Strange Gibson SG

[Mincer]

Most Melody Makers I have played have been terrible guitars. I guess they got a generation of people into guitar, but I am equally sure many people didn't continue if they thought that all instruments were that bad.

 

[ErikH]

A buddy of mine in CA had a 60's MM Singlecut that he bought from the shop we worked at. This was back in the 90's so it was cheap, well before the whole vintage craze went nuts. Anyway, he routed it for a full-size humbucker, slapped a Duncan '59 in there, cleaned up the bridge, replaced the nut, cleaned up and lubed the tuners. When he was done with it, it was an absolute tone monster.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Given that most people are priced out of vintage Gibsons they want, the 50s-60s Melody Makers, being still made of honduran and brw like their higher priced brethren, are the closest they can get to the golden oldies.

I'm sure Gibson spared what expense they could when they made them - reflected in the thin bodies, hardware, pickups and mounting everything on a scratchplate. I guess some people are also buying them out of nostalgia, the guitar they or someone in their family learnt on etc.

Anyway, if they cost a few bills, slap in some QPs or Rails and you got a nice little rat rod axe, but the market with vintage guitar is what it is.

 

[ICTGoober]

Please note the one Vai is playing is all maple...