1965 Gibson Melody Maker

[snmusicman]

Here is a 1965 Gibson Melody Maker that I completely restored. The guitar was stripped down to the wood. The guitar body was a complete mess so both the pick-up holes were filled with Mahogany and the guitar was veneered with some figured South American Mahogany veneer. The pick-up holes were then re-routed for the original Gibson single coil at the neck and a Seymour Duncan SH-1B humbucker at the bridge. I asked Gibson if they had a new decal for the neck, they said they didn't use decals anymore but offered to refinish the headstock for $450.00, what a bunch of jokers. I refinished the headstock for about $4.50. The entire guitar was refinished with a hi-gloss walnut brown polyurethane finish. Sort of non -standard for a guitar finish but I think it is more durable than the nitro-cellulose lacquer and it has less cure time. The finished guitar really plays great and sounds incredible.

 

[SFW]

Re: 1965 Gibson Melody Maker

Very nice.

 

[Laughing Kookaburra]

Re: 1965 Gibson Melody Maker

Cool! One of my few gear regrets is selling my 1967 Gibby MM. Single coil one pup model, someone had some sort of aftermarket pup in it. I dropped in a DMZ Fast Track 2. I loved that guitar.

That is very nice looking wood there. The wood under the translucent red finish on mine wasn't bad, but not nearly as good looking as yours.

Enjoy!

 

[Wattage]

Re: 1965 Gibson Melody Maker

killer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[snmusicman]

Re: 1965 Gibson Melody Maker

I have another 65 Melody Maker that I just got thru restoring. It has the 2 original Gibson single coils and the original pickguard all the rest of the hardware and electronics was redone by myself. I painted this one with a mahogany cherrybust polyurethane finish. I have this one up for sale. I attached a Pic for you to see. Thanks for reply and your compliments on my work, I appreciate it.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: 1965 Gibson Melody Maker

Very Nice......

 

[Kilroyonguitar]

Re: 1965 Gibson Melody Maker

Really great job snmusicman. I had a 1962 Melody that I refinished back in 2008/09. Man I regret selling it. It had a badly broken headstock and the body had been chiselled with a flat screwdriver. switched back and forth from right to left hand and even had one of the bridge holes right through the back LOL. I ended up sourcing some 90 year old mahogany for a new front and back. I'm curious how you wired it and the values of the components. Do you have a wiring diagram by any chance or a picture? I'm working on a project now with a single coil + Humbucker one volume one tone.