Gibson Melody Maker Owned by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1966), made in Kalamazoo, Michigan, serial # 600110, Pelham Blue lacquer finish, mahogany body and neck, rosewood fingerboard, black hard shell case.
This beautiful blue guitar represents the final version of the Melody Maker, Gibson's 1960s entry level solid body. This new "rationalized" student guitar debuted in 1966 and was sold up through the end of the decade. To simplify production in these guitar-boom times, the later Melody Makers used the standard sculpted SG body theoretically allowing any model from a 3-pickup SG Custom down to this one-pickup Melody Maker to be made from the same pre-carved mahogany piece.
These later Melody Makers were usually finished in one of two eye-catching metallic paint finishes, Pelham Blue in this case. With a slim 1 5/8" nut width, sleek neck and one single coil pickup in the bridge position this is a lean little rock machine; not as dark or crunchy-sounding as an SG Junior but potent in its own right. The pots in this example are dated to 1966, which would make it one of 3012 shipped that year in all finishes. At $136.50 this was a great value in an easy playing solid body at the time, and remains a fine value in a nearly 60-year old vintage Gibson today. This sharp looking Melody Maker did a stint with Jeff Tweedy at the Wilco Loft in Chicago and is now ready to go back out into the world.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 13 1/4 in. (33.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this is a nicely original guitar, currently set up slightly altered for optimum playability. The original bar bridge and vibrato tailpiece bar/arm assembly are included but not mounted, it is currently set up with a Wilkinson GTB stoptail bridge. The neck angle is fairly shallow so low action settings are not feasible with the original vibrato setup, and the Wilkinson allows for more intonation adjustment than the original stoptail. The pickup, wiring, tuners and all other hardware is original and undisturbed.
The all-original finish has some broad checking but not too much wear. There are some small spots of curly-cord wear into the back and back of the neck; a spot on the back that was sanded for some reason, this goes into but not through the finish. Apart from that there are some small dings and nicks. The all-original Pelham Blue lacquer has a very nice color, greened to the lovely turquoise shade these turn to after half a century of ageing. This is a simple but beautiful guitar, in a later hardshell case showing the signature markings of the Wilco Loft along the bottom; inside the case is the certificate of authenticity from the Wilco Loft validating the provenance. Overall Excellent - Condition.
