Inkstained
New member
Low price or not, this just strikes me as a cool, versatile guitar. What am I missing?
Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
- Thread starter Inkstained
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Dr. Vegetable
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
These are fracking cool guitars. If you hold one, you can see how they kept the cost down with simple construction and basic finishes. It's like they mated an LP with an SG and let it grow up in an impoverished home.
They sound and play great, and you aren't paying for a lot of bling. A real player's guitar.
These are fracking cool guitars. If you hold one, you can see how they kept the cost down with simple construction and basic finishes. It's like they mated an LP with an SG and let it grow up in an impoverished home.
They sound and play great, and you aren't paying for a lot of bling. A real player's guitar.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Needs some abaloney. And gold.
Then it can be like they mated an LP with an SG and let it grow up in an impoverished home, but it started rapping every night in it's room . . . slowly gaining a following, until finally it hit it big!
Needs some abaloney. And gold.
Then it can be like they mated an LP with an SG and let it grow up in an impoverished home, but it started rapping every night in it's room . . . slowly gaining a following, until finally it hit it big!
jtougas
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Heh.
Talking to a luthier friend of mine after a show, I said "You know what would make a rocking guitar? A Les Paul Junior, with a soapbar P90 at the bridge, with a yellow-red-black burst flame maple top over a chambered mahogany body. Single purpose, but *decked out*."
He looked at me for a second, with a very exasperated expression on his face, then said "You really do need to be doing this for a living, don't you?"
Heh.
Talking to a luthier friend of mine after a show, I said "You know what would make a rocking guitar? A Les Paul Junior, with a soapbar P90 at the bridge, with a yellow-red-black burst flame maple top over a chambered mahogany body. Single purpose, but *decked out*."
He looked at me for a second, with a very exasperated expression on his face, then said "You really do need to be doing this for a living, don't you?"
Lucy Diamond
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
I would definitely switch the bridge for one you can intonate.
I would definitely switch the bridge for one you can intonate.
toneseeker74
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
You're not crazy. They are simple, with great feeling neck profile. And they can sound great :fing2:
You're not crazy. They are simple, with great feeling neck profile. And they can sound great :fing2:
Gardener
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Not crazy at all, I recently made a 2007 RI MM my main guitar,.. for the last two years I've played on a couple electrics but none felt "right" in the way that this MM does. In the past I found barre chords would just melt my hands (especially on acoustic), my other electric is a LP Jr knockoff with a chunky neck, I love the LP Jr guitar but it doesn't really hold a candle to my MM.
They are great platforms for modding as I'm sure you've heard, I'm planning on doing quite a bit of modding to mine, not because it needs it, but because I feel the guitar is worth the time and investment to upgrade to my exact requirements/specifications.
If the price is right and it feels good in your hands I'd say go for it. Trust your ears and your hands man.
Good luck!
Not crazy at all, I recently made a 2007 RI MM my main guitar,.. for the last two years I've played on a couple electrics but none felt "right" in the way that this MM does. In the past I found barre chords would just melt my hands (especially on acoustic), my other electric is a LP Jr knockoff with a chunky neck, I love the LP Jr guitar but it doesn't really hold a candle to my MM.
They are great platforms for modding as I'm sure you've heard, I'm planning on doing quite a bit of modding to mine, not because it needs it, but because I feel the guitar is worth the time and investment to upgrade to my exact requirements/specifications.
If the price is right and it feels good in your hands I'd say go for it. Trust your ears and your hands man.
Good luck!
astrozombie
KatyPerryologist
MetalManiac
Li'l Junior Member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
I've never been into Gibsons bargain basement line of guitars. They have been making models like that forever, and they are all pretty junky.
Maybe an early 60's or late 50's melody maker has good mojo and tone . Aside from that,they aren't much on a pro level, but good guitars for beginners and good platforms for upgrades.
I've never been into Gibsons bargain basement line of guitars. They have been making models like that forever, and they are all pretty junky.
Maybe an early 60's or late 50's melody maker has good mojo and tone . Aside from that,they aren't much on a pro level, but good guitars for beginners and good platforms for upgrades.
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Great guitars! I have a 2007 single cut. Put a P90 in it and it jams. I keep it set up for open E slide work and love it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Great guitars! I have a 2007 single cut. Put a P90 in it and it jams. I keep it set up for open E slide work and love it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Inkstained
New member
Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Yeah, I saw that. Wondering if it's a deal breaker. I'd likely go from the 9s the guitar comes with to 10 gauge.
