There's just something cool about chopper motorcycles and vintage hot rods—sometimes, the right parts come together to create something special, something with its own unique character. The same can be true of guitars, and these old "choppers" are great players that stand out on stage. In the right hands, these guitars inspire magic unlike standard factory specs. Sometimes, what you need is something different, something that's customized just right.
Gibson introduced the Melody Maker in 1959 to satisfy the market for affordable, beginner-grade electrics. By 1961, it had a double-cutaway body. Constructed of a slab Mahogany body with a set Mahogany neck, the Melody Maker was designed to be cost effective. This makes it a fantastic, lightweight guitar for modification.
This 1962 Gibson Melody Maker has been tricked out and turned into a rock and roll machine. This one started its life as a single-pickup, no-frills Melody Maker, but at some point along the way, it was routed to accommodate full-size humbucker pickups. Under the hood, it has two '60s Gibson patent # pickups. The switch is an old Switchcraft, but the CTS pots date to 2021. The current configuration gives you individual volume controls for each pickup and a master tone control. While the original Melody Maker wraparound stop bar leaves a lot to be desired, this one has a genuine Leo Quan intonatable bridge. It also sports new sealed tuners and a Graph Tech nut.
This 1962 Melody Maker plays nicely, and it has a lightweight feel (7 lbs 6.7 oz). Into an amp, it is expressive and versatile—it can go hard when you want to, but it sounds equally as good when you draw back a little, too. All in all, it's a cool axe with its own vibe and mojo. The heavily-checked lacquer feels right, just like worn-in jeans. Hardshell case included.