Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

dr.barlo

New member
Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is a 350 dollar cheapo 2007 Gibson Melody Maker special... I got it just to try and all. But it turned out to be a great guitar. The wood is crazy! It made me sell quite a fine looking and sounding Gibson Les Paul Standard (by the way, don't get ideas that I am trying to bash Gibsons and all... I am an owner of an R7 and R8... So I love them guitars). This one simply sounded better. And, all the other Gibson MM's that I have tried since then were not good at all. This one is very light, feather weight to be exact. It has tonsa vibrations.

Yet, I am still bugged with the headstock! Anyways...

Below is the way it looked when I first got it from Guitar Center or Musicians Friend... I don't remember... in 12 2007

Gibson-07MM---122007_zps5adce192.jpg


Now the looks of it in 12 2012 is:

Gibson-07MM---122012_zpsa94b7aac.jpg


The 5 years of evolution resulted in:

1. I have changed both the bridge and the neck. The stock pickups weren't junk. They were kinda good you know. Yet, I am a HB guy at heart. And the Brobucker match was phenomenal. For a while I tried a CC, yet, Brobucker match is to die for. I have a Little 59 in the neck. I love them pikcups in this particular guitar.

2. CTS pots, some NOS paper'n oil caps (I found among my "amp restoration" supplies).

3. I added a mini toggle switch. On/Off/On... It gives me the ability to split the HBs simultaneuous with the additional capacity to choose the slugs or screws...

4. After trying a bunch of nuts, I ended up loving Graph Tech's Black Tusq.

5. The painting... well, I love Joan Miró ... :)

Pics and all are fine, yet here is the sound: (The recordings are done with my Fender Blues Jr. and some pedals... For the specifics, feel free to check out the soundcloud page, where you'll find all the relevant information.)

Bridge - Duncan Brobucker...





Bridge - Duncan Brobucker Split



Middle - Duncan Brobucker & Little 59





Middle - Duncan Brobucker & Little 59 - Split





Neck - Duncan Little 59





Neck - Duncan Little 59 - Split



B
 
Last edited:
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

I love these little guitars. They're cheap, fun as hell to play and with a little work they scream.

I installed a P-90, CTS pots, PIO cap, bone nut, steel TP bushings, Faber compensated bridge and did a little fret work.

MM.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

I have one of the models that came before that, the LP Melody Maker. Great guitar. Mine is still bone stock. It came free with my LP Standard, but I've played it much, much more than the Standard.

6233300587_b652ba99b9_b.jpg
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

I love my Brobucker but, on a basic mahogany slab, the P90 would be my choice too.
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

cool thread. cool axes. nice playing doc.
 
Last edited:
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

Hey Doc, great choice of pups. They sound really great. Nice playing, I probably would have been tempted to leave the P-90s in (since I'm a real P-90 fan) but that Brobucker and Lil 59 sound terrif.
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

Thanks guys.

:)

Well, the pickup thing is of course all about tastes. To me Brobucker in there is simply perfect. It not only has this "Angus" thing going on (afterall this guitar is not that different from an SG), but also can give real good softer / thicker PAF type of tones when adjusted accordingly. The Lil59 in the neck is also very versatile. It can do the thicker PAF type of tones, but also very nice stratty tones as well...

I like p90s. Yet, I think I am a HB guy at heart.

B :)

- - - Updated - - -

I love these little guitars. They're cheap, fun as hell to play and with a little work they scream.

I installed a P-90, CTS pots, PIO cap, bone nut, steel TP bushings, Faber compensated bridge and did a little fret work.

View attachment 36551

Vow... Yours looks great!

Very cool!

B

- - - Updated - - -

I have one of the models that came before that, the LP Melody Maker. Great guitar. Mine is still bone stock. It came free with my LP Standard, but I've played it much, much more than the Standard.

6233300587_b652ba99b9_b.jpg

I always have a sweet spot for dogears... This one looks like a real player. And it is great to see that you are enjoying yours as much as I do mine.

B
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...



I did this one yesterday, with this guitar, an Fender Blues Jr. and Pigtronix Philospher's Tone and Alen Geere Junkie boost. I have used the Brobucker, full HB mode...

B
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

Doc, I like that new clip. You've got a real winner of a guitar there.
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

I'm trying to hold out for a V....

This is NOT helping!

Awesome stuff guys.
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

I'm trying to hold out for a V....

This is NOT helping!

Awesome stuff guys.
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

I wonder what a set of QP flats or SSL6's would sound like in there?
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

Very cool. I've got an early nineties epi les paul junior. Tv yellow, double cutaway. Very similar principal. Simple and fun as heck! I'd love to have one of those as well however. Maybe later perhaps...
 
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

This one appears like it's been waiting at the train station for such a long & lonely time.:kabong: Love the Dogear P90 in this one. Compared to 'humbuckers' & 'single-coils', P90's are in a class of their own. They have that certain organic tone and a natural growl to them that you just quite can't get from the other pick-ups.


6233300587_b652ba99b9_b.jpg
 
Last edited:
Re: Evolution of my 350 dollar 2007 Gibson Melody Maker...

Now this is quite a cool customization for an LP Melody Maker. These guitars have lots of room for finger-picking and lot's of space on the body for painting.:dance:

Gibson-07MM---122012_zpsa94b7aac.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top