1959 Melody Maker - Click to zoom 1961 Melody Maker - Click to zoom	Gibson Melody Maker ® Over the months I have received many requests for this guitar, the Gibson Melody Maker, which many term 'the underrated Gibson" or the "Gibson that time forgot". Gibson Melody Maker Specs Gibson introduced the original Melody Maker guitar in 1959. One was a single cutaway model, another a 3/4 size instrument. In 1960, a double cutaway full-size version was developed and successfully marketed for 10 years. In 1970, the Melody Maker Double was discontinued. In the late 1970's, however, there was a renewed interest in the "blues", influenced by "bottle slide" guitar stylists. Since the Melody Maker Double has the strong, single coil tonal characteristics, the instrument lent itself extremely well to this music and playing style. Thus, in 1977, the Melody Maker Double was once again made available. Body Design Solid body with a double cutaway.  Dimensions Length: 16" • width: 13" • depth: 1-11/32" Material Mahogany Neck Nut Width 1–11/16" Scale 24–3/4" Frets 22 Neck Pitch 3° Head Pitch 14° Materials 3-piece laminated mahogany Fingerboard Rosewood Inlay "dots" Binding none Head 3-piece laminated mahogany with blackened peghead and Gibson logo Bridge Type Tune-O-Matic Design Narrow Schaller Materials Die cast zinc, chrome-plated Tailpiece Type Adjustable stop bar Materials Die cast zinc, chrome-plated Pickups Number & Type 2 adjustable single coil with plastic covers Materials 1 Alnico V magnet per pick-up Type of load: Magnet loaded Melody Maker Vintage Specs Available: 1959 to 1971 (reissues available 1977-1981) Collectibility Rating: 1959-1965 models: D-, 1966-1971 models: D-- 1959 Melody Maker (MM) specs: slab body 1 3/8" thick, single rounded cutaway (like a Les Paul Junior but thinner), one 7/8" wide oblong pickup with black cover and no visible poles, stud wrap-around bridge/tailpiece, pickguard surrounds pickups, knobs mounted on pickguard, unbound fingerboard with dot inlays, narrow 2 1/4" wide peghead (narrower than any other Gibson model), gold decal peghead loog, sunburst finish. Short MM3/4 scale model available with 12 frets clear of body. 1960 Melody Maker specs: Pickup narrowed to 5/8", two pickup model introduced. 1961 Melody Maker specs: Symmetrical double cutaway with rounded horns, horns point away from neck, slightly rounded body edges. 1962 Melody Maker specs: Maestro vibrato optional. Keeps the same wrap-around style bridge/tailpiece with the strings drapped over it and attaching to the vibrato. 1963 Melody Maker specs: Body edges more rounded, horns point slightly farther away from neck, cherry finish. 1966 Melody Maker specs: SG body style with pointed horns, white pickup covers, enlarged white pickguard that covers most of body, knobs mounted into top, vibrato standard, fire engine red or Pelham blue finish. 1967 Melody Maker specs: MM-12 string version available with 2 pickups and no vibrato. Also MM-3 available with 3 pickups. Fire engine red color discontinued and replaced with sparkling burgundy finish. 1970 Melody Maker specs: MM3/4 discontinued. Wider peghead, walnut finish available on all models but MM-12. 1971 Melody Maker specs: All MM models discontinued and replaced by SG-100, SG-200 and SG-250 models.