1961 Gibson Melody Maker D in Collector Condition w/ Original Chipboard Case in Excellent Condition!

Bay Area Vintage Guitars is proud to present this collector-grade condition 1961 Gibson Melody Maker D (Double) in perfect working order. This 'Melody Maker D' is 100% original, save for a vintage replica wraparound bridge (original tailpiece also included).

An extremely well-kept example with a particularly magnificent Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer finish, this Melody Maker D offers a solid Honduran mahogany body construction with a one-piece mahogany neck capped with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard.
The pair of robust-sounding single-coil pickups combine a Fender-like snap and twang with the fuller midrange and low-end punch that a mahogany Gibson provides. This Melody Maker has a raw, bell-like sound and tonal profile all its own, and the single coils have plenty of detail and an excellent cut.

The one-piece Honduran mahogany neck has a slender C-shaped profile carved with generous shoulder and lightly rolled fretboard edges, measuring .810" deep at the 1st fret and .920" at the 12th. On the dark Brazilian rosewood fretboard, the practically perfect original medium jumbo frets retain their full factory height with well-rounded crowns, showing just a hint of wear beneath the plain strings on frets 1-3. The original nylon nut measures 1 11/16" in width. The headstock sports the Melody Maker's signature slender "open book" shape, with original clean open-gear nickel-plated tuning machines that turn smoothly and hold pitch well with original white buttons.

The electronics function as intended with untouched solder joints on the original wiring harness, CentraLab pots that date to the 2nd week of '61, and Sprague Black Beauty tone caps. The original pickguard, pickup covers, switch tip, and strap buttons are intact, and the quartet of gold reflector cap knobs are near mint with clean text (one knob cap is modern). The strings are anchored to a vintage replica wraparound bridge courtesy of MojoAxe with a saddle properly intonated for a plain G string.

This guitar is very easy on the back, too, weighing in at 5lbs 14oz. Professionally set up, the Melody Maker features coveted tonewoods and offers easy playability, freshly restrung with 11-49 round wound strings.

The Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, and the finish is bold and unfaded. Cosmetic wear is limited to a few light pick scuffs across the guard, some chips on the lower bass side of the body, and just a few faint finish scratches and minor marks on the instrument as a whole. The gloss finish on the neck profile is smooth and free of palm wear.

The original form-fit faux alligator chipboard case is included and just as lovely as the guitar with the original molded handle and functional latches. Case Candy includes the original hangtag, brown leather strap, Gibson string box (complete with strings in their individual wax packets), Gibson-branded picks, and original wraparound tailpiece (one end is snapped).