Melancon Guitars were hand built in Thibodaux, Louisiana, by Gerard Melancon until his death in 2019. Drawing from deep roots in Cajun music and bayou culture, Melancon garnered a reputation for high-quality, custom electric guitars built with the right materials and strong attention to detail. Sadly there is a limited supply of Melancon guitars in the world, but Gerard's legacy lives on in the impressive instruments he created.
Gerard built this Melancon Pro Artist T (#1970) in the late-2010s. Its Swamp Ash body resembles the classic T-style template, but it is subtly refined and improved for comfort. It is approximately 1/8" narrower across the lower bout than a standard T, and it is about 1/4" shorter in overall length. The body edges are rolled-off and softened, and the cutaway is wider and more open. Melancon's Butterscotch finish sets off the beautiful Swamp Ash Figure, and the Tortoise-pattern pickguard provides the perfect contrast.
This Pro Artist T has a gorgeous Birdseye Maple neck that has a 1.650" Nut width, 10" fingerboard radius, and Heavy-size stainless steel frets. With hand-wound Vintage pickups, the Pro Artist T nails the classic '50s tone, but because of the modern precision, it plays effortlessly all over the fingerboard. The feel of the neck profile and the contours around the neck joint make for a guitar that plays smoother and easier than some old crusty relic. This is a proper guitar, carefully optimized for tone and feel.
This 2010s Melancon Pro Artist T shows some minor playwear, especially around the pickguard. But it shows no dings, scratches, or signs of carelessness—this guitar has been babied. Because the frets are stainless, you can feel the frets on the edge of the fingerboard, but are smooth so playability is comfortable. The subtle changes to the body make this Melancon balance very evenly on a strap, and it's lightweight, too (6 lb 15.6 oz). The pickups are RWRP wound, so it's very quiet when you're plugged in.
This Melancon Pro Artist T includes its original form-fitting hardshell case, original paperwork/spec sheet, and original hex-key adjustment tools. Great guitar!