Melody Maker Questions

[stang90gt]

And Now my favorite pic of my small Gibson family...

 

[stang90gt]

I assume mahogany body and neck? What's the tone like with such a thin body?

im gonna assume mahogany body and neck too. honestly i dont know. today was the first time that i have ever played a Melody Maker and P90's I loved it so I bought it. i dont know much about them and i cant find much about the 2003's online but apparently from what i have found is that theyre unusual because they have a TOM bridge and not a wrap around. The Tone is amazing.

 

[icantbuyafender]

im gonna assume mahogany body and neck too. honestly i dont know. today was the first time that i have ever played a Melody Maker and P90's I loved it so I bought it. i dont know much about them and i cant find much about the 2003's online but apparently from what i have found is that theyre unusual because they have a TOM bridge and not a wrap around.

Yep.

That makes them unique.

They had a run of late 80s MMs and the recent Joan Jett sig, w/ TOM/stopbar, but they had the melody maker pickgaurds with everything mounted to it, like a strat. Then, the "All-American II" from the early 90's was also body mounted but it had a strat style tremolo.

These 2003s have the pickup/electronics body-mounted, w/ NO pickguard AND have the TOM/stopbar.

I love the wraparound... but these Tom/stopbar MMs allow for better intonation adjustments.

...and they look mean as hell with a Jr pickguard if you so choose to add one. It's hard to find one in the condition yours is-- as new as an 11 yr old guitar can possibly be, and without a pickguard drilled on.

I'd play it, as-is. If you decide you want a guard on it later, that's an option.

 

[stang90gt]

Yep.

That makes them unique.

They had a run of late 80s MMs that had a 490T 'bucker and a TOM/stopbar, but they had the melody maker pickgaurds with everything mounted to it, like a strat. The Joan Jetts use the pickgaurd mount method as well, and have the TOM/stopbar. Then, the "All-American II" from the early 90's was also body mounted but it had a strat style tremolo.

These 2003s have the pickup and electronics body-mounted, no pickguard and have the TOM/stopbar.

I love the wraparound... but these Tom/stopbar MMs allow for better intonation adjustments.

...and they look mean as hell with a Jr pickguard if you so choose to add one. It's hard to find one in the condition yours is-- as new as an 11 yr old guitar can possibly be, and without a pickguard drilled on.

I'd play it, as-is. If you decide you want a guard on it later, that's an option.

I'm not much of a modder, never have been. the only mods on any of my Gibsons is a poker chip on my SG special and a historic Amber switch tip on my standard. all of my other guitars are bone stock. Thank you very much for the information, seems like you're a virtual encyclopedia on Melody Makers at least

 

[icantbuyafender]

I'm not much of a modder, never have been. the only mods on any of my Gibsons is a poker chip on my SG special and a historic Amber switch tip on my standard. all of my other guitars are bone stock. Thank you very much for the information, seems like you're a virtual encyclopedia on Melody Makers at least

Hahahahaha!

A compliment? I'll take it!!

I see this guitar growing on you.

Perfect "lazy-on-the-couch" picker, yet NO slouch plugged in.

 

[kasu]

im gonna assume mahogany body and neck too. honestly i dont know. today was the first time that i have ever played a Melody Maker and P90's I loved it so I bought it. i dont know much about them and i cant find much about the 2003's online but apparently from what i have found is that theyre unusual because they have a TOM bridge and not a wrap around. The Tone is amazing.

If I remember correctly the body wood on these are spanish cedar and mahogany in the neck.
Heres mine after stripping of the ruined finish.... It seems to have larger pores than hog, but visually pretty similar. Im no wood expert though.

 

[icantbuyafender]

I believe the neck was Spanish cedar and body was mahogany on some as well. My ebony '03 shows mahogany through the black finish after years of use.

Whatever gibson had to fill orders with, after a while I bet. I can see variations happening.

 

[kasu]

I believe the neck was Spanish cedar and body was mahogany on some as well. My ebony '03 shows mahogany through the black finish after years of use.

Whatever gibson had to fill orders with, after a while I bet. I can see variations happening.

Maybe thats how it was... I know there was some spanish cedar involved anyway...
Mine had a neck break as well that I fixed.. I miust say that both the body and neck wood seemed very mahoganishy....

 

[icantbuyafender]

Maybe thats how it was... I know there was some spanish cedar involved anyway...
Mine had a neck break as well that I fixed.. I miust say that both the body and neck wood seemed very mahoganishy....

Yep, same here!

I'm thinking some got away with mahogany neck and body. The wood showing on one of mine definitely resembles mahogany.

 

[stang90gt]

Here's its Grand Dad. Great fun guitars.

That is Awesome. Maybe one day i can own a vintage MM that looks that good

 

[RickRandom]

If I remember correctly the body wood on these are spanish cedar and mahogany in the neck.

According to the 2003 Gibson brochure, it was Santa Maria wood for the body and Spanish Cedar for the neck.

http://www.gibson.com/Files/USA_PDFs/MelodyMakerdatasheet.pdf

 

[kasu]

That is Awesome. Maybe one day i can own a vintage MM that looks that good

Th 59s are pretty nice as well...
Somewhat more costly, but a bargain if you compare to other fifties Gibsies

Heres mine (after a major restore):

 

[stang90gt]

Th 59s are pretty nice as well...
Somewhat more costly, but a bargain if you compare to other fifties Gibsies

Heres mine (after a major restore):

thats a beautiful guitar

 

[suedehead]

Congrats on the NGD. That red MM looks fantastic.

 

[stang90gt]

Congrats on the NGD. That red MM looks fantastic.

thank you very much

 

[icantbuyafender]

thank you very much

It's a fun guitar, isn't it?

This is how it starts.

Before you know it... 1 '03 turns into 4.

Then you've got subsequent models... You're crossing your fingers till you get the next incarnation!

Be brave!

 

[stang90gt]

It's a fun guitar, isn't it?

This is how it starts.

Before you know it... 1 '03 turns into 4.

Then you've got subsequent models... You're crossing your fingers till you get the next incarnation!

Be brave!

YES it is a very fun guitar, i'm really diggin the P90, i still cant believe the awesome tone it makes. i go to work and see if i can find more info on it when i have the time. i can see another one in my future no doubt about that.

 

[icantbuyafender]

Plank of wood, a fat neck, a Gibby P90 and some strings.

It's essentially a wooden cutting board and baseball bat with strings.

It's amazing. The magic of simplicity.

Who'd of thunk?