Melody Makers and gigging

designerseye88

So I'm on the lookout for a Melody maker, Either a 1959 model with the wider pickup or a double pickup version - both single cut. I've been curious about these guitars for a while but am not sure if they are usable in a live setting. I've heard the thicker pickup on a 59 MM is almost p90 like with a hint of telecaster. Does anyone have experience of gigging a melody maker? 

And on a side note, Is anyone selling?  

randella

I don't see why they wouldn't be - like the lovechild of a Tele and an SG.  I've always fancied one.

What puts you off out of curiosity?

designerseye88

randella said:

I don't see why they wouldn't be - like the lovechild of a Tele and an SG.  I've always fancied one.

What puts you off out of curiosity?

I'm not put off as such, Iv'e always had a soft spot for them. My main concern is that they will sound a bit thin. I'd like to occasionally use it for a few songs in my set but i just wanted to know whether anyone has used them while gigging and what they think. 

SteveRobinson

designerseye88

SteveRobinson said:

Well that pretty much ends the debate haha 

Kristo

I used to gig my 2 pickup reissue version; sounded ace. Although I replaced the pickups with ones from BG Pickups as the originals were a little underwhelming.

designerseye88

@Kristo Yes iv'e heard the pickups can be a bit underwhelming. That was one of my concerns. Which is why i was looking really more towards the 59, I've heard the pickup output is similar to a p90. (Hence the Melody Maker being referred to as a poor mans junior i guess!) 

jumping@shadows

I have a single cut early ‘60 with a really chunky ‘59 neck that’s absurdly good, and even have a fat ‘59 bridge pickup to fit one of these days :-)

Funkfingers

designerseye88 said:

I've heard the pickup output is similar to a p90.

I have a single pickup 1965, 3rd shape. Its Skylark single coil pickup does the "poor man's P90" trick by the simple expedient of rolling the tone pot back to between 5 and 6 then, playing through overdriven valve amplification.

designerseye88 said:

almost p90 like with a hint of telecaster.

With the tone pot fully up, the Skylark single coil is certainly bright and a bit thin but lacks the metallic overtones of a vintage Telecaster with a stamped steel bridge. IMO, the sound is more like a Fender Bronco or the bridge position on a vintage Stratocaster that has no tone control load on it.

designerseye88

@Funkfingers Great insight - Thank you

designerseye88

I wonder if they ever made a 1959 double pickup version? 

Funkfingers

According to A.R. Duchossoir, they did but only in November and December of 1959.

The author pinpoints the pickup cover change from *wide* to *narrow* to mid-1960. The only notional change to the pickup's specification is the bobbin material. Any other variations probably lie within the tolerances for hand-guided coil winding.

Obviously, my 1965 guitar has the narrower pickup. I do not consider it to be anything special. In my opinion, the "magic" is in the wood. 

The Epiphone equivalent model of the same era is equally worthy of consideration.

springhead

Worked for Gary Moore in his Lizzy days:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0cuwDyQyIA

Strangefan

Any guitar that stays in tune, plays well and doesn't have microphonic pickups can be gigged  

designerseye88

Blimey i bet those 59 double pickups are rare!

Yes i think i will be looking out for the epi equivalent too. Although i have seen a nice 59 that I was considering a while back so i may pull the trigger on it, It's still for sale.

Keefy

One word: Joan Jett.