NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

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godgrinder
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NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by godgrinder »

I've spent a few days in Tokyo and checked out the Ochanomizu area during one of the afternoons. Was thinking about getting an HS R4 from Ishibashi but figured I'll check out a few more shops before making the deal. Ended up finding 2x 1960 Melody Makers at Kurosawa Gakki. I A/B'd the two acoustically for a little while, both were loud and resonant, have 1pc body and presumably Brazilian rosewood fretboard. I bought this one which I liked slightly more.

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Some of you might remember me picking up a '65 double cut MM a little while ago. I found that strat pickups are pretty good replacements for the stock pickups so I ordered some BKP ones. Brute Force for bridge and a RP/RW Old Guard for neck. Will report back when I get them.
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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by godgrinder »

If anyone cares here are my vinyl scores during the Tokyo visit. Stoked to find the original version of the first Pentagram album.
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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by mrmofo »

Nice, that VoiVod album is brilliant!
There are still some that think the neck PU is moved to accommodate the extra frets which only proves they cannot detect the difference in length of each.

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by codedog »

Very nice... but I couldn't help notice the gig bag too. That looks good, what make is it? How is the padding?

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by Molly »

Is the rosewood going to be an issue at the border? Being Brazilian an' all that malarkey.

Looks cool by the way.

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by godgrinder »

Molly wrote:Is the rosewood going to be an issue at the border? Being Brazilian an' all that malarkey.
No one cared. The whole Brazilian VS Indian thing seemed more like a niche knowledge and I doubt it has ever crossed anyone's mind. Otherwise they'd check every rosewood guitar.
Amps:
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Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by kdawg2a »

That's a cool wee gat. Love the lesser known options.
1935 Martin D-45, 1942 Gibson Southern Jumbo,1950 Fender Broadcaster, 1954 Fender Strat, 1958 Gibson Moderne prototype, 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard.
1958 Fender twin, 1965 Vox AC30, 1966 Marshall JTM 45, 1977 Dumble OD Special.
Big black garbage bag full of original Klon Centaurs and TS808s.

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by jeremyb »

It's kinda neat that you have the taste for vintage guitars but play teh doomz on them, I like!!
Slowy wrote: That's the problem; everything rewarding is just such hard work. Regret takes much less effort.

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by godgrinder »

For real vintage Gibsons (ie pre-norlin) these are pretty good deals. Wrong headstock but right timber.

Also it wouldn't be sacrilegious to swap out the pickups for something that actually works for you. :lol:
Amps:
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Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A

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Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by GrantB »

godgrinder understands old mahogany!
"Man is the most insane species. He worships an invisible god and destroys a visible nature. Unaware that this nature he's destroying is this god he's worshipping." - Hubert Reeves

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by godgrinder »

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Pickup swap done. Turns out the proper strat coils are bigger than these strat-sized humbuckers so I can't fit them under the original covers like I did on the '65. Ended up direct mounting them.
Amps:
Soldano SLO100 x2 | Wizard MC1 & MC2 | Diezel Herbert
Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A

Rack stuff:
VHT/Fryette GP3, GP/DI & 2/90/2 | Peters FSM/Chimera
Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio

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Re: NGD: '60 Gibson Melody Maker

Post by godgrinder »

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Swapped the bridge pickup to a Dimarzio DP182. The hum-cancelling ones have a taller profile than proper SC’s so I can get it closer to the string. Due to the bridge angle the extra few mm’s were much needed.

Got some Hipshot locking tuners in there as well. The original tuners still holds tune but a bit hard to use (maybe something to do with the ratio?). The cool thing about the Hipshot is that they have these little plates which hold them in place so you don’t need any screws.
Amps:
Soldano SLO100 x2 | Wizard MC1 & MC2 | Diezel Herbert
Fryette Pittbull CL | Marshall 2203KK | Krank Rev 50 | Mesa Mark 2A

Rack stuff:
VHT/Fryette GP3, GP/DI & 2/90/2 | Peters FSM/Chimera
Verellen Meatsmoke | Synergy SYN1 | Mesa Studio

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