Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

Guitar-Sam

New member
Whatcha think guys,is this a good deal??
A freind of mine is letting me make payments on this little screamer.
It is a 2003 Melody Maker w/P90:headbang:,tune-o-matic bridge,looks like a LP Jr cept it has the thin body and small headstock of the melody maker.It is a faded red finish with the unsealed grain.
He replaced the plastic knob Gibson Deluxe tuners with direct replacement Grover Deluxes,added a LP Jr. Pickguard,Schaller adjustable tailpiece and had a villex passive midbooster pro installed,switch is on the front of the guitar and moved the input jack to the side.It also includes a brand new(prolly musicians freind)tweed LP case.
Its in nice shape with a few player dings and some finish wear on the back of the neck.Case is brand spankin.
He let me borrow it and its the only non-fender guitar I've ever become addicted too,which is why I decided to buy her.
$550 is the price,sound like a deal??
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

The modified Gibson guitar that you have described reminds me very strongly of a Gordon-Smith GS-1 that I foolishly sold to a friend about five years ago. He resolutely refuses to sell it back to me. As a consequence, I ended up buying a Gibson LP Junior Special and, now, a Standard P90 Limited Edition. Expensive mistake, huh?

I do not know who distributes Gordon-Smith guitars in the USA. A GS-1 with P90 should be affordable. If the OEM pickup is one of Gordon-Smith's own, I suggest that you budget for an American replacement.
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

I'm not sure what these go for now. I gave $300 for mine all stock w/o case. I upgraded pup to a Rio Grande, sounds much better.

-dave
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

I sure as hell wouldn't pay $550 for it. Maybe $400 tops, and I'm really not even sure if I would go that high on it. $350 is probably about as high as I would go.
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

yeah $550 is a bit steep for it but those are cool guitars.

For about the same money you could probly snag one of those sick faded yellow doublecuts...mmmmm
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

$550 is probably $150-200 too much for those. Again cool guitar but not worth much
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

Hmmm......:dunno:
He just bought it 6mo ago used stock w/ no case for $400.
Plus the Villex booster was $65+ install,Case $69,Schaller Tailpiece $45 and Grover Tuners $45,not to mention the pickguard and few cosmetic touchs.
Either way he's letting me play it while I pay on it,so that is worth a bit to me also.
:fing2:
 
Last edited:
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

i mean

i don't pay full price for mods

i say "Dude YOU wanted that stuff; I want a Gibson"

but i mean i'm a hustler so
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

Hey they are all good upgrades and whatnot but that model has been disco'd for probably 3 years now.

Funny thing with guitars if it is the "one" well then all bets are off and you have to have it, only you can tell that. Who cares if you get a crappy guitar for a great price only the good ones matter.
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

I'd rock that guitar, but not for that price. Hell, if I were gonna spend $550 on a Melody Maker, I'd go back and grab the 1965 MM I saw at Gruhn Guitars last month. It had been similarly modded, with an aftermarket pickguard and a badass bridge, so it was cheaper than the stock '65 they had.
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

Hmmm......:dunno:
He just bought it 6mo ago used stock w/ no case for $400.
Plus the Villex booster was $65+ install,Case $69,Schaller Tailpiece $45 and Grover Tuners $45,not to mention the pickguard and few cosmetic touchs.
Either way he's letting me play it while I pay on it,so that is worth a bit to me also.
:fing2:

Modifications don't necessarily increase the value of a guitar.

When you mod, you basically have to look at it from the perspective that you're sinking money into the guitar for your own enjoyment, to get something out of it specific to your needs.

You can try to foist that cost onto the buyer when you go to sell the guitar, but the market usually doesn't support the practice. Except in this case, I guess.

I'd never pay more than new for a bottom-of-the-line, recent-model Gibson of all things, but hey - if the guitar speaks to you, whatever you're willing to pay is the right price.
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

^ yeah man

for about $489 you can get a brand new Melody Maker from Gibson...

but i ain't tryin to tell you how to live
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

Er, why does a mahogany guitar with a P90 need a mid booster?
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

I'm still gonna get it,just cause I like it. He's letting me pay till Feb 1st
I figure I like this one and may not like the next one I get for cheaper.I've played allot of Gibson's and allways put them back on the rack cept this one,so theres something I like about it.:approve:
Kinna like an ugly girl that you don't know why,but you still want her....ya know??
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

If the modified guitar in the OP does what you require and you can afford it, buy it.
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

It's one of the entry line Gibson's so you're pretty much paying for the brand I feel. I'd just save a little more and go for the Les Paul Junior. The headstock is much nicer and has a nice chunky feel to the neck.
 
Re: Gibson LP Jr./Melody Maker

No way for $550...I know a chick in Atlanta that plays those and only those...she's got 5 or 6 of 'em but she never pays more than about 3 bills for 'em.

Ya know, with the :upgrades" and the case mayeb $400 but thats pushing it IMHO.

All that said if the guitar speakes to you and you feel like you'd miss out on something w/o it go for it...it's just that you can't attach a dollar value on feelings or on something having soem kind of sentimental value.
 
Back
Top