Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

blakejcan

blakejcan

Well-known member
Maybe I'm late to the game here but I own a 2014 MM w/ P90's which I got super cheap at the time and still like. It's basically a Les Paul without a top and a real crap finish but super fun to play.

Never heard of the Vixen but just saw one pop-up on craigslist and other than having humbucker routes and different colors it looks exactly the same. Am I missing something here?

Vixen

https://reverb.com/item/33686448-gibson-les-paul-vixen-2006-corona-yellow

MM

https://reverb.com/ca/item/4413948-gibson-les-paul-melody-maker-p90-2014-charcoal-black
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Well, the Vixen is only two knobs, so, not exactly the same.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

They do look different enough in Gibsonworld to be 2 different models. I don't understand the price difference, either.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

I don't actually know, but it's also possible the body thicknesses are different.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

The Vixen line was a series of guitars in finishes and weights designed to attract guitar players of the fairer sex.

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Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

I dig both the Vixen and the Goddess series. Both are closer to the Les Paul I might play if I played them.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

I have never seen a Goddess in person so there might be something I don't like about how they feel but I think I would love to own one. I wouldn't turn down a Vixen, either, but I would probably refinish it.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Why do Gibson think that women are unconcerned with their guitars intonating properly?
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Sirion said:
Why do Gibson think that women are unconcerned with their guitars intonating properly?
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It's not like wrap around bridges dont come with adjustable saddles. I have a Gotoh 510 and it works great.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Sirion said:
Why do Gibson think that women are unconcerned with their guitars intonating properly?
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Where are you getting that?!

Whether a bottom line guitar has a wrap bridge that is adjustable or not has nothing to do with sex. The LP Jr and MM were not designed for women. I don't think Leslie West is a woman either.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

I guess my point was it seems like Gibson has a big pile of thin body LP's in some back room that they trot out every couple of years with a slightly new pickup combination & finish and call it something else. Goddess, Vixen, Melody Maker, LP lite etc.

Goddess & Vixen as names of guitars meant to attract women really shows how male dominated the industry can be. It's like making an extra beefy guitar designed just for the boys and calling it "The Big Hog". Dumb.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

It isn't a bad idea to go after the female market, although I've never known a female guitarist that have been swayed by cutsie names or marketing. I think women want cool guitars just as much as guys.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Mincer said:
It isn't a bad idea to go after the female market, although I've never known a female guitarist that have been swayed by cutsie names or marketing. I think women want cool guitars just as much as guys.
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Daisy Rock built a company on introducing girls to music and guitars at a very young age.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Securb said:
Daisy Rock built a company on introducing girls to music and guitars at a very young age.
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Luna does the same thing. I think at a certain point, when they are ready to upgrade, they still look for the same things a guy might want.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

GuitarDoc said:
Where are you getting that?!

Whether a bottom line guitar has a wrap bridge that is adjustable or not has nothing to do with sex. The LP Jr and MM were not designed for women. I don't think Leslie West is a woman either.
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I forgot the smiley to indicate that I was joking; here it is: :) That said, the wraparound bridge as used by Gibson does represent a compromise as far as intonation goes. A lot of great music has been written on imperfectly intonated guitars (heck, the entire instrument is arguably imperfectly intonated!); is just struck me as curious that the two models that Gibson have marketed specifically towards women both had them.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Dave Locher said:
I have never seen a Goddess in person so there might be something I don't like about how they feel but I think I would love to own one. I wouldn't turn down a Vixen, either, but I would probably refinish it.
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I played a blue Goddess years ago. It screamed, great player and a very cool finish.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

I love the way they look, and I like thin body guitars and i like Gibsons, so it seems like a natural fit for me. The name doesn't draw me in or push me away. But they must be a but rare, which is ok because I do not need another guitar.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

I really like the thinner LPs. I liked the Firebrands, and the Smart Woods, too.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

Mincer said:
I really like the thinner LPs. I liked the Firebrands, and the Smart Woods, too.
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A Firebrand was my first higher-end guitar. It sounded good, but the frets on mine were really low and wide, and I could never get used to the feel of it.
 
Re: Did the Gibson Vixen turn into the 2014 Melody Maker?

I have a thin Les Paul that's comfortable and sounds great and a great player. It's called an SG.
 
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