Gibson Melody Maker D, Cherry 249317 (1964)

1964 Gibson Melody Maker D in original Cherry finish just into the shop!

We'll never stop loving these great old student model electrics, especially when they come in relatively unscathed from decades of parts scavenging they've become so susceptible to. This is a relatively whole example in that regard, having maintained nearly all of its originality with the exception of frets and a nut.

This is a very nice playing and sounding version of the second iteration of the Melody Maker, with Gibson moving from the single-cutaway version in 1961 to this double-cutaway version you see before you. Nearly identical in construction otherwise, these mid 60s examples really only have one construction change of note - the bridge! Gibson moved from the slanted 50s style wraparound to the "lightning bar" compensated bridge, and often outfitted many of these with the option vibrola system. This one is a factory wraptail build! The neck is particularly great on this Melody Maker, with a true wide nut of 1 11/16" and a comfortably round C neck with a nice fat taper.

We've gone ahead and installed a MojoAxe bridge, which allows for cleaner intonation particularly on the G string. The original wraparound bridge is included. A fresh setup with this new bridge and this guitar is playing great! The original Kluson tuners are working great with a few replacement ferrules installed; the D string tuner is slightly bent that still turns fine. Both pickups have that unmistakable MM sound - bright and lean with strong output that straddles the line between the fatness of a P90 and the twang of Fender single coils. It's free of cracks or breaks, too!

Paired with a vintage chipboard.