Are Melody Makers really THAT valuable?

[CivoLee]

I was just on eBay, looking at Melody Makers just for the fun of it (I'd probably never buy one), and found the average rate for vintage MMs is $1500-$2000...are they serious?

I know some of them have Brazilian boards (and from having owned a guitar with a Brazilian board, ebony comes close but still isn't the same...a shame it's endangered), and they're from Gibson's "golden era", but still...we're talking about a bare-bones entry-level instrument here. How can that command close to the same price as a brand new Les Paul?

What is it that I'm missing?

[hans]

I think you have a point there. My hypothesis is, that since more valuable vintage models have become out of reach for many of us, the focus has turned on these entry level vintage guitars. The rise in demand for these guitars now turn the prices up. It's basic free market mechanisms.

I am the owner of a Norlin era LP - and even that might become collectable at some point.

[singlecut]

Originally Posted by CivoLee

I was just on eBay, looking at Melody Makers just for the fun of it (I'd probably never buy one), and found the average rate for vintage MMs is $1500-$2000...are they serious?

I know some of them have Brazilian boards (and from having owned a guitar with a Brazilian board, ebony comes close but still isn't the same...a shame it's endangered), and they're from Gibson's "golden era", but still...we're talking about a bare-bones entry-level instrument here. How can that command close to the same price as a brand new Les Paul?

What is it that I'm missing?

ever played a 59/ 60 singlecut?
i bet not
i'd take 1 over most new gibsons anyday. including those mass produced historics for 1/3 of the price.

[voodo child]

I hear ya they are expensive but that brazilian rosewood is a dream to touch.
My firebird is a monster of tone and it has a brazilian rosewood fretboard for some reason
But I think that the real reason why they are expensive might be because of some collectors jacking up the prices on them

[cherrick]

The correct answer is no.

[dwagar]

Originally Posted by singlecut

ever played a 59/ 60 singlecut?
i bet not
i'd take 1 over most new gibsons anyday. including those mass produced historics for 1/3 of the price.

+1

I sold my project '60 MM S/C when I was funding a Harley, but I miss it. Killer guitars, still cheap at those prices. All the real wood, built the right way, fantastic neck. Rang like a bloody bell.

[River]

Average asking or selling? 100% original and pristine, or beat up and modded?

They're worth plenty if you're one of us who "gets" them, and you like a light-weight, supremely-playable guitar (who among us is not a student?).

[Danelectro]

During the vintage frenzy 4 years ago, singlecuts were selling for about $2K-$2.5K. Today you can nice ones for $1000-$1400 if you keep your eyes open for them. A year or two ago I picked up a '59 for $1200 and a '60 for $1000. Neither have any breaks or serious issues, and both are the wide pickup models. Tuners, pots and knobs were swapped, but otherwise they're original. I made a new pickguard for the '59 and installed a Jason Lollar P90 into it (totally reversible mod). Its a poor man's vintage Junior. Old wood wood, Brazilian board, and P90 grind, all for a total investment of $1330.

1959


1960


1959 (after P90 mod)

[singlecut]

i think i've seen that before.

[singlecut]

Originally Posted by voodo child

I hear ya they are expensive but that brazilian rosewood is a dream to touch.
My firebird is a monster of tone and it has a brazilian rosewood fretboard for some reason
But I think that the real reason why they are expensive might be because of some collectors jacking up the prices on them

i'm a melody maker collector
and i'm not jacking up prices believe me.

[Danelectro]

Originally Posted by singlecut

i think i've seen that before.

I think you're right. I'm sure its somewhere in this pile of firewood.

[singlecut]

Originally Posted by Danelectro

I think you're right. I'm sure its somewhere in this pile of firewood.

sad to say that picture is now old. i've since added to the hoard. a few have gone but the #'s a up

[The Refugee]

Assuming you could get 1K for each guitar in that picture, you have 24k worth of old wood

I would love a melody maker, especially if it had a P90 in it. Basically a vintage Junior at about 1/4 of the price? I'll take it.

[dwagar]

But I think that the real reason why they are expensive might be because of some collectors jacking up the prices on them

During the vintage frenzy 4 years ago, singlecuts were selling for about $2K-$2.5K. Today you can nice ones for $1000-$1400

i'm a melody maker collector
and i'm not jacking up prices believe me.

Yeah, looks like you have that 'jacking up prices' thing backwards.

[HOT-BRIT]

Original pickups are not that good but modified with p-90's they come to life

[charlie chitlins]

Is a '59 Les Paul worth $250k?
That's 100 dead mint way overpriced Melody Makers.
The guy who made that $1500 melody Maker probably made one of those Les Pauls the next day.
They are vintage instruments made by hand by real craftsmen using woods that barely exist anymore.
I think they're under-valued!
I just got a refinished '59/'60 "player" for less money than many new Epiphones.