This guitar is practically free. I don't know why I haven't bought it yet.
Yeah, I saw that. Wondering if it's a deal breaker. I'd likely go from the 9s the guitar comes with to 10 gauge.
This guitar is practically free. I don't know why I haven't bought it yet.
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
You're not crazy at all. Back in 2003/2004, when the LP MMs had just been put out, I really wanted one. I also really wanted a LP Standard. One day a crazy deal came up at Music 123 which consisted of a free LP MM when you bought a LP Standard! I jumped on it. Since then, the $1,980 Standard has done a whole lot of sitting, while the free LP MM has been one of my main guitars. It was a bedside guitar for at least five year, which I played daily. And I used it for playing live, and even recording (especially song ideas and demos, because I already had it out all the time). Until a few months ago, when I replaced the tuners with a set of mini Grovers that just happened to come my way, it was bone stock. The tuners were the only crappy thing on the guitar, in terms of raw function. This new model is basically a two pickup version of my LP MM. As much as I hate what the Gibson company has become, I can't really recommend against that guitar for that price.
You're not crazy at all. Back in 2003/2004, when the LP MMs had just been put out, I really wanted one. I also really wanted a LP Standard. One day a crazy deal came up at Music 123 which consisted of a free LP MM when you bought a LP Standard! I jumped on it. Since then, the $1,980 Standard has done a whole lot of sitting, while the free LP MM has been one of my main guitars. It was a bedside guitar for at least five year, which I played daily. And I used it for playing live, and even recording (especially song ideas and demos, because I already had it out all the time). Until a few months ago, when I replaced the tuners with a set of mini Grovers that just happened to come my way, it was bone stock. The tuners were the only crappy thing on the guitar, in terms of raw function. This new model is basically a two pickup version of my LP MM. As much as I hate what the Gibson company has become, I can't really recommend against that guitar for that price.
Inkstained
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Great story. Players' guitars are made to be played.
Great story. Players' guitars are made to be played.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
It looks like the bridge has the intonation ridges on it; it's not just a regular tailpiece. It should intonate closely enough, as long as you use a plain G. If it doesn't, all you have to do is use the set screws to set the intonation for the two outer strings, and then choose custom string gauges to perfectly intonate the other strings. Even that is going too far, though, IMHO.
I also notice that these new ones have a tummy cut, and it looks like a carved top as well. They've actually got quite a lot in common with the old Les Paul Vixens; they're pretty much a P90'd version of those guitars. The only thing I don't like is the 12th fret inlay...and the color selection. I'd love a nice matte primary red instead of the wine red color.
It looks like the bridge has the intonation ridges on it; it's not just a regular tailpiece. It should intonate closely enough, as long as you use a plain G. If it doesn't, all you have to do is use the set screws to set the intonation for the two outer strings, and then choose custom string gauges to perfectly intonate the other strings. Even that is going too far, though, IMHO.
I also notice that these new ones have a tummy cut, and it looks like a carved top as well. They've actually got quite a lot in common with the old Les Paul Vixens; they're pretty much a P90'd version of those guitars. The only thing I don't like is the 12th fret inlay...and the color selection. I'd love a nice matte primary red instead of the wine red color.
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ItsaBass
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Just so happens that I have the guitar out at the moment. Here she is, in all of her (cheap-ass) glory, next to the 2001 Junior that she backs up. I've had both since they were new.
Just so happens that I have the guitar out at the moment. Here she is, in all of her (cheap-ass) glory, next to the 2001 Junior that she backs up. I've had both since they were new.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
Some music is to be played with more attitude, and less intonation....
This guitar is for those times.
Some music is to be played with more attitude, and less intonation....
This guitar is for those times.
Inkstained
New member
Re: Am I crazy for wanting a Melody Maker?
So I ordered a yellow one from Sweetwater. Should be here Friday. Signature required for delivery, so I'll staying home (I was off anyway).
Heady days. My first Gibson, my first P-90-equipped guitar and my first electric since December 2000 (I have only three electrics and two acoustics. I have as many amps as guitars, in fact.)
Something about this guitar just enticed me ...
So I ordered a yellow one from Sweetwater. Should be here Friday. Signature required for delivery, so I'll staying home (I was off anyway).
Heady days. My first Gibson, my first P-90-equipped guitar and my first electric since December 2000 (I have only three electrics and two acoustics. I have as many amps as guitars, in fact.)
Something about this guitar just enticed me ...
