Here’s a very solid vintage 1963 Gibson Melody Maker featuring the earlier J-Lo body style and wide neck pocket with ‘big‘ neck. This guitar was produced at the original Gibson factory in Kalamazoo Michigan, USA. The guitar is 100% Original with no cracks, breaks, splits or repairs.
It is so rock & roll. Features include a 1-piece Honduran mahogany slab-style body with a 1-piece Honduran mahogany neck and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard. This model has the original ‘lightning bolt’ wraparound tailpiece which provides improved intonation over the earlier years’ slanted version. The guitar has weather checking, nicks and general handling evidence all over-see photos. It screams “vintage guitar”!
The neck joint is solid. There is a vintage “keys to music” gold dealer decal on the base of the heel-a nice period touch to the whole vintage vibe of the instrument. The neck itself is a big C profile and measures .812” deep at the 1st fret and 1.021” deep at the 12th fret. If you want a slim neck-this ain’t the one for you. If you are looking for beefy-you have come to the right place. The original tuners all function smoothly. The headstock and logo display great with excellent patina. The nut measures 1.689” wide-which is the earlier and more desirable 1 11/16” version. The string height measures .010” at the first fret and .060” at the 12th fret. It has a low action for an easy and fast playing experience. You can raise the action if you prefer a higher action. The fingerboard is in good shape And exhibits only minor wear. It feels nice and clean. The frets have been cleaned, leveled, crowned and polished and they are super clean-see photos. The guitar plays great up and down the fingerboard. The wraparound bridge provides a great string tension and bends are just phenomenal. The pickup has a strong signal and measures 7.60 ohms. The electronics all function smoothly and quietly. The original centralab potentiometers date to the 8th and 20th week of 1963. The pickguard is nice and flat and the logo displays nicely. The tone is typical raw Melody Maker growl with a thick bark. It is perfect for rock & roll and excels in the “garage band“ department. The guitar is ridiculously lightweight-it only weighs 6.27 lbs. It is very comfortable in your lap or in a strap. No neck fatigue with this baby-you can play all night long and it feels like satin underwear. The original gator skin case has some attitude. The handle is missing but it does latch up and protects the guitar as much as chipboard case can. Displays well…
This is a great little early vintage Gibson that will only appreciate in value.
