Gibson Melody Maker Electric Guitars

Gibson Melody Maker Electric Guitars is a line of budget electric guitars started by Gibson Guitar Corporation in 1959 and after numerous shut downs and re-designs, Melody Makers are still in production even at the present time.

The first original Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars were produced from 1959 to 1971. They had a one-piece neck and a thin slab-style body both made in mahogany. Before 1965, Melody Makers had a single-cutaway body similar to the one of the Les Paul model. But in 1966, the body was changed to a new style with pointed horns, similar to the SG model. Gibson Melody Maker guitars could have optionally two pickups instead of a standard one and a twelve-string version of a guitar was introduced in 1967.

After been discontinued in 1971, the Melody Maker was incarnated second time in 1977 in double-cutaway style and with some minor changes to the design of the guitar, including a stop tail piece and a "tune-o-matic" bridge. This time production of Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars lasted for six years and was again stopped in 1983.

After a two-year break, production of Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars was re-started for another two years (from 1986 to 1988). This time Melody Makers had a single-cutaway body with a humbucking pickup, a "tune-o-matic" bride, a stop tail piece, and "Grover" tuners.

Next break had followed and a new model, "All American" Melody Maker, was released in the middle 1990s as a part of the "All American" line. This version was very close to the original Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars beside of some minor changes to chrome tuners, location of controls, and having no scratchplate. The "All American" Melody Makers were produced until 1998.

After the line of Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars was discontinued yet another time, the Melody Maker had returned as a sub-model of the Gibson Les Paul line. This model had a mixture of features from both guitars, like having white button turners and a straight-sided headstock common for Melody Makers and bridge-mounted P-90 pickup traditional for the Les Paul Junior model. Beside of this, the Les Paul Melody Maker guitars had a "tune-o-matic" bridge and a separate tail piece.

Another model of Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars was introduced in 2007 and it's practically a re-issue of the original 1959 Melody Maker model. It's using a single-coil pickup and a wraparound bridge/tailpiece unit. A pickguard and a mahogany neck are similar to the original Melody Maker.

Gibson Melody Maker electric guitars are reliable and affordable guitars successfully combining quality and value. They will suit any guitarists from amateur to professional level and vintage models can make a nice addition to your collection of Gibson guitars as well.

You can see current listings for Gibson Melody Maker Electric Guitars here: