Melody makers vs Junior / Specials

[josep_cla]

Hi guys.

Just wondering if there is a lot of a difference between these two. They look simmilar but the prices are not close.

A part from the different pickups and the headstock size, what more to expect?

BTW, how does the MM pickup compare to a P90? Just curious...

Thanks!

[jerrypilot]

P90 - ballsy , toneful , articulate , slightly gritty high end . Melody Maker pickup , bright , twangy , might be perceived as thin sounding - but some people love them . The MM pickup was lifted from The Skylark , an entry level lap steel . First year MM pickups (59-60) are slightly wider and some players say they sound a little fatter . Don't expect a MM to sound like a Junior or Special .

[josep_cla]

Yeah, but I am not asking just about the pickups, but about the guitar itsef: body, neck, construction, feeling...
I know some manufacturers have MM sized P90 pickups, so electronics wouldn't be a concern.

Just want to know the general feeling of those guitars.

[27sauce]

I've got a '60 MM with the big pickup. Much more useable of a sound than the typical MM pickup. Kinda like a fat Tele, much more low end than the later MM pickups.

As far as feel goes, its probably closer to an SG, without the balance issues. Its about as thin as an SG. My MM has has a massive neck.

If it weren't for the top mounted jack, and the location of knobs, I would use mine a lot more. Very comfortable guitar IMO. Get a '59/'60, they are killer deals.

[dwagar]

I had a '60, quite modded to be close to a Special. Great guitar, fantastic neck, with Fralin P90s it sounded great.

As mentioned above, they are probably closer to an SG than a LP. I sold mine, it came down to actually wanting a Special, which I should have soon.

If you accept a MM for what it is, they are a hell of a good buy. Just don't want it to be something it's not.



Btw 27sauce, the jack on mine was relocated to the edge.

[josep_cla]

Well, an SG is not a bad guitar by the way hehe.

I keep my eyes open for a modded one. Maybe for P90s, maybe for humbuckers.
Don't want to do it myself.

Any more owners?

[Smash88]

I picked up a 59 MM that someone modded with a P90 and a quan a long time ago. It absolutely screams. To my ears it nails the sound of a Jr. But you can't go wrong with a Jr or Special either.

[DADGAD]

I had a '60 until recently. Old growth mahogany, braz freeboard. Pickup can be a bit lame but throw a Novak pickup or Lollar loaded pickguard and you'll be rockin in junior territory.

[River]

Originally Posted by josep_cla

Just want to know the general feeling of those guitars.

My '60 (w/P-90) and '11 "V" are featherweights. It's also a bit odd-feeling having your strumming hand so close to your body, as they're quite thin. Doesn't take me long to adjust, though.

[jeggz]

I've had Makers with p90s and a DiMarzio SuperD...
Both were tone machines..

[Core]

Just put a nasty humbucker in it Joan Jett style!

[number27]

Originally Posted by josep_cla

I keep my eyes open for a modded one. Maybe for P90s, maybe for humbuckers.
Don't want to do it myself.

Any more owners?

I already posted it in the "other gibson" section but here is my MM65 "juniorised" with a lollar kit...

[Nils]

I love that the Juniors have the fat body compared to the thin body of the MM. I like the P90 a lot more as well.
However I did play the odd MM that just sounded and played fckn awesome! I had the same experience with other Gibson/Epiphone models with a MM pickup. Some of them were very thin sounding, others blew me away.

But the low pricing on the MMs sure make them very interesting. A lot of magic for not a lot of money.

[Core]

The necks play and feel a lot like a junior so find one with some meat on it and it'll have a bit more substance and sustain to it's tone. I'd still put a humbucker in it though. Single hot rodded, down and dirty.

[Jumping@shadows]

One of my very favorite guitars of all time was a '59 MM modded with two early 50s P90s- feather weight, big neck and exceptional tone in each position- as good as any of my subsequent 50s PAF and P90 guitars, and cost next to nothing.....i kinda wish i had that guitar back, as it was the ultimate giant killer
My advise is dont think twice- get yerself a hacked up player and slap in your pickup of choice an go and slay some multi thousand dollar reissues!

[singlecut]

sold my jr's when they were peaking

kept my melody makers
i got a couple of them
i like them alot