* 22 medium frets
* 24 9/16" scale
* Corian nut
	+ Cut by Plek machine
* 1 11/16" nut width

**Electronics:**

* One uncovered 491T Humbucker
	+ Ceramic magnet
	+ 14k Ohms D.C. resistance
* 1 Volume
	+ Mounted on pickguard w/ output jack
	+ CTS 300k linear

**Hardware:**

* Chrome hardware
* Grover "Gibson Deluxe" individual tuning machines
	+ 14:1 ratio
	+ White oval buttons
	+ Manufactured by Ping
* Single-ply "Batwing" pickguard
* Bell shaped truss rod cover
	+ Single-ply black
* Black Bell knob
* Angled wraparound bridge/tailpiece

**Finishes:**

* Satin White
* Satin Ebony
* Satin Blue