Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

wildstar

wildstar

New member
Thought you guys might like to know...

it's a keeper.

My neighbor down the hall is friends with Warren Haynes' tech. As a thank-you for various things, the tech gave my friend one of the new Melody Makers. I don't know how he got his hands on one, since no one has them yet AFAIK.

Sweet tone, fantastic neck. I haven't even plugged it in, and I'm loving this thing.

Could use better tuners, and I'm sure the stock pickup will be lame, but other than that - it's a player. $350, add in tuners, a Lil' 59... Less than $500, and you've got a killer guitar.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

That's cool! How did it look? Like what kind of quality went into it, and how pretty was it?
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

The tone of the new Melody Makers sounds amazing, however, I prefer the look of the older model.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

bigalthethird said:
That's cool! How did it look? Like what kind of quality went into it, and how pretty was it?
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It looked OK. The finish is nothing to write home about, but it works. This one was the vintage sunburst. At that price, it's as good as it's going to get.

The neck, frets, bridge, set-up all felt great. I loved the neck - it had a slightly rough or raw feel, not slick or sticky the way so many Gibson necks are. I liked the neck profile, kind of boat-like. Solid, hefty, but not too deep. Somewhere between a 50s and 60s profile, I'd say. But I have wee little hands, so take that with a grain of salt or two. Or three.

Tuners felt pretty weak, you'd definitely want to replace them.

Can't comment on electronics yet.

Unplugged it had a clear, fat, solid, sweet tone. Sustained well, resonant. Made me feel like playing old Allman Brothers licks. Or ska riffs.

Later this week I'll plug it in, but I'm not holding my breath on the pickup. My friend is a purist, and own't even dream of replacing the stock pick-up. Grrrr... imagine a Duncan or Dimarzio stack in there...

Cheers
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

The melody maker seems more like a novelty item to me. With that wraparound tailpiece as a bridge, theres no way the string intonation will be anywhere near close enough to consider it as a serious guitar.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

Nice little review, I am dying to get mine but they pushed them back to month's end.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

Tch sounds like you're dissin that pickup before you try it man...quit sippin that haterade and give it a chance haha...

Nah I actually think a Hot Rails WOULD make that thing scream. I'm hoping Gibson gets into making guitars this nice and still affordable 'cuz that would be a great thing for musicians everywhere.

-X
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

Mr. B said:
The melody maker seems more like a novelty item to me. With that wraparound tailpiece as a bridge, theres no way the string intonation will be anywhere near close enough to consider it as a serious guitar.
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Yeah, those old school Gibson Les Paul Juniors and Specials were real jokes, weren't they? :rolleyes:
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

the_Chris said:
Yeah, those old school Gibson Les Paul Juniors and Specials were real jokes, weren't they? :rolleyes:
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+1.

Unless you're using 12-56 guage strings and tuning to C or something, a wraptail is going to work just fine.

If I bought one of those, I'd be hogging it out for a P-90 within a week. Still cool that Gibson brought back a REAL melody maker - those ones they had a few years ago were absolute junk.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

Empty Pockets said:
Tch sounds like you're dissin that pickup before you try it man...quit sippin that haterade and give it a chance haha...

Nah I actually think a Hot Rails WOULD make that thing scream. I'm hoping Gibson gets into making guitars this nice and still affordable 'cuz that would be a great thing for musicians everywhere.

-X
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Ha! LOL Yeah you're right, I'm being mean. Maybe it's a swell pickup.

I have a thing against single-coils... I hate them. There, I've said it. So sue me.

Stack/twin blade singles? Love them.

+1 on the routing for a P90 idea. That would pretty much make this guitar slay. A real attitude machine.

And yes, set-neck.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

sosomething;1247681If I bought one of those said:
Do you mean the Les Paul Melody Maker? The one with one P90? I have one and it most certainly is not junk.
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Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

No the LPMM is not a joke, it is a very cool guitar.

Like Chris said!
 
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Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

gripweed said:
Do you mean the Les Paul Melody Maker? The one with one P90? I have one and it most certainly is not junk.
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Lucky you.

The 5-7 of them I played in various stores felt like unfinished practice runs for new Gibson employees that had somehow accidentally been boxed and shipped instead of bandsawed.

There's usually a good one or two to be found in any heap, though. Sounds like you found one.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

Gibson FINALLY makes a guitar with what at least looks like might be a decent pickup, and the only thing you people can think of is hogging it out for something big and dumb, or hotrails :laugh2:

Since no acoustics have adjustable intonation, none of them are serious guitars either.

I'd contemplate playing one... if they made it in the later SG body shape with 2 single coils... Or even kalamazoo style...

In any case, it's one of the least offensive things Gibson makes.
 
Re: Played the new Gibson Melody Maker!

danglybanger said:
Gibson FINALLY makes a guitar with what at least looks like might be a decent pickup, and the only thing you people can think of is hogging it out for something big and dumb, or hotrails :laugh2:

Since no acoustics have adjustable intonation, none of them are serious guitars either.

I'd contemplate playing one... if they made it in the later SG body shape with 2 single coils... Or even kalamazoo style...

In any case, it's one of the least offensive things Gibson makes.
Click to expand...

There's nothing big and dumb about P-90s, you big wimp! I thought you were all about the single coils???
 
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