The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Guitars Etc. => Topic started by: Dave W on June 22, 2009, 10:53:06 AM
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Saw this at another forum: Musicians Friend is having a call-in-only special on the Gibson Melody Maker in the Worn White finish only for $249.
I called MF to confirm it, and they said it's true. Don't know for sure how long it will last.
I think 249 for a US Gibson is a terrific deal (current MSRP is 699, street 489). Yeah, it has an economy finish but at that price, who cares?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=an6NbcLIzmw
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I have one of the black les paul melody makers from '06, the ones with the p-90 in it, and I love it. The single coils in these aren't quite as gnarly, but probably more useful than the p-90 in mine.
I put a tort pg and gold witch hats on mine, gives it a real nice les paul jr look, while still being less than $400. If I didn't just buy a flying v I'd jump all over this.
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If I didnt live in Oz so would I.
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Dave I see nothing on their website, is/was it one of their "stupid deals of the day"?
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No, it's strictly an unadvertised call-in. They must have made a special buy of the white ones.
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Sorry for my ignorance. Call in means you actually go to their shop correct?
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No, they don't have a shop. You have to call their telephone order number and ask for the deal.
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They had the same white ones for cheap in some German stores!
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Damn... I'd go that if I could. :sad:
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Wow that's tempting! It'd be fun to mod it with a P-90...
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Feel free to order it on my behalf anyone :P
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Cute. LP lite ;D
Since it probly doesn't come in lefty I'll just make fun of it & smile.
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Cute. LP lite ;D
Since it probly doesn't come in lefty I'll just make fun of it & smile.
I don't recall ever seeing a lefty Melody Maker.
While it borrows a lot of styling from the LP Junior, the sound isn't LP lite. The Melody Maker pickups always had their own thing going, brighter and nastier than a P-90. Whether that's good or bad depends on your tastes.
The pickup on these new ones isn't made exactly the same but from what I've heard it does sound a lot like the old ones.
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Well, I bought one. My very first guitar was a first year Melody Maker, bought new in 1959 for $99. I traded it about 4 years later. So at this price I had to have one. After all, it's been 50 years. :)
It arrived today, and I love it. It was ready to go right out of the box, very low action, minimal relief, nice medium neck profile like the original. And above all, it's got tone like the original. Just plug into my Blues Jr. and wail away.
The finish is pretty smooth, no grain filler but not rough like some of the Gibson faded series.
The original pickup was a blade type with a magnet for the blade, same type construction as 60s TBirds only single coil. The new pickup has six poles (not screw type) so it's obviously not identical but I think it's the same size and it sure sounds like the old ones.
And I think I know what's behind the good deal on these: the s/n is from late May 2007, and a guy at the TDPRI who got his says his is from July 2007. Gibson probably overproduced this color and had them warehoused and then gave MF a special price.
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Damn you Dave! ;) You should have grabbed 2 and offered one to me
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Dave... You coming out of the closet...?
Nice one...
I get suprised about what "turns me on" about an instrument... like when I first saw my T'bird... but that recent shot of that Hamer 8 string green V has kinda turned me on my head, a bit like Bret/Uwe/Scott/Chris with Explorer, or style, instruments, when it goes "against the grain" ...
Oh for some spare cash in the bank...
Back to the shed in the morning - now have power and lighting - screeded the floor (awful - not my forte) and hopefully laying the lino tomorrow
(today!) ...
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Mine is ordered :) And also one for the guitarist in my original band who is a bit of a Gibson nut. Thanks for the heads up Dave :thumbsup:
Aus$305. Shipping will probably be another Aus$100.
Now if I can just get Roman at BaCH to respond to my emails I will be a very happy boy.
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Forgot to mention that the discounted street price of exactly the same guitar here in Oz is a princely Aus$999 (US$812)
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I'm glad you were able to order from the US at the special price, I know some US guitarmakers have franchise restrictions against their US retailers shipping directly overseas.
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Gibson do, but I had it shipped to a friend in Illinois. He will ship to me.
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Cheat... ;D
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any way ya can mate! 8)
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Mine arrived in Chicago today :)
Hopefully on its way across the Pacific by the weekend.
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Congrats DW & FC!!
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Well my MM is in Melbourne and the Customs and Excise people what proof of how much (or little) I paid for it before they will let it go. >:(
/insert your worst Aussie accent: Customs guy: But its a Gibson! There is no such thing as a Gibson for less than $1000 dollars".
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Maybe your friend can fax a copy of his receipt.
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I have emailed them a copy of my Visa card statement. Should be enough I hope.
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Na... use a "Daggy-Boy" voice... ;D
Give them the web-site address, which should be reasonable proof, Bret...
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No, it was a call-in special only, never appeared on the website. Credit card statement or invoice ought to work.
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Book him, Dano!
Sorry. Couldn't resist with 5-Oh in your name, Ken. lol
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Aloha Steve and Dano
Radio Birdman
Edit* Older but still doing it ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kuvg1TD6CU
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"Slap me with the proof of purchase, Dano, and you can have your Gibbo, but until then she's mine... Struth, whata whining doodle whacka; chuck us another tinnie, sport, and while your at it, sling another handful of shrimps on the barbie..." ;D
UK Customs Officers hold regular auctions of uncollected items - hardest thing on the planet is finding out when and where... ;)
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ken, sometimes your posts make me feel like i've taken the 'brown acid'. :mrgreen:
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On Ken's home planet they understand him perfectly. :mrgreen:
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I hate to have to let you in on this, Dave, but that's why I got deported... :o
Life on the "Tangential Zone..."
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Are you related to Gordon Shumway?
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My demi cousin Alf...? nope, no relation of mine... ;D
gorgeous bit of music, btw...
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ohh darn that radio birdman clip is gone,shame.i saw them at the astoria in london about 2004, i went with some english friends who were quite stunned.great gig.
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Mine arrived today. 8)
First thing before I've even had a chance to get it home and plug it in is that I'm amazed at how loud and how much chime there is acousticaly. The individual string definition quite shocked me. I honestly did not expect it to be that good.
The fit is great and the finish is raw. I kinda like the lime washed look better than I thought I would. The neck is very comfortable and based on first impressions I will be taking Daves advice and leaving the bridge exactly as it is.
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It was finally released from customs bondage!
Yeah, I knew what I was buying since I had played one in a store before, but I was still impressed. When you plug it in and play it through your own setup it can sometimes be a letdown until you find the right settings but this was great from the first note. And I don't mind the finish at all.
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I actually really like the finish. Its like that old lime washed furniture look. I just finished doing a setup on it. It needed a bit of a truss rod tweak but no bridge adjustment at all. What gauge strings do you reckon they are dave because they are spot on for me. I dont like the extra light ones like 8's and 9's that a lot guitarists seem to go for these days. Top E feels like about an 11 to me.
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They're 10s (10-46). Call me obsessive, but I did measure the low and high Es with my digital calipers.
I guess I misspoke, I do like the finish too. Neck feels good in the hand and not rough at all.
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I got to play 2 songs at band practice with the MM and our guitarist Leo spent the rest of the session playing it. He has his amp sounds setup very well and the MM proved quite surprisingly versatile.
I feel that I've gotten much more guitar that I thought I was getting, for much less money that I would expect to pay.
Thanks again for the tip Dave. :)