Gibson Melody Maker D Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964)
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Item # 9302
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Gibson Melody Maker D Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 243244, cherry lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, original brown alligator chipboard case.
The Melody Maker was Gibson's 1960s offering in a high-quality student or amateur level guitar, with many of the features of the company's expensive solid-bodies at a relatively budget price. While the instrument is unadorned and has some basic economies (single-layer pickguard, strip tuners, single-coil pickups with unshielded wiring, and a narrow headstock with a decal logo), in the important ways this is still a real Gibson instrument. The two-pickup Melody Maker D is actually a fine sounding guitar with a fairly versatile sound, though the thin-coil pickups are lower in output than other Gibson units so lack the natural overdrive capacity of the familiar P-90 and Humbuckers.
This late-1964 example is a bit of a transitional instrument. It is built on the new-for-1965 style body, somewhat flatter and broader than the Melody Makers made from 1959 through mid-1964, with more substantial cutaway horns. This solid mahogany body is however finished in the older style sunburst instead of the cherry lacquer that was the standard finish on larger-body '64-5 Melody Makers. The neck is slim and comfortable, built with the thinner 1 5/8" nut width that is generally thought to be a 1965 and later feature but one that seems to have slipped in earlier on student guitars. All the hardware is nickel plated including the stud-mounted tailpiece/bridge and short Vibrola tailpiece with the "spoon" handle.
This new style Melody Maker was only offered in from the end of 1964 through 1965, as by early '66 the model was redesigned yet again using the SG shape. This is likely one of the very first ones made. While only in production for about 14 months, this version of the Melody Maker-D is not exactly a rare guitar -- production figures show over 2500 shipped in 1964 and 4700 the next year. Nevertheless, the combination of the venerable sunburst finish on the newer body is rare compared to the cherry version.
Many of these originally inexpensive guitars have been used heavily or extensively modified over the years, so finding one in all original condition is always nice. Probably the single most famous MM-D is the '65 used by Eric Carmen in the Raspberries and subsequently owned and played by Joan Jett for the bulk of her career, which is refinished in white with two humbucking pickups. This original 1964 sunburst guitar is a cool and great-playing 1960s Gibson: light, easy to handle, and extremely responsive with a great sound and vibe.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is a great playing original example of this Gibson budget classic. The finish still has nice color and shows typical checking, dings dents and scrapes but no major wear. There is one deep ding in the back of the neck behind the third fret, and several other feelable spots of wear higher up. There is strum wear to the tops of the plastic pickup covers, but again nothing major. The single layer pickguard has scuffing and a slight shrinkage bulge below the neck pickup (Gibson was a bit stingy with the mounting screws for this part!) but no cracks. The "Melody Maker" logo by the fingerboard shows some loss but is still legible.
All hardware is original and complete except the fragile plastic strap buttons have been replaced with Gibson period-style metal ones. The often-removed "spoon" vibrato arm is still intact, the nickel plating shows some typical loss. The frets show very little wear and this is a superbly playable guitar, with a better range of sound than many expect. The original 1950's style alligator grain chipboard case is still intact and functional; this must have been one of the very last of these ever issued! Overall a neat package of relatively affordable 1960's Gibson golden age goodness! Excellent Condition.
The Melody Maker was Gibson's 1960s offering in a high-quality student or amateur level guitar, with many of the features of the company's expensive solid-bodies at a relatively budget price. While the instrument is unadorned and has some basic economies (single-layer pickguard, strip tuners, single-coil pickups with unshielded wiring, and a narrow headstock with a decal logo), in the important ways this is still a real Gibson instrument. The two-pickup Melody Maker D is actually a fine sounding guitar with a fairly versatile sound, though the thin-coil pickups are lower in output than other Gibson units so lack the natural overdrive capacity of the familiar P-90 and Humbuckers.
This late-1964 example is a bit of a transitional instrument. It is built on the new-for-1965 style body, somewhat flatter and broader than the Melody Makers made from 1959 through mid-1964, with more substantial cutaway horns. This solid mahogany body is however finished in the older style sunburst instead of the cherry lacquer that was the standard finish on larger-body '64-5 Melody Makers. The neck is slim and comfortable, built with the thinner 1 5/8" nut width that is generally thought to be a 1965 and later feature but one that seems to have slipped in earlier on student guitars. All the hardware is nickel plated including the stud-mounted tailpiece/bridge and short Vibrola tailpiece with the "spoon" handle.
This new style Melody Maker was only offered in from the end of 1964 through 1965, as by early '66 the model was redesigned yet again using the SG shape. This is likely one of the very first ones made. While only in production for about 14 months, this version of the Melody Maker-D is not exactly a rare guitar -- production figures show over 2500 shipped in 1964 and 4700 the next year. Nevertheless, the combination of the venerable sunburst finish on the newer body is rare compared to the cherry version.
Many of these originally inexpensive guitars have been used heavily or extensively modified over the years, so finding one in all original condition is always nice. Probably the single most famous MM-D is the '65 used by Eric Carmen in the Raspberries and subsequently owned and played by Joan Jett for the bulk of her career, which is refinished in white with two humbucking pickups. This original 1964 sunburst guitar is a cool and great-playing 1960s Gibson: light, easy to handle, and extremely responsive with a great sound and vibe.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 12 3/4 in. (32.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 1/4 in. (3.2 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
This is a great playing original example of this Gibson budget classic. The finish still has nice color and shows typical checking, dings dents and scrapes but no major wear. There is one deep ding in the back of the neck behind the third fret, and several other feelable spots of wear higher up. There is strum wear to the tops of the plastic pickup covers, but again nothing major. The single layer pickguard has scuffing and a slight shrinkage bulge below the neck pickup (Gibson was a bit stingy with the mounting screws for this part!) but no cracks. The "Melody Maker" logo by the fingerboard shows some loss but is still legible.
All hardware is original and complete except the fragile plastic strap buttons have been replaced with Gibson period-style metal ones. The often-removed "spoon" vibrato arm is still intact, the nickel plating shows some typical loss. The frets show very little wear and this is a superbly playable guitar, with a better range of sound than many expect. The original 1950's style alligator grain chipboard case is still intact and functional; this must have been one of the very last of these ever issued! Overall a neat package of relatively affordable 1960's Gibson golden age goodness! Excellent Condition.