The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Dave W on January 12, 2023, 11:49:24 PM

Title: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Dave W on January 12, 2023, 11:49:24 PM
https://reverb.com/item/64741518-gibson-melody-maker-bass-1968-pelham-blue-vintage-short-scale

Nice! Too expensive though.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Alanko on January 13, 2023, 07:50:07 AM
Hopefully they buy a better camera with the proceeds. I was trying to work out why the pickguard appeared to have a straight woodgrain pattern!
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: uwe on January 13, 2023, 08:56:37 AM
Only authentic with the cheesy tuners!

(https://images.reverb.com/image/upload/s--NmU5ePG9--/a_0/f_auto,t_large/v1673379719/cyhi8qsxdlx3wl35amfd.jpg)
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: ilan on January 13, 2023, 12:51:31 PM
The pickguard opens up some possibilities.

Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Dave W on January 13, 2023, 02:29:08 PM
The pickguard opens up some possibilities.

Fine, as long as you leave the 2-point bridge alone.  ;)
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Alanko on January 13, 2023, 04:55:06 PM
Those tuners are only an upgrade in a parallel universe.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Grog on January 14, 2023, 08:06:15 AM
I’ve always avoided EB-0’s with those tuners. Never had a bass with them so not sure why I avoid them other than they look cheap………
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: ilan on January 14, 2023, 10:21:57 AM
Fine, as long as you leave the 2-point bridge alone.  ;)

Let me remind you that I'm the one that asked why everyone here hates the 2-point. It's perfectly good on my EB-0L.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Pilgrim on January 14, 2023, 11:49:49 AM
Let me remind you that I'm the one that asked why everyone here hates the 2-point. It's perfectly good on my EB-0L.

Yup,  Same for my old EB-0.

Actually I think the 3-point is a more popular target for criticism...
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Dave W on January 14, 2023, 11:28:29 PM
Let me remind you that I'm the one that asked why everyone here hates the 2-point. It's perfectly good on my EB-0L.

I remembered, that's why I posted.

Yup,  Same for my old EB-0.

Actually I think the 3-point is a more popular target for criticism...

Uwe is the chief critic of the 2-point. He'll probably be triggered by these posts.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: amptech on January 15, 2023, 01:27:01 AM
I’ve always avoided EB-0’s with those tuners. Never had a bass with them so not sure why I avoid them other than they look cheap………
I have them on my Epi ET280. They are worse than banjo tuners😳
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Alanko on January 15, 2023, 04:18:04 PM
They look like the sort of tuners with a 1/8th turn of play in them before they engage.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: clankenstein on January 15, 2023, 11:08:26 PM
Nylon bridge saddles though ?
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: uwe on January 16, 2023, 05:36:16 AM
I remembered, that's why I posted.

Uwe is the chief critic of the 2-point. He'll probably be triggered by these posts.

Sigh, why should I? I'm a man of science, you guys are religious zealots. I'll let Spencer do the talking.

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

Buf if you guys think it is a good design that a bass bridge with forward pull rests neither snugly against the boody nor is anchored in a stable physical-forces-defying manner, then so be it. Who am I to argue against all the chairs with only two legs you apparently keep at home and find practical and comfortable.

(https://design-milk.com/images/2014/09/two-legged-inactivite-chair-benoit-malta-5.jpg)

Dave would probably say: "All this chair needs is a contraption behind it with some wires anchored and someone sitting in the chair with a harness attached to the wires leaning forward all the time and it will be - voilà! - an impeccable design."

Much more straightforward and elegant than adding, say, a third leg.


(https://i.pinimg.com/236x/75/85/c5/7585c5a9a169d36aeaffcf701d000b6c--lightbulbs-germany.jpg)

Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Dave W on January 16, 2023, 09:03:07 PM
Nylon bridge saddles though ?

Yes. They work just fine.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: uwe on January 16, 2023, 09:05:35 PM
They do - this stuff doesn't even get brittle after decades. No buzz like metal saddles too.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Dave W on January 16, 2023, 09:09:19 PM
Sigh, why should I? I'm a man of science, you guys are religious zealots. I'll let Spencer do the talking.

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

...


Wow. I knew you'd be triggered, but...Spencer Tracy as Clarence Darrow? ;D  The bridge works, it's not ideal but it's not an act of faith either.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: uwe on January 17, 2023, 01:23:58 AM
It's living breathing primal design paganism! Faith would be an overstatement.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: ilan on January 18, 2023, 05:28:06 AM
Buf if you guys think it is a good design that a bass bridge with forward pull rests neither snugly against the body nor is anchored in a stable physical-forces-defying manner, then so be it

No problem here  ;)
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: uwe on January 18, 2023, 05:56:07 AM
Uhum, now do tell me how do you adjust action? By filing the saddle notches deeper or raising the bridge so it starts to tip forward a little? How flexible.

It actually can sometimes work on a short scale bass, but try it with an EB-3L or EB-0L.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: ilan on January 18, 2023, 06:28:36 AM
Uhum, now do tell me how do you adjust action? By filing the saddle notches deeper or raising the bridge so it starts to tip forward a little? How flexible.

It actually can sometimes work on a short scale bass, but try it with an EB-3L or EB-0L.

It's an EB-0L. I filed the notches and now the action is low without buzzing. I've seen warped bridges, of course it's a questionable design.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: Dave W on January 18, 2023, 07:55:12 AM
I never had a problem with it when I had my EB-0L. Never had to adjust it. never filed the saddles.

I do have a Hipshot Supertone on my '71 EB-0.
Title: Re: Melody Maker Bass on Reverb
Post by: uwe on January 18, 2023, 08:15:34 AM
I only have Hipshots on my EB-3L, EB-4 and my Blackbird where it actually looks good.

On the EB-3L and EB-4 the two pointers tilted forward badly and made action unnecessarily high plus had the strings apply little saddle pressure, but I don't rule out that pre-owners had issues setting them up properly, they were both very worn out.

My legendary bar room brawl gunshot EB-0L of course still has the Victory Schaller license roller & wedges bridge which works fine on it.