Interesting online auction

[Dave W]

Not many basses but several vintage Gibsons.
https://bid.estate360.com/auction/limited-edition-guitar-collection-online-auction-in-san-luis-obispo-ca-841/bidgallery/perpage_NjA

Lot #0051 (on page 1) is allegedly a Melody Maker bass but it's a slothead. Never saw a slothead Melody Maker bass before. Could be a refinned (and maybe repaired) EB-0.
Lot #0124 (on page 2) LP Triumph
Lot #0135(on page 3) 1969 LP Bass

Also, a couple of newer ones.
Lot #0150 (on page 3) 2005 Thunderbird listed as a Firebird bass
Lot #0182 (on page 3) 2008 SG Bass

All at reasonable prices right now but there are nearly 5 days left.

[Alanko]

Always suspect clean solid-colour Gibson basses! That Pelham blue looks too fresh. The Badass bridge suggests modifications.

[Basvarken]

Oh no doubt that it's a refin. Look at the serial number that is barely visible anymore

[Dave W]

I've never seen a Melody Maker bass outside of 1967-68, no matter what the serial number suggests. I've never seen a slothead earlier than 1970, although allegedly a few were shipped in late 1969. For that reason alone, I don't think it's legit. You never know with Gibson, but I can't imagine an economy model being special ordered that late.

[uwe]

I'm not aware of a Melody Maker bass with a Slothead headstock ever existing. It would have been a self-defeating concept as Melody Makers were budget products (with eg cheapo Far East tuners) whereas a Slothead construction necessitated expensive Schaller tuners.

The Badass bridge OTOH is of course value- and function-enhancing as any replacement of the dreaded two-point would be. 

It could have been a one-off Frankenstein built from wood shop leftovers long after both Melody Makers and Slotheads had ceased production.

[ilan]

~1970 EB-0 slothead that was routed for additional pickup(s) and controls, then repainted and a Melody Maker-style pickguard was made to hide the routs (or the witness lines of a plugged rout).

Real Melody Maker guards have an output jack hole, this one doesn't because slotheads have a side mounted jack. Also, Melody Makers don't have a back rout, this one does.

It could be re-modded to an EB-3, another refin will be needed for that.

[uwe]

Ah, Ilan, ever the perceptive observer, reconnaissance is key - all true!



Melody Makers also had maple necks IIRC, Slotheads always maho ones.

FWIW, I think that bass is nicely done and probably sounds and plays better than any real Melody Maker ever.

[Dave W]

~1970 EB-0 slothead that was routed for additional pickup(s) and controls, then repainted and a Melody Maker-style pickguard was made to hide the routs (or the witness lines of a plugged rout).

Real Melody Maker guards have an output jack hole, this one doesn't because slotheads have a side mounted jack. Also, Melody Makers don't have a back rout, this one does.

It could be re-modded to an EB-3, another refin will be needed for that.

Good eye!

Refin in a solid color is more likely to be hiding a neck repair.

Melody Makers also had maple necks IIRC, Slotheads always maho ones.

FWIW, I think that bass is nicely done and probably sounds and plays better than any real Melody Maker ever.

No, the Melody Makers had mahogany necks. I don't recall Gibson using maple necks on anything before the early 70s.

You can see the mahogany at a few points in the early minutes of this recent video, for example, starting at 4:09.

[uwe]

Alas!, I mistook them with the Kalamazoomphs! They were the budget version of the budget version.

[Dave W]

That's right, the Kalamazoos had bolt-on maple necks.