Melody Maker · Original
Melody Maker
A stripped-down, affordable Gibson solid body introduced in 1959, originally with a single single-coil pickup and a slim body. Simple, light and direct — Gibson's entry-level electric for decades.
Quick Specs
- Model Family
- Melody Maker
- Production Years
- 1959–Present
- Body Shape
- Single Cut
- Neck Profile
- Slim C
- Scale Length
- 24.75"
- Nut Width
- 1.695"
- Fingerboard
- Rosewood
- Pickups
- S
- Typical Weight
- 5.5 lbs
- Country of Origin
- USA
Overview
A stripped-down, affordable Gibson solid body introduced in 1959, originally with a single single-coil pickup and a slim body. Simple, light and direct — Gibson's entry-level electric for decades.
Body
- Body Shape
- Single Cut
- Body Material
- Mahogany
- Top Material
- None
- Binding
- None
Neck
- Neck Material
- Mahogany
- Neck Profile
- Slim C
- Thickness Notes
- —
- Fingerboard
- Rosewood
- Fingerboard Radius
- 12"
- Scale Length
- 24.75"
- Nut Width
- 1.695"
- Number of Frets
- 22
- Fret Type
- Medium Jumbo
Pickups & Electronics
- Neck Pickup
- —
- Bridge Pickup
- Melody Maker Single-Coil
- Configuration
- S
- Controls
- 1 Volume, 1 Tone
Hardware
- Bridge
- Wraparound
- Tailpiece
- —
- Tuners
- Grover
Weight & Feel
- Weight Minimum
- 5 lbs
- Weight Maximum
- 6 lbs
- Typical Weight
- 5.5 lbs
- Left-Handed Available
- No
Who Is It For?
Players who want an affordable, lightweight, simple vintage-style electric.
Strengths
Very light and simple, affordable, vintage student-model charm.
Things to Consider
Single single-coil pickup, thin body, limited tonal flexibility.
Production History
- Production Years
- 1959–Present
- Country of Origin
- USA
- Notes
- Introduced in 1959 as Gibson's affordable student electric; a slim, simple, lightweight solid body.
Similar Models
Les Paul Junior
1954–Present- Family
- Les Paul
- Neck
- 50s-rounded
- Pickups
- S
- Weight
- 7 lbs
A stripped-down, single-cut slab-mahogany Les Paul with one P-90 and a wraparound bridge — the original working-player's Gibson. Raw, resonant and direct, with no carved top, no binding and no extra switches.
SG Junior
1961–Present- Family
- SG
- Neck
- 60s-slimtaper
- Pickups
- S
- Weight
- 6 lbs
A single-P-90 SG with a wraparound bridge and no binding — the simplest, most direct SG. Light, resonant and raw, with one pickup and one volume.
Les Paul Special
1955–Present- Family
- Les Paul
- Neck
- 60s-slimtaper
- Pickups
- SS
- Weight
- 7.5 lbs
A double-cut slab-mahogany Les Paul with two P-90s and a wraparound bridge. It adds a second pickup and a 3-way toggle to the Junior's formula, giving more tonal flexibility with the same raw, resonant simplicity.
Common Questions
- What is the Melody Maker?
- A stripped-down, affordable Gibson solid body introduced in 1959, originally with a single single-coil pickup and a slim body. Simple, light and direct — Gibson's entry-level electric for decades.
- Who is the Melody Maker best for?
- Players who want an affordable, lightweight, simple vintage-style electric.
- What neck profile does the Melody Maker have?
- The Melody Maker features a Slim C neck profile. Learn more about the 60s SlimTaper.
- How much does the Melody Maker weigh?
- The Melody Maker typically weighs around 5.5 lbs.
- Is the Melody Maker still in production?
- No, this model is no longer in production.
Source notes: Sample data — verify specifications before publication.