Up until
1961
, Gibson dated solidbodies by utilizing the first number of the serial number to indicate the last digit of the year built, confirming that this Melody Maker is a 1960. A quick glance at the Melody Maker shows the similarity in design to the timeless Les Paul.
Are Gibson Melody Makers any good?
The Gibson Melody Maker offers serious rock attitude. With its single-coil pickup and lightweight body, the Gibson Melody Maker
is great for any guitarist
. I will never sell this guitar. … But then again, I have always been a little partial to the Gibson neck probably due to my small hand size.
What year did the Gibson Melody Maker come out?
The Gibson Melody Maker was first launched in
1959
and discontinued in 1971. It had a thin slab-style mahogany body and a one-piece mahogany neck. All the electronics, from the small single-coil pickups to the cable jack, were assembled on the pickguard and installed in a rout in the front of the body.
How do you date a vintage Gibson guitar?
Gibson used the 6 digits or less impressed serial number style from
1961 until 1975
. Gibson guitars with “MADE IN USA” impressed below the serial were made from 1969 and on. If your guitar has 6 digits impressed on the headstock and a “MADE IN USA” underneath then it was likely made between 1969 and 1975.
How do you find out what year my Gibson guitar is?
There should be a space after the
1st digit with the 4 and 5 digit serial numbers
, and no space with the 6 digit numbers. The 1st digit indicates the year of manufacture for the 4 & 5 digit serial numbers, these were used from 1989-1999.
Is a Melody Maker a Les Paul?
The Gibson Les Paul Melody Maker solidbody electric guitar sports a slim mahogany body that’s lightweight and comfortable to play. Originally introduced as a student model (much like the Les Paul Junior), the Melody Maker became a player’s favorite for its light weight, comfortable neck, and great tone.
How thick is a Gibson Melody Maker?
The Melody Maker was built rather uniquely, as the entire pickguard had the pickup, electronics, and controls all attached to it; they were simply mounted into the guitar inside a large routing that allowed it to be built more quickly and cheaply. It features a slab mahogany body (
1.375” thickness
—.
What is a Les Paul Jr?
The Les Paul Junior is not a different size guitar, it’s simply an entry-level Les Paul model. It was originally designed to be an affordable alternative to the Les Paul Standard, and thus is not as fully-featured. The main differences compared to a traditional Les Paul are:
flat top instead of carved top
.
How can you tell a fake Gibson guitar?
- The fretboard binding on a genuine Gibson should hide exposed fret ends.
- If the price seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.
- If the potentiometers are unbranded, it’s almost certainly fake.
- The truss rod cover on a fake will usually have too many screws.
How do you date a Gibson SG?
Gibson’s then most sustainable numbering system was launched in August 1977, with a stamped-in
8-digit number
. The 1st and 5th digit represent the year of manufacture. The 3 digits in-between denote the day of that year, while digits 6 to 8 give the production number.
How can you tell how old a guitar is?
If those two dates match up, that’s probably the exact date your guitar was built. If they don’t, it could indicate that the guitar’s neck was replaced at some point, or that the guitar was built from spare parts and is not an original build.
When did the electric guitar became popular?
During
the 1950s and 1960s
, the electric guitar became the most important instrument in popular music. It has evolved into an instrument that is capable of a multitude of sounds and styles in genres ranging from pop and rock to country music, blues and jazz.
What kind of guitar does Joan Jett play?
Jett’s primary guitar for most of her shows for the last 20 years is a
battered and sticker-bedecked Gibson Melody Maker with a single Red Rhodes Velvet Hammer humbucker
.
How thick is a Les Paul Junior?
One-piece 12 3/4 inch wide,
1 5/8 inch thick
, double-cutaway solid mahogany body with rounded edges.
Is Epiphone owned by Gibson?
In 1957, Epiphone, Inc.
was purchased by Gibson
, its main rival in the archtop guitar market at the time. … Today, Epiphone is still used as a brand for the Gibson company, both for budget models of other Gibson-branded products and for several Epiphone-exclusive models.
Are Les Paul Juniors smaller?
Les Paul Jr’s
were built to a smaller scale when they were made originally
, as an, entry guitar for children/teens/smaller adults. At the time, LP’s were quite a bit more so many people started buying Jr’s because of the cost difference.
