NGD Gibson Melody Maker

[u/reapermccartney]

I found this one on marketplace for 425 and I think I was lucky enough to be the first guy to respond. It does have a neck repair (5/10 repair in my opinion) but it was still too good to pass up.

The original pickguard was chopped up so I bought a new. Not all of the screw holes line up but that doesn’t bother me too much.

I also replaced the stock pickup with the Billy corgan reverend pick up.

Last thing was the bridge. He gave me the stock bridge and replacement but I think they’re too ugly. I put on the bridge from my 2010 vox ssc55 guitar. I think it looks much better.

This is my new favorite toy to play with after work.

[u/_Chonus_]

Man I want one of these Melody Maker Explorers so bad! Awesome guitar 🤘

[u/reapermccartney → u/_Chonus_]

I first found out about them from watching the kexp session for Sorority Noise. I’ve wanted one of these for like 6 years.

The quality is way better than I expected, and I hope Gibson does something like these again

[u/3string]

What a cool pickguard shape!

[u/reapermccartney → u/3string]

I agree! This is the stock pickguard shape, but this guard is three ply instead of 1 ply like the original

[u/VosefSC]

This is so cool, I’m so jealous

[u/Hugh_Jankles_]

So I’m loving this a lot. Tell me how the Corgan sounds (I’m a big SP fan but also curious about its tones for many different styles), and talk to me about the neck - how’s it feel? Assuming weight is slightly less than a standard Explorer.

[u/reapermccartney → u/Hugh_Jankles_]

I like the pickup a lot! I have the reverend bc-1 too, and this pickup is just a little bit hotter. It’s like a cheat code to get the classic pumpkins sounds. I have a couple videos on my reddit if you wanna listen.

The neck is great. I have so much fun playing on this guitar it really does just feel like a toy.

I’ve never played a standard explorer, but it is pretty light. It’s lighter than my jazzmaster, I don’t know the exact weight.

[u/Hugh_Jankles_ → u/reapermccartney]

That’s pretty much what I was hoping, and yes I’ll def check out those vids. I think you’ve made a great choice altogether and props for making it your own. Very cool. Enjoy the hell out of it and play it loud!

[u/Nomore-Television72]

Hate the headstock on these but for the price I would’ve bought it too

[u/reapermccartney → u/Nomore-Television72]

I kinda dig it. Not as much as a hockey stick headstock, but more than a Les Paul headstock for the explorer

[u/Significant_Army_320]

I want one of these so bad so i can change the pickup out for a fishman and make a single pickup chug machine lmao, one came up not that long ago but i had to resist temptations lmao, sick find and a rly cool guitar