Where else do you get a genuine USA built Gibson for this money?... Aaah you say (this is not the dentist ya' know) but is it any good? Emphatically YES!!
OK so you don't get swishy binding, fancy maple top, and a glossy finish. But when ever did you hear a great tune played on binding? Or a shiny finish...
What you DO get is a really fab, beautifully shaped chunky one piece mahogany 50's style neck with a great fat fret job (no sharp ends either!), a splendidly low action, accurately cut nut and smooth repro tuners... in other words all the stuff you need for it to play really well, stay in tune and sustain well...
Body? That's mahogany too, not quite as thick as an SG but in that region, so no Les Paul style sore shoulders. Just one, lonely, single coil pickup at the bridge which is the simple, uncompensated wrap-around type, tone, volume and a socket... all finished in Gibson's new non-gloss finish. Mine is sunburst, but you can get black or white too...
But it can't be any good at that price can it? But it IS!! One of my favourite guitars at the mo is a Gibbo VOS Les Paul Jr TV... with a single P90 and the same style of wrap around bridge which I bought for £1499 second hand. I love it to pieces, but you have to know that the Melody Maker at 1/3 of the price is virtually as good... OK it's not so pretty, but the neck dimensions and fret job are the same, and if you are worried about naff intonation with this ever-so-simple bridge, then don't... It works just great... spot on right out of the box with great transfer of tone and sustain... and that single coil is no Tele or Strat sound alike. It roars and screams with the best of them, just turn it down on the guitar to tame the beast for a little rhythm playing... (subtle is my middle name...)
You always wanted a Gibson? What are you waiting for? You'll keep this for ever...
(Haven't you bought it yet?? You get a gig bag too... hurry before they realise they should have charged £599 for it.)
